What to look for in a payment app for your cleaning business

1. Easy to use mid-job

You're often finishing a clean when you get paid. The best payment app for cleaning work lets you charge a customer in under 30 seconds without looking up instructions.

Tap to Pay on iPhone is ideal: open the app, tap Charge, enter the amount, have the customer tap their card. Done before you've packed your last bottle.

2. Records for recurring clients

Most cleaning businesses have clients who book every week or two. You need a way to track each client's payment history, not just whether they paid this week, but their full history with you.

3. Works without a card reader

If you're moving between locations all day, the last thing you want is a card reader to charge, carry, and potentially lose. Look for an app that uses your iPhone's NFC chip directly.

4. Accepts all payment types

Some clients will prefer to pay by e-transfer, others by card, a few by cash. The app you use should handle all of these in one place.

5. Simple income tracking

At the end of the week, you should be able to see exactly what you earned. Not pieced together from your bank account. A clear summary of every payment, by day or week.

What to avoid

Watch out for apps that charge high per-transaction fees without being transparent, require a subscription before you can even accept a payment, or make it hard to export your data.