Contractor Payment Processing Fees: What You Actually Keep
Card, bank transfer, and plan fee, shown with the math and the assumptions.
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Quick answer
Paying by card costs a contractor the processor's percentage plus a fixed amount, plus the Grover Work plan fee. Paying by bank transfer (ACH) costs a smaller, capped fee. The tables below calculate both for each Grover Work plan from our live plan data.
How contractor payment fees work
There are usually two layers. The payment processor, Stripe in Grover Work, charges to move the money. The software charges its own fee on top, or a monthly price instead.
In Grover Work, the processor's standard US rates apply to every payment, and each plan adds a small percentage with a cap per payment. Bank transfers carry a lower processing fee, and on Pro and Scale the plan fee is waived for bank payments.
Ways to lower what you pay
- Offer bank transfer on larger invoices. The bank fee is capped, while card fees grow with the amount.
- Take deposits and milestone payments by bank when the customer is comfortable with it.
- Compare the plan fee against the plan's monthly price for your volume. The pricing page has a calculator.
- Ask any provider you are comparing for the all-in cost on your typical invoice, including chargebacks and instant payouts, which are often extra.
The numbers, with the assumptions
On a $1,000.00 invoice
| Plan | Plan fee | Card: total fee | Card: you keep | Bank: total fee | Bank: you keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 0.3% | $32.30 | $967.70 | $8.00 | $992.00 |
| Pro | 0.15% | $30.80 | $969.20 | $5.00 | $995.00 |
| Scale | 0.05% | $29.80 | $970.20 | $5.00 | $995.00 |
On a $8,450.00 invoice
| Plan | Plan fee | Card: total fee | Card: you keep | Bank: total fee | Bank: you keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 0.3% | $270.70 | $8,179.30 | $30.35 | $8,419.65 |
| Pro | 0.15% | $258.03 | $8,191.97 | $5.00 | $8,445.00 |
| Scale | 0.05% | $249.58 | $8,200.42 | $5.00 | $8,445.00 |
Assumptions behind these tables
- Card payments: 2.9% plus $0.30 per payment, the standard US Stripe rate we use in our calculator.
- Bank payments (ACH): 0.8% with a cap of $5.00 per payment.
- The Grover Work plan fee is a small percentage of each payment, with a cap per payment, shown in the Plan fee column. On Pro and Scale the plan fee is not charged on bank payments; Starter pays it.
- Standard domestic payments only. Disputes, international or premium cards, instant payouts and other optional services are priced separately by Stripe.
- Rounded to the cent. Rates change, so confirm Stripe’s current published pricing. These tables are calculated from the live Grover Work plan data each time the page loads.
Try it on your next job
Questions, answered
What are typical contractor payment processing fees?
Standard US card processing is commonly a percentage plus a fixed amount per payment. Bank transfers are usually a smaller percentage with a cap. Software may add its own fee. The tables on this page show the actual Grover Work numbers.
Are bank (ACH) payments cheaper than cards for contractors?
On larger invoices, usually yes, because the bank fee is capped. On small invoices the difference is smaller.
Can I pass the processing fee to my customer?
Rules about surcharging vary by state and by card network, so check them before adding a fee. Grover Work does not make that decision for you.
Are there other fees not shown here?
Yes. Disputes, international or premium cards, instant payouts and other optional Stripe services have their own prices. The tables show standard domestic payments only.
How do I reduce contractor payment processing costs?
Offer bank transfer for large invoices, choose a plan whose fee structure fits your volume, and avoid optional extras you do not need.