What makes this industry different
Trades and contractors (plumbers, electricians, renovators, landscapers) share a few things that change which card fees matter:
- Large jobs. One bill can be thousands of dollars.
- Invoices and deposits. Customers often pay later, online or from a card on file. See Card on File and Recurring Payments.
- Business customers. Some customers pay with business, corporate or purchasing cards. The same cards come up at auto repair shops.
- Bank payments. Some customers pay by bank transfer instead of card.
Card not present means the card is not in front of you: an invoice paid online, a card on file or a number keyed in. Published rates for these are often higher than in-person rates.
Fees to know about in this industry
Invoices: one published example. Square Invoices (Canada):
| Free | Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $0 | $30 per month |
| Invoice paid online | 2.8% + 30¢ | 2.8% + 30¢ |
| Credit card, chip and PIN or contactless | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Debit card, chip and PIN or contactless | 0.75% + 7¢ | 0.75% + 7¢ |
| Card on file | 3.3% + 15¢ | 3.3% + 15¢ |
Square’s page lists deposits, card on file and “up to 12 milestone payments” on an invoice, not counting the first deposit.
Helcim’s fee disclosure says keyed-in sales, including its Virtual Terminal, are card-not-present, with a markup of interchange + 0.50% + 25¢ at its lowest volume tier. See Helcim and Square.
Business cards (Canada). Visa Canada’s rate sheet lists these interchange rates:
| Visa Canada card | Rate |
|---|---|
| Consumer Classic, in person (for comparison) | 1.25% |
| Business, Standard | 2.00% (2.15% from Oct 22, 2026, per TD) |
| Visa Infinite Business, Standard | 2.35% |
| Corporate or Purchasing, in person (“Electronic”) | 1.90% |
| Corporate or Purchasing, “Enhanced Data – Level 3” | 1.40% |
| Corporate or Purchasing, Large Ticket, $100,000 to $249,999 | 1.30% |
| Corporate or Purchasing, Large Ticket, $250,000 and up | 1.00% |
TD’s Fee Change Summary says “CDN BUS STANDARD” went up from 2.00% to 2.15% on October 22, 2026, with January 10, 2027 as the date to cancel without penalty. Visa’s own sheet still showed 2.00% when we checked on October 22, 2026.
United States: Visa’s “Services” rates. Visa’s US sheet has “Services” rows for sales of $100 or more: 1.70% + $0.10 in person (“Services 2”) and 1.80% + $0.10 card not present (“Services 1”) on a Traditional Rewards card. On a spend-qualified Visa Infinite card, both are 2.30% or 2.40% + $0.10.
Bank payments
Some providers also take payments straight from a customer’s bank account. In Canada these are often called EFT (electronic funds transfer) or PAD (pre-authorized debit). They are priced differently from cards:
| Provider | Bank payment | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Helcim | EFT/PAD | 0.5% + 25¢ per approved transaction under $25,000, capped at $6. 0.05% on any amount above $25,000 |
| Stripe Canada | Pre-authorised debits | 1% + CA$0.40, capped at CA$5.00 |
Average ticket and why it matters
Your average ticket is your average sale: card sales divided by the number of card sales. With large jobs, the percentage matters far more than the cents. On a $6,000 job, 30¢ is 0.005% of the bill. See Per-Transaction Fees.
Equipment and software options
Payments can be taken in person on a phone or a terminal, or by invoice. Each provider lists its own hardware and software prices. See Equipment Leases.
Contract terms to read closely
- Disputes on large jobs. Square’s help page lists “Goods or services not as described” among common dispute reasons, with the example of a patio built “incorrectly or poorly”. See Chargebacks.
- Holds and reserves. See Payment Processor vs Merchant Account.
- Surcharges in Canada. See Surcharging Credit Cards in Canada.
- Monthly fees. See Statement and Monthly Fees.
Questions to ask a processor
- What rate applies to invoices paid online, and to cards on file?
- How are business, corporate and purchasing cards priced on my statement?
- Do large sales qualify for any large-ticket rates?
- Can customers pay by bank transfer, and what does it cost?
Where to go from here
On a statement, invoice, card-on-file and in-person sales are often listed apart, each with its own rate. How to Read Your Merchant Statement shows where they sit. Business cards have their own rates: see Why Business and Corporate Cards Cost More to Accept. Country hubs: Canada and the United States.
Want a partner to review your statement? We will put you in touch. Start the free statement review.