Spectora offers several ways for your clients to pay for inspections. Each option has its own setup, payout timing, and costs. The guide below explains how each method works, what you can expect, and when it might be the best choice.

Your clients can pay directly online using a credit or debit card. Payments are processed quickly, and you’ll typically receive funds the next business day. Fees vary depending on whether you choose to pass them on. If you pass them on, the client pays 3.95%.

If not, you pay 3.25% plus $0.40 per transaction. For ACH or cash/check payments, a corresponding discount (e.g., "Bank Transfer Discount" or "Cash Discount") offsets the Technology Fee, ensuring clients are not charged extra. Spectora labels this pass-through surcharge as a "Technology Fee" on invoices, which is compliant with payment processing rules. This method is fast, secure, and fully integrated into Spectora, making it one of the most commonly used options. All you need to do is enable Spectora Payments to start accepting cards.

Learn more here.

When a refund is processed, the Technology Fee is refunded proportionally based on the refund amount. For full refunds, the entire fee is refunded; for partial refunds, a proportional amount is returned. The inspector is responsible for the processing costs of the refund itself.

Your clients can also pay directly from their bank account using ACH (Bank Transfer). While this method takes longer, you’ll receive funds in two to five business days. It only costs a flat $3.99 fee per transaction, which is lower than card fees. Invoices may also display a 3.95% line labeled as "Bank Transfer Discount," which indicates no percentage fee was charged on the ACH payment.

This labeling is for compliance purposes and may require explanation to clients. Additionally, when clients use Stripe's "Link" for payment, the transaction may be processed as a card-backed payment instead of ACH, resulting in standard card fees applying. This fee cannot be passed on to clients, meaning the inspector is responsible for covering it. ACH is a good choice if you want to keep costs down while still offering a secure online option. To use ACH, you’ll need to enable “ACH Payments” in your Spectora Payments settings and enable pass on CC fees.

Learn more here.

You can also accept payments outside of Spectora, such as cash, check, or transfer apps like Zelle. Since Spectora doesn’t process the payment, there are no fees from Spectora. You’ll receive payment directly through your chosen method, but you’ll need to mark the inspection manually as “Paid” in Spectora yourself to keep your records accurate.

This option works best if you prefer to handle payments on your own. Note that changes to payment settings, such as removing payment requirements, apply only to new inspections. For existing inspections, you can instruct clients to ignore payment prompts and manually mark the inspection as paid after collecting payment onsite.

To display the 'Pay Another Way' option for methods like cash or check, enable the 'Pass on credit card fees' setting under Settings > Payments. Furthermore, use the Client Payment Instructions section to add custom text, such as instructions for cash or check payments.

For cash or check payments, a "Cash Discount" is applied to offset the Technology Fee, ensuring the total amount remains unchanged on invoices. Additionally, you can customize your email templates to inform clients about alternative payment methods like Zelle, cash, or check. This ensures clear communication and helps clients understand how to complete their payments outside of Spectora.

Learn more here.

With Buy Now, Pay Later, your clients can split the cost of their inspection into multiple payments through providers like Affirm. A credit check is required for the client, but you’ll still get your payout within one to two business days through Stripe. The trade-off is a higher fee, about 8% plus $0.30 per transaction, which is deducted from your payout. This is a good option if your clients want more flexibility when paying for their inspection. You can enable Buy Now Pay Later in your Payments settings.
​

Learn more here.

Pay at Close lets your clients delay payment until the home closes, so there’s no upfront cost for them. You’ll still be paid the next business day after you publish the report, and Spectora guarantees your payout by covering the financial risk. Spectora also handles all of the administrative work involved, so you don’t have to manage any of the logistics. The fee is $50 per inspection if your client chooses this option. This feature is currently in a smaller controlled release.

For more information, you’ll need to reach out directly to the dedicated Pay at Close Team at payatclose@spectora.com.

With this option, your clients pay after the inspection, once you publish the report. This lets you adjust the final cost to include any added services before charging, which helps avoid refunds. One major benefit is that the report stays locked until the payment is made, so you’re guaranteed to be paid before your client can access the report(s).

Learn more here.

Deferred Payments allow you to capture your client’s card information ahead of time and charge it later. This has often been used for cancellations or post-inspection changes. However, we recommend using Collect Payment After Publishing instead, as it provides more flexibility while also ensuring payment before your client can access the report(s).

Learn more here.