What payment methods should I offer?

Clients who can't pay the way they want to pay often don't pay at all. The more payment options you offer, the fewer bookings you lose to friction.

Credit and Debit Cards

Cards are the most convenient way for clients to pay. They allow customers to finance purchases, earn rewards, and offer buyer protection. Check Cherry Payments supports all major cards: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover.

Mobile Payments

More clients are booking from their phones. Apple Pay and Google Pay make checkout effortless because payment details are already stored on their device. Check Cherry Payments includes both automatically.

ACH Bank Transfers

ACH lets clients pay directly from their bank account with lower processing fees than credit cards. It's especially useful for larger payments like final balances.

Alternative Payment Methods

You can also accept PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, cash, or checks. These manual payment methods don't process automatically through Check Cherry, but you can record them to keep your books accurate.

Business accounts for PayPal, Venmo, and similar services typically charge processing fees but may be required for integration features.

Processing Fees

Credit card processing fees are a cost of doing business. Most businesses factor them into their package pricing rather than charging clients extra. Clients expect to pay by card and don't expect to pay extra for convenience.

Avoid making clients jump through hoops to save you money on processing fees. Focus on making it easy to pay — reducing friction increases bookings.

Surcharging credit cards has complex rules. In the US, Visa prohibits surcharges on debit cards and prepaid cards entirely.
Check Cherry lets you optionally pass processing fees to clients. If enabled, the fee appears as a separate line item on their invoice.

Collect Deposit and Signature Together

Collecting the deposit at the same time as the contract signature locks in the booking in one step. Clients who sign and pay in the same flow are less likely to change their mind or book with someone else.

Use Check Cherry's online booking system to collect signatures and deposits simultaneously. This eliminates the risk of getting one without the other.

The Competitive Advantage

Clients often shop around before committing. When you make it easy to sign and pay online, you're more likely to win the business. The company that removes the most friction usually gets the booking.

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Last updated March 23, 2026 18:45