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Payment processing times, transaction fees, and client payment options
Payment processing times, transaction fees, and client payment options

How payment processing works in HoneyBook, how long payment processing takes, and transaction fees in HoneyBook.

Updated over a week ago

Payment processing times

There are two ways for your clients to complete payments, using either smart files or lead forms. Each of these collection methods has an impact on payment processing times.

You can track the status of a specific payment from the Payments tab of your Bookkeeping tool. Learn more about tracking payments in HoneyBook.

Business days are Monday-Friday, excluding bank holidays. All times are approximate and may be subject to delay based on bank processes.

If the payment hasn't finished processing within the estimated time frame, you may need to take additional action on your account. Here’s how you can troubleshoot why the payment hasn't finished processing on time.

Payment capturing

Payment type

Processing time

Smart files

Cardholder Entered or Card on File payment

*Review additional information about time of day impact on transaction processing times below.

2–3 business days

Smart files

Bank transfer

7–8 business days

Lead forms

All payment types

5–7 business days

📣 Note

Payment processing cannot be expedited, and cannot be stopped or reversed once it begins. If your client made an error in their payment, you can refund their payment once it's finished processing.

Client paid with a credit card before 4pm PT

Payments made with a credit card before 4pm will likely land in your account after two business days.

Client paid with a credit card after 4pm PT

Payments made with a credit card after 4pm will likely land in your account after three business days.


Transaction fees

Transaction fees are necessary for payment processors like HoneyBook to be able to facilitate the transaction between your client’s card or bank accounts and your account—and these fees are among the lowest in the market. The fees are deducted from the payment total before it’s deposited into your bank account.

Transaction type

Transaction fee

Cash/check

No fee (processed outside HoneyBook)

ACH/bank transfer

1.5% of payment total (flat fee)

“Cardholder Entered” payment

2.9% of payment total + 25 cents

“Card on File” payment

3.4% of payment total + 9 cents

Percentages are based on the payment total, and the additional fees for card payments (9 cents and 25 cents respectively) are added to that percentage.

You can review the total amount that was deducted for processing fees in your downloadable reports:

  1. Select the Payments completed report type and the timeframe

  2. Once downloaded, you'll see a column for Transaction Fee in the spreadsheet

📚 Tip

When you refund a client, transaction fees will be added back to the refund amount. You won't lose any money for granting a refund, and the client will receive the full amount of their payment back.


How your client can pay

How your client chooses to pay will affect both how long the transaction takes to process, as well as the fees assessed. These are the different ways they can pay:

  • Cash/check: Your client pays you outside of HoneyBook

  • ACH transfer/bank transfer: Your client enters their bank details at checkout

    • Payments made using bank transfer take longer to process, but have lower transaction fees than credit card payments

  • Cardholder Entered payment: A payment made using a credit card

  • Card on File payment:

    • A payment made using credit card where the card details were previously saved

    • Payments made via autopay

You can adjust your clients' payment options on a file-by-file basis. Learn how to set (and check) client payment options here.

Still have questions? Feel free to send us a message by clicking the Question Mark icon on any HoneyBook page. Our team is always happy to help!

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