Payment Processing for Moving Companies
Quick answer: Moving companies need a mobile terminal for card payments at pickup and delivery, card-on-file for deposit collection, customer financing for large moves ($3,000+), and invoicing for corporate relocation accounts. Interchange-plus pricing saves 15-30% on the high-ticket transactions typical in the moving industry.
Moving companies have unique payment timing: deposit at booking, final balance at delivery (often a different amount than the estimate), and sometimes storage fees billed monthly. Your payment processing needs to handle all three scenarios smoothly.
Payment Flow for Moving Companies
1. Deposit at booking
Collect 10-25% deposit when the customer books the move. Card-on-file tokenization stores the payment credentials for the balance charge later. A virtual terminal handles phone bookings.
2. Final payment at delivery
The final amount may differ from the estimate (extra items, stairs, distance adjustments). A mobile terminal at delivery lets you enter the final amount and collect card payment on the spot. Card-present rates are lower than keyed-in rates.
3. Storage fees
If you offer storage, card-on-file recurring billing automates monthly storage charges. Pre-charge notifications keep customers informed.
4. Corporate relocation
For corporate accounts, send invoices with payment links via email. Support net-30 terms and ACH payments for lower transaction costs on large invoices.
Why Interchange-Plus Matters for Movers
Moving companies have high average tickets ($500-10,000+). On a $3,000 residential move paid with a debit card:
- Square: $78.10 (2.6% + $0.10)
- Interchange-plus: $20-35
- Savings per transaction: $43-58
A moving company processing $50K/month saves $5,000-8,000/year with interchange-plus.
Customer Financing for Large Moves
Offering Buy Now Pay Later for moves over $3,000 removes the biggest objection to hiring professional movers: cost. Customers pay over 6-12 months while you receive full payment. This is especially effective for:
- Long-distance moves ($5,000-15,000)
- Full-service packing and moving
- Corporate relocations with employee cost sharing
Chargeback Prevention for Movers
Moving chargebacks typically come from:
- Damage claims — customer claims items were damaged and disputes the charge
- Price disputes — final bill higher than estimate
- Cancellation conflicts — customer cancels but disputes the deposit
Prevention:
- Document conditions at pickup (photos/video)
- Provide written final bill before delivery is complete
- Have the customer sign acknowledgment of final charges
- Clear cancellation policy stated in the booking agreement
- Chargeback alerts to intercept disputes
Equipment for Moving Companies
- Clover Go — portable for drivers to collect payment at delivery
- Clover Flex — handheld with receipt printer and signature capture
- Virtual terminal — for office staff booking moves over the phone
Contact Unison for moving company payment processing, or see contractor payment solutions.