Contractor payment checklist
For short, one-time, fixed-price home-service jobs: agree the work, verify payment authorization before work, then request customer review and capture approval.
Use it only when the job fits the window
Yard cleanup and leaf removal, pressure washing, one-time cleaning, junk removal and small handyman repairs can fit when the scope and total are fixed and completion, customer review and capture can happen within the actual authorization window. This is not a fit for recurring services, long projects, financing materials or work needing guaranteed funds.
Planning a cleanup? See the lawn-care payment guide for a scope worksheet and weather-delay examples.
1. Before booking
Put the scope and payment process in writing.
2. Before work
Check the real authorization, not just a message or screenshot.
3. At completion
Make the review and capture decision explicit.
4. If timing changes or authorization expires
Pause rather than relying on the original authorization.
Customer message template
Hi [customer name], here are the details for [service] at [address] on [date]. Included: [specific work and areas]. Not included: [exclusions]. The agreed total is [amount, including any applicable tax and agreed fees]. Any add-on or change in price needs our written agreement before that extra work starts. Before work, I'll send a Stripe payment link to authorize the agreed total. Card authorization is temporary: it is not a charge, deposit, escrow or guaranteed payment. It may reduce your available balance or credit and can expire within days, depending on the transaction. We plan to finish by [date/time]. Please confirm you can review the work by [date/time]. After completion, I'll share photos or completion notes and ask you to review the work and explicitly approve capture of the agreed amount. Finishing the job alone does not give me permission to capture payment. I'll check the actual authorization expiry before starting. If timing changes, we'll pause and agree a workable schedule. If the authorization expires or the new schedule won't fit its window, I'll request a fresh authorization from you before proceeding; it does not renew automatically. You will still need to review the completed work and approve capture. Please reply to confirm the scope, total, schedule and review/payment process above.
Getting paid for home-service jobs with ContractHold
ContractHold creates a Stripe card authorization for the agreed job total before work. The customer reviews completed work and approves capture afterward. Follow the authorization and customer approval flow, but keep the written scope and actual expiry check central to every job.
Still choosing payment timing? Compare deposits and authorization. For scope and communication decisions, read what to confirm before work starts.
Frequently asked questions
Is card authorization the same as a deposit or payment?
No. An authorization is temporary card status, not a charge, deposit or escrow. It may reduce available credit or balance, but ContractHold does not hold customer funds. Capture is a separate step, and authorization is not guaranteed payment.
How long can I rely on an authorization?
Only within its actual valid window. Expiry can be within days and varies by card, network and transaction. Check the deadline reported for that specific authorization before work and again before capture. An expired authorization needs fresh customer authorization.
Does a contractor payment app replace the written job agreement?
No. A contractor payment app can support authorization and customer approval, but it does not define the scope for you or settle disagreements. Agree the work, exclusions, total, changes and review/payment process in writing first.
What if the work is finished but the customer has not approved capture?
Request review and explicit approval through the agreed channel, and check expiry. Do not capture solely because work is finished or the customer has not replied. If authorization expires, request a fresh authorization; that still does not replace customer approval for capture.
Can I use this for recurring services or a long renovation?
This authorization workflow is not a fit for recurring services, long projects, financing materials or work needing guaranteed funds. It is intended for short, one-time, fixed-price jobs where completion, customer review and capture fit within the actual authorization window.
Technical reference: Stripe documentation on authorization and capture.