How to Accept Credit Cards in Construction Without Losing Profit

Card processing fees can eat 3–5% of every payment, turning a profitable $100,000 project into thousands of dollars in lost revenue. This guide reveals how construction companies can accept credit card payments without sacrificing margins—and why more contractors are ditching traditional payment processors in favor of fee-pass-through alternatives.

The Real Cost of Card Payments

You’ve completed the project. The client is happy. The invoice goes out for $50,000. Then your client asks, “Can I pay with a credit card?”
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Your stomach sinks—because you know what’s coming: a 3% processing fee. That’s $1,500 straight out of your profit margin for the convenience of accepting the payment method your client prefers.
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For construction businesses operating on margins that often hover around 10–15%, losing 3–5% to payment processing fees isn’t just frustrating—it’s financially devastating. On a $500,000 annual revenue, that’s $15,000–25,000 disappearing into payment processor pockets instead of funding your next project, hiring another crew member, or simply staying in your bank account.
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But here’s what most contractors don’t realize: you don’t have to absorb those fees. Modern payment solutions built for construction can eliminate card costs from your side entirely by using fee-pass-through, letting you accept the payment methods clients want without losing profit.

Understanding Payment Processing Fees

When a client pays with a credit card, multiple parties take a cut:

• Interchange fees (to the card-issuing bank): 1.5–3.5%
  
• Assessment fees (to Visa/Mastercard): 0.13–0.15%
  
• Processor markup: 0.5–1.5%
  

‍Total cost: 2.5–5% per transaction.

If your business processes $500,000 in card payments annually at 3%, that’s $15,000 a year just to get paid—money that could fund equipment, vehicles, or another hire.

Why Construction Businesses Feel It More

Retail businesses often run on 40–60% margins. Construction? Usually 10–20%. So losing 3–5% to processing can eat up to half your profit on a project.

Example:

• Project: $100,000
  
• Costs: $85,000
  
• Gross profit: $15,000 (15%)
  
• Card fee (3%): $3,000
  
• Net profit after fees: $12,000
  

That’s a 20% profit reduction just from card fees.

The Check Alternative (and Why It’s Not Great)

Many contractors avoid card fees by insisting on checks—but checks have hidden costs:

• 10–14 day payment delays
  
• Bank trips and deposit holds
  
• Admin time tracking payments
  
• Risk of bounced checks
  

So you’re stuck: lose money on card fees or deal with slow, outdated payments. Unless you use the third option—fee-pass-through card processing.

How Fee-Pass-Through Card Processing Works

The Surcharge Model

Instead of absorbing fees, you pass the processing cost to the client choosing to pay by card. Here’s how:

1. You send a $50,000 invoice.
   
2. Client pays by card.
   
3. System adds 2.7–3% fee automatically.
   
4. Client pays $51,350.
   
5. You receive the full $50,000.
   

No math, no awkward conversations—the platform handles it transparently.

With Truss Payments, this happens automatically. Clients see the surcharge clearly, and you receive the full amount.

Why Clients Accept the Fee

1. Transparency – Clients see the fee before paying and can opt for ACH (at no additional charge).
   
2. Familiarity – They already pay convenience fees for tickets, utilities, etc.
   
3. Rewards & convenience – Points, protection, and ease often outweigh the added fee.
   
4. Cash flow flexibility – Paying by card can add 30+ days of float.
   

What to Look For in a Payment Platform

• Automatic fee pass-through – No manual calculations
  
• Multiple payment options – ACH (payer and contractor charged $0 for ACH), cards, digital wallets
  
• Instant invoice links – Clients pay online in seconds
  
• Fast settlement – ACH same-day; cards next-day
  
• QuickBooks integration – Sync invoices and payments
  
• Transparent pricing – No monthly account charges, no setup charges, and ACH priced at $0 to both parties

See how Truss eliminates hidden charges.

Real-World Impact

Case Study: Aarow Building

• Cut collection time from 12 days to same-day
  
• Saved 5+ admin hours weekly
  
• Improved cash flow immediately
  

I can invoice a client and pay our subs within 5 minutes—it’s amazing.

How to Implement Fee-Pass-Through Card Processing

1. Choose a construction-specific platform – e.g., Truss
   
2. Update invoices/contracts: “We accept ACH bank transfer (ACH priced at $0 to payer and contractor) or credit/debit card (3% convenience fee).”
   
3. Notify clients: “We’re upgrading our system—ACH remains available at no additional charge, or pay by card for a small convenience fee.”
   
4. Add payment links to invoices
   
5. Track impact: payment speed, fee savings, admin time saved
   

Common Questions

Q: Will clients get upset?
A: Rarely—most appreciate flexibility and can choose ACH at no additional charge.

Q: Is it legal?
A: Yes, in most states. Reputable platforms handle compliance.

Q: What about debit cards?
A: Debit surcharges aren’t allowed; fees are lower or absorbed/processed via eligible methods.

Q: Will this slow down payments?
A: No—digital payments are faster than checks (often same-day).

Q: How does it work with QuickBooks?
A: Platforms like Truss sync invoices, payments, and reconciliation automatically.

The Bottom Line

Construction is hard enough without losing 3–5% of every payment.
With the right tools, you can:

• Accept cards without absorbing the fees
  
• Get paid instantly
  
• Simplify accounting
  
• Keep more of your profit
  

Thousands of contractors are already saving tens of thousands a year with fee-pass-through card processing.

Beyond Payments: Complete Construction Financial Operations

Modern platforms like Truss offer:

• Pay subcontractors with instant fund access
  
• Business banking with no monthly account charges and immediate availability of funds
  
• Crew charge cards with spend controls and receipt tracking
  
• Full QuickBooks integration
  

All-in-one financial visibility—built for contractors.

Ready to Stop Losing Money on Processing Fees?

• Get Started with Truss
  
• See How It Works
  
• Talk to Our Team

Related Resources

• 5 Cash Flow Killers Every Contractor Faces (And How to Fix Them)
  
• How to Choose Business Banking for Your Construction Company
  
• QuickBooks Integration for Contractors: Setup Guide
  
• How to Implement Progress Payments for Your Construction Business
  
• Keep Projects Moving: Speed Up Contractor Payments
  
  

Disclaimer: Truss provides tools to help contractors manage and streamline payments. However, Truss is not responsible for financial, legal, or employment decisions made by its users. Always consult with an accountant or legal professional for personalized advice.