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For many customers, the biggest barrier to booking a job isn’t the need—it’s the cost.
Customer financing makes your services more accessible by breaking large payments into manageable installments, so customers feel more confident moving forward and you can win more work.
Whether you choose in-house financing or a third-party option, here’s how it works and how to get started.
Quick answer: How do you offer financing to customers?
To offer financing, pick a model: in-house (you collect payments) or third-party (a lender pays you upfront, customer repays them). Third-party is lower-risk and faster to set up: providers like Wisetack integrate directly with service software, approve customers in minutes, and pay you in full when the job is done. Fees typically run 2%–8% of the job total.
Key takeaways
Offering financing starts with the right setup, clear promotion, and a simple customer process.
Choose your financing model: Decide whether in-house or third-party financing makes more sense for your business.
Set up your financing process: Define your terms, approval criteria, or lender requirements before offering it.
Promote financing clearly: Add financing details to your website, estimates, and customer conversations.
Get approval before work begins: Make sure financing is confirmed before scheduling or starting the job.
Complete the job and collect payment: Finish the work, then get paid through your payment plan or financing partner
Table of contents
Why offer customer financing?
Financing can be a powerful addition to your business, especially when it comes to increasing sales.
“Offering financing really makes it easier to sell bigger jobs,” says Daric Johnson, co-owner of The Electric Co., an electric company based in Patterson, California.
When you offer financing, you give customers a way to move forward without delaying essential work. They can spread payments out over time, stay within budget, and still get the job done. Meanwhile, you still get paid.
It’s a win-win: you close more jobs, and your customers get the services they need without the financial strain. Over time, this can lead to more repeat business and referrals.
Beyond increased sales, financing can also help you:
Reach new customers
Customers value flexibility, especially when unexpected repairs pop up. Offering financing can bring in customers who might not have been able to afford your services otherwise.
Win jobs competitors can’t close
While more home service businesses are offering financing, it’s still not universal. Adding it can help you stand out in your local market.
Make it easier to say yes to bigger repairs
Financing makes it easier for customers to say yes to necessary repairs and maintenance. Instead of putting off important work, they can move forward with a payment plan that fits their budget.
That flexibility can lead to better experiences, stronger loyalty, and more referrals—especially if you pair it with a solid referral program.
Learn more: 15+ referral program ideas to attract more customers
In-house vs. third-party financing: what’s the difference?
You have two main options: in-house financing and third-party financing. Each comes with trade-offs.
In-house
With in-house financing, you offer payment plans directly to your customers. You act as both the service provider and the lender.
That means setting up a system to track payments, terms, and timelines—along with managing invoices and customer agreements.
One thing many business owners overlook: You may need to record income as each payment comes in and track the rest as deferred income. That impacts your books, taxes, and cash flow reporting.
Before you offer in-house financing, check with an accountant to set up your payment terms and recording process correctly—doing it wrong can cause issues at tax time.
Third-party
Third-party financing lets you offer flexible payment options without taking on the lending risk. A financing provider handles approvals, credit checks, and payment collection.
For example, Housecall Pro’s financing (powered by Wisetack) lets customers apply online in minutes and get instant decisions—without paperwork or sharing sensitive info with you. Once the job is completed, you still get paid in full, while your customer pays over time.
The trade-off is cost. Most third-party providers charge between 2%–8% per transaction. On a $3,000 job at 3%, that’s $90—weigh that against how much you’d lose if the customer didn’t book at all.
Which financing model is right for your business?
The right choice depends on how much risk and admin work you’re willing to take on. Here’s how the two models compare across the factors that matter most for home service businesses.
| Criteria | In-House | Third-Party |
| Cash flow | Payments collected over time; cash flow is delayed | Paid in full upfront when the job is complete |
| Risk | You absorb missed or late payments | Lender assumes credit and collection risk |
| Admin burden | You manage agreements, schedules, and follow-ups | Provider handles approvals, credit checks, and collections |
| Fees | None, but factor in time and any software costs | Typically 2%–8% per transaction |
| Control | You set your own terms and approval criteria | Terms and approvals are set by the lender |
Comparison for home service businesses; fee ranges vary by provider and job size.
How customer financing works: step by step
The process varies slightly depending on your setup, but the basics are the same:
Step 1: Vet and approve the customer
Before starting the job, make sure the customer is approved for financing.
