Typical Range
HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Contractors typically pay 2.2%–2.9% effective rate
Heating/plumbing/AC contractors (1711), electrical contractors (1731)
HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Contractors processing profile
| Typical effective rate | 2.2% – 2.9% on interchange-plus pricing |
|---|---|
| Relevant MCC codes | 1711, 1731, 1799 |
| Card mix | Field-collected card-present payments (technician taking payment at the job) mix with phone/online payments, which carry different rates |
| Typical ticket size | $250–$1,200+ for service calls and repairs — among the highest average tickets of any small-business vertical, making rate differences especially impactful |
Where hvac, plumbing & electrical contractors margin leaks out
- ·Mobile card readers used by field technicians often run on a separate, higher-cost processing agreement than the office's main terminal
- ·Financing programs for large jobs (new HVAC systems, major repairs) frequently bundle in processing costs that aren't disclosed as a separate line
- ·High ticket size makes 'as low as 1.5%' teaser-rate marketing especially misleading — the blended real-world rate is usually much higher
- ·Card-not-present phone payments for scheduling deposits carry higher interchange than card-present, which adds up on high-ticket service calls
Junk fees to check for on your statement
- ·Mobile reader markup above office rate
- ·PCI non-compliance fee
- ·Monthly minimum fee
- ·High-ticket surcharge tier
- ·Batch fee across multiple technician devices
Cash discount & surcharge programs
With ticket sizes this high, running the surcharge vs. cash discount math (see our calculators) often shows meaningful savings — check your state's surcharge rules first.
Common questions
What do hvac, plumbing & electrical contractors typically pay for credit card processing?
On interchange-plus pricing, hvac, plumbing & electrical contractors typically run a 2.2%–2.9% effective rate, depending on card mix and ticket size. Field-collected card-present payments (technician taking payment at the job) mix with phone/online payments, which carry different rates
What junk fees should hvac, plumbing & electrical contractors watch for on their statement?
Common ones in this vertical include Mobile reader markup above office rate, PCI non-compliance fee, Monthly minimum fee, High-ticket surcharge tier, and Batch fee across multiple technician devices. None of these are required by card networks — they're processor-added.
Is a cash discount or surcharge program a good fit for this vertical?
With ticket sizes this high, running the surcharge vs. cash discount math (see our calculators) often shows meaningful savings — check your state's surcharge rules first.
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More fee guides
Rate ranges reflect typical interchange-plus pricing based on industry-standard interchange categories for this business type. Your actual rate depends on your specific card mix, ticket size, and processor. This is not a quote or guarantee — use the calculator above for a figure specific to your business.