The best payment methods for contractors in 2026
Card, ACH, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, Square — ranked by speed, fees, and how likely your customer is to actually use them.
The right payment method isn't the cheapest one — it's the one your customer will actually tap. Here's how the big options stack up for trades.
Card (Stripe, Square)
Processor fees apply — check your provider's current published rate. Highest completion rate of any method, and funds usually settle within a couple of business days. Default for any invoice over $300.
ACH / bank transfer
Low fees, usually capped. Slower to settle than card. Use it for repeat commercial customers on net terms where the fee saving on a large invoice is worth the wait.
Zelle
Free, instant, no chargebacks. Customer needs a US bank. Great for residential jobs under $1,000.
Venmo / Cash App
Free for personal, but technically against ToS for business use. Fine for tips and tiny jobs; risky for anything you want to deduct.
The rule of thumb
Offer two options on every invoice — card for trust, Zelle for speed. BillingDone lets you hand off to all of these without becoming a merchant yourself.