Stick with cash or transfer
A small job, paid the same day, for someone you know and trust. If the money was never really at risk, you don't need us - and we'd rather tell you that than sell you something.
How you get paid
Every method gets you paid.
One of them stops you getting stiffed.
Bank transfer, cash, a card reader - they all move money. None of them ask for a deposit, get the price agreed in writing, or chase the balance for you. Here's the honest comparison.
Side by side
Four ways to take payment
Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column.
| What matters | Bank transfer | Cash | Card reader / PayPal | WorkPaid This is us |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit before you start | No | No | No | Yes |
| A written quote they accept the price and scope, on the record | No | No | No | Yes |
| Photo record of the job before-and-after evidence, kept on file | No | No | No | Yes |
| Automatic payment reminders chases the balance so you don't have to | No | No | No | Yes |
| Milestone / stage payments big jobs paid in stages, built in | No | No | No | Yes |
| VAT invoice generated for you | No | No | No | Yes |
| Branded, professional pay page | No | No | Limited | Yes |
| Paid straight to your own bank no one holds your money | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cost | Free | Free | Fee every transaction | 2.5%, capped £500 |
| Chargeback risk | None | None | Yes, on cards | Card only; none bank-to-bank |
Limited · A card reader gives a receipt, but no quote, deposit or accepted price. WorkPaid fees: 2.5% of the payment, capped at £500 per quote - pass it to the customer or absorb it.
Straight answer
When a bank transfer is genuinely fine
Where it leaves you exposed
Anything you price up in advance, start before you're paid, or couldn't afford to write off. A deposit up front, a price they've accepted, and reminders that chase themselves - that's what a bank transfer can't give you.
Common questions
The ones trades actually ask
- Can't I just use a bank transfer?
- You can, and for a small job with someone you trust, it's fine. The gap is everything before the money moves: no deposit, no accepted price, no reminder when they go quiet. A bank transfer moves money - it doesn't protect the job.
- Is WorkPaid cheaper than a card reader?
- It depends on the job. A card reader takes a fee on every transaction; WorkPaid is 2.5% capped at £500 per quote, and you can either pass that fee to the customer or take payment bank-to-bank with no card fee at all. On a big job, the cap and the bank-to-bank option matter.
- Do you hold my money, like an escrow?
- No. Payments run through Stripe straight to your own bank account - WorkPaid never holds your funds. With Stripe Instant Payouts the deposit can land in minutes.
- What about chargebacks?
- A card payment can be disputed with the bank, whatever tool you use to take it. WorkPaid also lets the customer pay bank-to-bank, which cannot be charged back - the safer route for a large final balance.
Keep the bank transfer.
Add the protection.
No subscription, no contract - 2.5% on payments we collect, capped at £500 per quote. Your customer can still pay bank-to-bank; you just get the deposit, the accepted price and the chasing done for you.
Or see the problems it solves.