Card Fees, PayID or Bank Transfer: What Costs a Cleaner Less?
Compare card, online invoice, PayID and bank-transfer costs for cleaners, including payment speed, unpaid admin and Australia's current card-surcharge rules.
Key takeaways
- Compare payment cost at the actual invoice values the business uses.
- Include time spent matching transfers and chasing missing references.
- Since 1 October 2026, card surcharges are prohibited on Visa, Mastercard, American Express and eftpos payments under the networks' rules.
- Payment choice should protect both margin and payment speed.
The cheapest payment method is not always the one with the lowest visible fee. Bank transfer may have no transaction charge but create more checking and follow-up. Card payments cost a percentage but can remove friction and shorten the wait. The useful comparison includes the fee, administration, customer convenience and likelihood of being paid promptly.
Current advertised card costs
As checked on 19 October 2026, Stripe Standard lists 1.65% plus A$0.30 for domestic online card payments and 1.65% plus A$0.10 for domestic in-person card payments through Terminal. Stripe says these fees include GST. A business's negotiated or account-specific pricing may differ, and other providers set their own rates. Check the actual merchant statement and provider pricing before using a comparison in your own prices.
What the fee looks like on normal cleaning invoices
| Invoice | Stripe domestic online | Stripe domestic in person |
|---|---|---|
| A$100 | A$1.95 | A$1.75 |
| A$250 | A$4.43 | A$4.23 |
| A$500 | A$8.55 | A$8.35 |
These examples apply the published percentage and fixed fee, rounded to the nearest cent. They do not include international cards, currency conversion, disputes, instant transfers, Afterpay or custom pricing.
Bank transfer and PayID
Bank transfer or PayID can be simple and low-cost when:
- the customer uses the correct reference
- the cleaner checks payments regularly
- the invoice system makes the bank details clear
- late payments are followed up consistently
The hidden cost appears when the owner spends time searching bank transactions, asking which payment belongs to which job or reminding customers who intended to transfer later.
A zero transaction fee is not a zero-cost process if it creates unpaid admin every week.
Payment links and online invoices
A customer who can tap a link and pay immediately has fewer steps between receiving the invoice and completing it.
That can be worth more than the transaction fee when it:
- reduces late payment
- removes manual bank matching
- gives the customer a clear receipt
- allows deposits or balances to stay linked to the job
Do not claim that card payments guarantee faster payment. Measure the business's own result.
Card surcharges from 1 October 2026
Since 1 October 2026, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and eftpos no-surcharge rules apply to the relevant credit, debit and prepaid card payments. A cleaner must not add a separate card-payment surcharge for these payment types unless a specific network-rule or legal exception applies. Check the card network or payment service provider for any applicable exception.
Card acceptance still costs the business money. The ACCC says those costs can be reflected in the overall price of the cleaning service. Show the total price clearly, and do not describe a card surcharge as a different fee to get around the network rules. A discount for another payment method may be possible, but disclose it before booking or payment and keep the undiscounted full price prominent.
Update: 19 October 2026. Rechecked the ACCC and RBA guidance after the rules took effect and refreshed the Stripe Standard domestic card examples using the current published Australian rates. Provider rules and negotiated fees can change, so verify with the provider before applying this guidance to a specific account.
Pick a primary method and keep an alternative
A practical setup might be:
- online card payment as the fastest default
- bank transfer or PayID as the fee-free alternative
- in-person card payment for onsite collection
The best mix depends on customer type and invoice value. Commercial clients may prefer bank transfer. Residential customers may pay a card link instantly.
The bottom line
Compare payment cost at the actual invoice values the business uses. Include time spent matching transfers and chasing missing references. Since 1 October 2026, card surcharges are prohibited on Visa, Mastercard, American Express and eftpos payments under the networks' rules. Payment choice should protect both margin and payment speed.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions about this topic.
Since 1 October 2026, no-surcharge rules generally prevent a separate card fee for Visa, Mastercard, American Express and eftpos payments. Check your payment provider and card-network rules for any specific exception. Do not relabel a card surcharge as another fee.
Sources and further reading
We prioritise official, primary, and current sources. Links were last checked on the dates shown.
- Pricing and fees — Stripe Australia. Checked 19 October 2026.
- Card surcharges — Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Checked 19 October 2026.
- Review of Retail Payments Regulation: conclusions paper FAQs — Reserve Bank of Australia. Checked 19 October 2026.
About the author
Tidyly Editorial Team
The Tidyly Editorial Team creates practical guidance for Australian cleaning businesses using product experience, first-party examples, and current primary sources.
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