ACH (Automated Clearing House) is a payment method allowing you to charge clients directly from their connected bank, rather than credit or debit cards. This is a lower-cost alternative to how online payments are normally processed.
In this guide, we’ll cover commonly asked questions about how ACH payments work in SimplePractice:
- What is ACH?
- What's the benefit of using ACH?
- What are the processing fees for ACH payments?
- How do clients set up ACH?
- Can ACH be used for recurring payments?
- What if an ACH payment fails?
- When will ACH be available for my practice?
- Do clients need to use ACH?
- How long does it take to receive ACH payments?
- Who do I contact if I have issues with ACH?
- Are ACH payments secure?
Note: This feature is in an extended testing phase and won’t be available until early next year. For more information, see When will ACH be available for my practice?
What is ACH?
ACH (Automated Clearing House) is a payment method that allows clients to make payments directly from their bank account.
These transactions are processed through our standard payment processor at a lower per-transaction rate.
What's the benefit of using ACH?
ACH payments offer the same convenience of standard online payments in SimplePractice, but at a lower per-transaction rate, and without needing a separate, bank-based payment processor.
To use ACH, clients must connect their bank account via the Client Portal. ACH payments can then be added on their end, or from your SimplePractice account.
Many clients prefer to pay directly from their bank account so they have one payment method on file that won’t expire.
What are the processing fees for ACH payments?
ACH payments are processed at a rate of 1.75% + $0.10 per transaction. For comparison, standard card payments are processed at a rate of 3.15% + $0.30 per transaction.
For example, when processing a $150 payment, ACH would save $2.30 in transaction fees.
There are no additional verification or setup costs. However, ACH payments that fail result in a $4 fee, and disputed charges result in a $15 fee. These amounts are withdrawn from your online payments account and aren’t returned.
How do clients set up ACH?
While cards can be manually added from your SimplePractice account if you have the details, ACH can only be added on the client's end.
When logging in to the Client Portal, clients will have an option to Pay with bank account (ACH) when adding a payment.
Using this option will begin a secure, one-time setup process, in which they’ll be asked to log in to their bank and verify the account.
Once verified, the bank account is saved for future payments and will appear as a payment method in their profile.
Can ACH be used for recurring payments?
At this time, AutoPay doesn’t support ACH payments.
What if an ACH payment fails?
ACH payments can fail due to issues such as insufficient funds, or the account being closed. Payment failures may take 2-3 days after the initial transaction to appear in your account, at which point you and your client will be notified as to why.
When a payment fails, we recommend trying to re-add the payment via ACH. If that fails, try a different payment method.
Note: Failed ACH payments result in a $4 fee.
When will ACH be available for my practice?
ACH is currently in an extended testing phase for a limited group of customers. At this time, we’re unable to add more customers to this group.
Do clients need to use ACH?
No. ACH is completely optional. Clients can continue to pay with credit or debit cards.
How long does it take to receive ACH payments?
ACH payments typically take 4-5 business days to process. Once processed, the payment will be included in your next payout.
For example, if your payout schedule is set to Daily, an ACH payment made on a Monday would be eligible for payout that Friday or the following Monday.
For more information, see Keeping track of your payouts.
Who do I contact if I have issues with ACH?
Contact our team with any questions about ACH. We’re happy to assist with troubleshooting, investigating failed payments, and general setup.
Are ACH payments secure?
Yes. ACH payments in SimplePractice are processed through our payment processor, Stripe. Clients using ACH will securely connect and verify their bank account during setup. Stripe then encrypts their bank information, and clients’ login credentials aren’t shared with SimplePractice or your practice.
ACH payments are governed by the Nacha Operating Rules, which include requirements for payment authorization, bank account validation, and protecting sensitive financial information. These requirements help prevent unauthorized payments and safeguard clients’ bank information.