Features
4 min read

Payment Processing

Last updated May 4, 2026

Accept payments for inspections directly through Hometrace.

Hometrace integrates with Stripe to handle payment processing for your inspections. Get paid by accepting credit cards and debit cards directly through the platform: on your booking page, in final invoices, and anywhere clients pay.

Connecting Stripe

Before you can accept payments, you need to connect a Stripe account. The setup is short and only happens once. See Connect Stripe to Get Paid for the step-by-step.

Fees

Hometrace charges a flat 3.25% + $0.40 per transaction. That's a single, predictable rate that covers Stripe's variable processing fees, so you don't pay Stripe separately on top.

The fee is deducted automatically from each transaction; you receive the net amount in your payout.

Services and line-item invoicing

Final invoices are built from the services and fees you've configured under Settings → Payments → Services & Fees. Each base service, add-on, and fee becomes a separate line item on the invoice.

See Pricing, Services, and Fees for setting up your service catalog.

State and local tax surcharges

Hometrace does not automatically apply taxes. Tax compliance is your responsibility as the inspector.

If your jurisdiction requires you to add a tax or surcharge to invoices, you can configure it as a fee under Settings → Payments → Services & Fees. The fee catalog includes a generic State Tax preset that you rename and set the rate on. For example, an inspector in Hawaii would add the State Tax preset, rename it to "Hawaii GET", set the rate to 4.5%, and set "Apply to" to Running total so the tax applies to the full amount the customer pays. An inspector in Texas might rename it to "Sales Tax" and set the rate to their local sales tax rate.

You're responsible for the legality, accuracy, and remittance of any taxes or surcharges you charge. Some states restrict or cap credit-card surcharges, so check your state's rules before enabling pass-through fees.

Recording payments outside Stripe

Sometimes a client pays you in cash at the door, hands you a check, or sends you a Zelle or Venmo transfer. Hometrace lets you record those payments against the inspection so the report unlocks and your records stay accurate, even though the money never moved through Stripe.

Steps

  1. Open the inspection in your inspector dashboard. You'll land on step 1 (Property Details).
  2. At the top of the page, find the Payment row. Click the ⋮ menu on the right side of that row.
  3. Choose Record External Payment from the dropdown.
  4. Pick the Payment Method: Cash, Check, Venmo, Zelle, or Other.
  5. Optionally enter the Amount (defaults to the inspection's full balance) and a short Note (for example, "Received at inspection" or the check number).
  6. Click Confirm Payment.

The inspection is marked Paid via [method] with your note attached. Any active Stripe checkout link for this inspection is automatically expired so the client can't accidentally double-pay.

Tips and caveats

  • External payments don't go through Stripe, so Hometrace's 3.25% + $0.40 platform fee doesn't apply, and there's no payout to track. The funds are between you and the client.
  • The State Tax preset and other configured fees still appear on the invoice, but you're responsible for collecting and remitting them when the client pays you directly.
  • You can undo an external payment if you recorded it by mistake. The system will revert the payment status to PENDING. (You can't undo a real Stripe payment this way; only manually-recorded ones.)
  • Only the inspector can record an external payment. Clients can't mark themselves as paid.

Payouts

Stripe handles payouts to your bank account on its standard schedule (typically 2 business days for new accounts, faster once you're established). View payout status and balance details under Settings → Payments in Hometrace, or in your Stripe Dashboard for full payout history.

Refunds

Issue refunds directly from the inspection page in Hometrace, or from your Stripe Dashboard. Refund processing follows Stripe's standard timing.

Disputes and chargebacks

Stripe handles disputes through their standard process. Hometrace will notify you of any chargebacks and link to the dispute in your Stripe Dashboard so you can submit evidence.