Payment Options Available with Spectora

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. 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.

With Spectora Payments, Google and Apple pay are options. These will be processed as credit card payments with the same fee you currently pay. The option to use Apple or Google pay will be under the "Pay by Card" option in the Client Portal when accessing it on an appropriate device, like a mobile phone.

Learn more here.

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. 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.

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.