Guide
ACH or card for storage rent: what each one costs you
Every time a tenant pays rent by card, roughly 3% of it goes to the processor. ACH bank debit costs a fraction of that. For rent that's the same every month, ACH is usually the better fit, but cards still have their place.
What each one costs
Standard US pricing from Stripe, which most storage payment tools are built on, is 2.9% + 30¢ for a card payment and 0.8% for ACH, capped at $5.
Here's what that means for one $150 rent payment:
The gap grows with the rent. Because ACH stops at $5, anything over $625 a month costs the same to collect.
| Monthly rent | Card fee | ACH fee |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | $3.20 | $0.80 |
| $150 | $4.65 | $1.20 |
| $250 | $7.55 | $2 |
| $400 | $11.90 | $3.20 |
| $625 | $18.43 | $5 |
Across 100 tenants paying $150 a month, that's $5,580 a year on cards against $1,440 on ACH.
Why ACH suits storage rent
- The amount rarely changes. Rent comes out on the due date every month, which is exactly what bank debit is good at.
- Bank accounts don't expire. Cards get replaced every few years, and every replacement is a failed payment you have to chase. A bank account usually stays put for as long as the tenant does.
- The cap helps on bigger units. A tenant in a 10x30 pays the same $5 fee as anyone else over $625.
Where cards still win
- Speed. A card payment is confirmed straight away. ACH takes a few business days to clear, and a payment can still bounce for insufficient funds after it looked paid.
- Catching up on arrears. If a tenant is paying off a late balance to get their gate access back, you'll want the money confirmed before you open the gate for them. Take that one by card.
- Same-day move-ins. Some banks link instantly, but others need a day or two to verify the account. If someone wants the keys today, a card gets them moving.
- Some people just prefer cards. Rewards points are a real reason, and it's not worth losing a tenant over.
Can you pass the card fee on?
Sometimes, but it's messy. Some states restrict card surcharges, the card networks have their own rules and notice requirements, and debit cards can't be surcharged at all. Most owner-operators find it easier to make ACH the default and absorb the card fee for the tenants who still want one.
Getting tenants onto ACH
- Offer bank debit first at move-in, with cards as the alternative.
- Keep the explanation short: rent comes out of your bank account on the due date, and you'll get a receipt.
- When a card payment fails because the card expired, suggest switching to bank debit instead of a new card.
- Make sure tenants can change their payment method themselves, so it never needs a phone call.
How it works in UnitsHQ
UnitPay, the payments built into UnitsHQ, takes card and ACH. Tenants link their bank account in their portal, either during online move-in or later, and each invoice is charged on its due date. Overdue reminders wait while a payment is scheduled, and if you use QuickBooks Online or Xero, each payment lands there against the right invoice.
The fees are the ones above, 0.8% capped at $5 for ACH and 2.9% + 30¢ for cards. They come out of your payout, and US tenants are never surcharged. Our payments page has the rest, and chasing overdue storage payments covers the tenants who still fall behind.