ACH: what it means
DefinitionACH is the electronic bank-to-bank transfer network used in the United States to move money between checking accounts without a card. For service businesses it offers a way to collect larger or recurring payments, often with different processing fees and timing than cards.
How it works in a service business
Customers authorize a payment from their bank account, and the funds arrive after a short delay rather than instantly. Owners consider ACH for large invoices and recurring plans where card fees add up. The tradeoff is speed and risk: transfers take longer to settle and can be returned if the account lacks funds, sometimes days later. A common mistake is treating an ACH payment as final the moment it is submitted. Wait for it to clear before releasing anything valuable, and keep written authorization from the customer. Fees and timing depend on your payment processor, so check their current terms rather than assuming. Many customers still prefer cards for small bills, so offer both.
Example
A commercial cleaning customer pays a large monthly invoice by bank transfer. The business marks it pending until the transfer settles, then closes it out a few days later.
Where Apex touches this
Rolling out
The screen and the rules are built and tested. Saving real customer data is not connected yet. Status as of 2026-10-07; the badge shows the least-built feature involved.
- IN06ACH / bank payment(Rolling out)
- IN18Recurring invoicing(Rolling out)
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