If you offer in-house financing, you’ll review and approve applications yourself. If you go with a third-party provider, wait until the lender approves or denies the application. Some platforms let customers pre-qualify directly from an estimate, helping you avoid wasted time on jobs that won’t move forward.
Avoid starting work until financing is confirmed. Otherwise, you risk not getting paid if the application falls through.
Step 2: Complete the job
Once financing is approved and terms are agreed upon, complete the job as you normally would.
Step 3: Receive payment
With in-house financing, you’ll collect payments over time based on the agreed plan. With third-party financing, you typically receive full payment upfront, and the customer repays the lender over time.
“[Housecall Pro’s” integration with Wisetack made everything so easy,” says Johnson. “The customer handles everything through the platform. We finish the project, they hit job completed, and the funds are transferred—it’s that easy.”
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How to get started
Getting started with customer financing may feel like a big step, but the process is straightforward.
Step 1: Set terms or choose a lender
First, decide how you want to offer financing. If you go with a third-party provider, choose one that fits your business needs, including loan minimums and fees. If you choose in-house financing, define your terms clearly, including approval criteria, payment schedules, and tracking systems.
Step 2: Start offering financing
Once everything is set up, begin offering financing as part of your services. You can also embed financing options directly into your estimates and invoices, so customers can apply as soon as they review pricing.
Step 3: Promote your financing
Customers won’t use financing if they don’t know it’s available. Add a dedicated financing page to your website explaining how it works and how to apply. Make it easy to find.
You should also mention financing on estimates and quotes. A simple note can prompt customers to explore the option.
Step 4: Accept applications
If you offer in-house financing, collect and review applications based on your criteria.
With third-party financing, direct customers to apply through your provider. The lender will handle approval and notify the customer.
What happens if a customer’s financing application is declined?
If a customer’s application is declined, don’t treat it as a dead end. Start by asking if they’d like to split the cost—part upfront, part financed—if they can cover a portion out of pocket. Some customers qualify for a lower amount than the full job total, which can still make the project workable. You can also break the job into phases, completing the most urgent work first and financing the rest later. If none of that works, offer to revisit once their financial situation changes—declined applicants can reapply, and approval odds can improve over time.
Get started with financing through Housecall Pro
If managing credit checks, paperwork, and payment collections sounds like more admin than you want, Housecall Pro’s integration with Wisetack handles it for you. Customers apply online in minutes, get an instant decision with no impact to their credit score, and never have to share sensitive financial information with you directly.
You can finance jobs between $500 and $25,000, with terms up to 120 months and approval rates above 80%. Rates start as low as 0% APR for qualified customers, and you pay a flat 3.9% transaction fee—no subscription or processing fees on top of that. Once the job is done, you get paid in full.
Learn more about our financing or try a free 14-day trial of Housecall Pro to get access to financing, scheduling, dispatching, estimates, and invoicing all in one place.
Customer financing FAQ
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Does offering financing cost me anything?
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With third-party financing through Wisetack, you pay a flat 3.9% transaction fee on the financed amount. There are no subscription fees or processing fees on top of that. On a $3,000 job, that’s $117—weigh that against the margin you’d lose if the customer didn’t book at all. In-house financing has no provider fees, but factor in your time managing payments and any software you use to track them.
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What credit score do customers need to qualify for financing?
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Wisetack typically approves customers with a credit score of 550 or higher, though approval isn’t based on credit score alone—income, existing debt, and other factors are considered. Checking options uses a soft credit pull, so it won’t affect your customer’s score. If a customer is approved, accepting an offer and their repayment behavior can impact their credit going forward. Approval rates vary, but Wisetack approves more than 80% of applicants. If a customer isn’t approved, they can explore other payment options or apply again if their financial situation changes.
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When do I get paid if I offer third-party financing?
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With Wisetack, you get paid in full once the job is marked complete—you don’t wait for the customer to finish repaying the lender. The customer repays Wisetack over time; that’s between them and the lender.
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Can customers see financing options before they approve an estimate?
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Yes. With Housecall Pro’s Wisetack integration, customers can pre-qualify directly from a sales proposal. They see which options they qualify for before committing to the job, which makes it easier to say yes.
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Does in-house financing affect my taxes?
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Yes. Installment sales can change when income is taxable, how you report deferred revenue, and what you owe at year-end. The specifics depend on your business structure and how your books are set up, so this isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Consult an accountant familiar with small service businesses to set things up the right way.
