What does it cost to accept credit cards?

Most processors charge about 2.6 to 3 percent plus a small flat fee per transaction. There are usually no monthly fees with Square or Stripe for basic use.

Can I take a card without buying hardware?

Yes. You can text or email a pay link that opens a secure checkout page, or type the card number into your processor's dashboard. No reader required.

Should I charge customers the card fee?

Some trades add a small surcharge, but rules vary by state and many customers dislike it. Most contractors absorb the fee and price it into the job instead.

Is it safe to take cards through my website?

Yes, as long as payments run through a trusted processor like Stripe or Square. They handle the security and you never store the card number yourself.

How do I accept credit card payments as a contractor?

Updated June 28, 2026 · Running your business online

Short answer

Sign up with a payment processor like Stripe, Square, or your invoicing app's built-in option, then send a pay link by text or add a 'Pay now' button on your site. Expect to pay roughly 2.6 to 3 percent per card transaction. You can take cards in the field with a phone reader or get paid online without any hardware at all.

To accept credit card payments as a contractor, you sign up with a payment processor, then choose how money comes in: a pay link you text to the customer, a checkout button on your website, or a card reader for in-person jobs. The whole setup takes an afternoon, and you can be charging cards the same day. Expect to give up roughly 2.6 to 3 percent of each transaction in fees.

Pick a payment processor

The three names worth knowing are Stripe, Square, and PayPal. Square is the easiest for contractors who also want a tap-and-go reader in the truck. Stripe is the most flexible for website buttons and pay links. Many invoicing tools, like QuickBooks or Jobber, include their own processor so you never leave the app. For a wider view of the software stack, see the online tools every trade business needs.

Whichever you choose, signup is free, there's no monthly minimum for basic use, and money lands in your bank account in one to two business days.

Decide how you want to get paid

You have three practical options, and most contractors use a mix:

Pay link by text or email. You finish the job, send a link, the customer taps and pays from their phone. Fastest way to get paid before you leave the driveway.
A button on your website. Useful for deposits or flat-rate services. See take deposits or payments through your website.
A card reader in the field. A small device that pairs with your phone for in-person taps and swipes.

Send the pay link before you pack up the truck. Getting paid on the spot beats mailing invoices and chasing checks for weeks, and it's the single biggest improvement most trades make to cash flow.

Understand the real fees

Card fees are the price of getting paid faster and more reliably. On a typical 2.9 percent plus 30 cents rate, a $400 job costs you about $12 in fees. That's usually cheaper than the time and gas spent chasing a check. Some states let you pass a surcharge to the customer, but most contractors just build the fee into their pricing and move on.

Tie payments to your invoices

Payments work best when they're attached to a clean invoice. When the estimate, the invoice, and the pay button all live in one flow, customers pay faster and your books stay tidy. See how to send estimates and invoices online for the full setup.

Blank Theory builds trade websites with secure pay buttons and deposit collection ready to go, hosted and maintained for a flat $199/month with no setup fee. Grab a free preview and see your site live, usually in under 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost to accept credit cards?: Most processors charge about 2.6 to 3 percent plus a small flat fee per transaction. There are usually no monthly fees with Square or Stripe for basic use.
Can I take a card without buying hardware?: Yes. You can text or email a pay link that opens a secure checkout page, or type the card number into your processor's dashboard. No reader required.
Should I charge customers the card fee?: Some trades add a small surcharge, but rules vary by state and many customers dislike it. Most contractors absorb the fee and price it into the job instead.
Is it safe to take cards through my website?: Yes, as long as payments run through a trusted processor like Stripe or Square. They handle the security and you never store the card number yourself.