Key takeaways
- Text to pay sends a secure payment link straight to the customer's phone.
- Customers can pay in a few taps, so invoices get paid sooner.
- Collect deposits when the job is booked.
- Connect payments to your CRM so you always know who has paid.
Chasing checks and waiting on invoices is one of the most frustrating parts of running a contracting business. Text to pay makes paying you as easy as replying to a text.
1. How it works
- You finish the job or book the deposit.
- The customer gets a text with the amount and a secure payment link.
- They pay by card or another supported method from their phone.
- The payment is recorded with the customer and job, and a receipt goes out automatically.
2. Why it helps
- Most people read their texts quickly. Emails and paper invoices get buried.
- No checks to pick up, deposit or track down.
- You can send it from the job site the moment the work is done.
- It looks professional and makes paying easy.
3. Deposits
For bigger jobs, collect a deposit when the customer books. It locks in the date, covers materials and cuts down on last minute cancellations. Send the deposit link right after the estimate is approved.
4. Automatic reminders
Set friendly reminders to go out automatically for unpaid invoices, for example a few days after the job and again a week later. You stop making awkward calls, and customers get a polite nudge.
5. Setting it up
- Choose a payment processor and understand its fees.
- Connect it to your CRM so payments match the customer and job.
- Create templates for deposits, final invoices and reminders.
- Make sure your texts follow messaging rules and customers have agreed to receive them.
We set this up for service businesses. See payment systems.
