Tony Gee • September 3, 2021

What is the Best Merchant Service for Your Plumbing Business?

What is the Best Merchant Service for Your Plumbing Business?


Do you need a plumbing merchant account to start or grow your plumbing business? To keep your money coming in reliably and affordable, it is important to turn to a trustworthy payment processor, such as Reliable Payments to open a merchant account for payment processing. A merchant account is a must-have for any business in the modern world.


So, if you are among plumbers who take only cash, checks or money orders and have no way to process credit cards on the go, you should start accepting credit cards if you want to grow your business. Otherwise, you will end up waiting for days to get paid, especially if you are using the traditional invoicing system. Here are some of the key factors to consider when choosing the best merchant account for your plumbing business:


  1. Equipment to Process Your Payments


A good merchant account provider should be able to provide you with the equipment you need to process your sales. In the case of accepting debit and credit card payments, you will require tech that can read your customer’s credit card information and send it to your processor for approval or rejection. If you’ll be accepting payments online this tech is mostly software, but if you have physical retail presence, that means hardware.


Options for reading credit cards are more robust nowadays. Apart from the traditional wired credit card terminals, there are also numerous wireless terminals and mobile processing systems that combine a smartphone with a very basic credit card reader to offer the same capabilities as a dedicated terminal.


 Top merchant service providers, such as Reliable Payments offer the technology, resources and support to deliver complete end-to-end payment processing services to you and your merchant. Whether it is an online personalized payment gateway, or mobile processing on-site with your smartphone, Reliable Payment has a solution for your business.


2. Reasonable and Transparent Fees


When choosing a merchant account provider, you’ll want to look for a fee structure that is both reasonable and transparent. A reasonable fee here refers to the one where the account provider actually provides a valuable service in exchange for that fee. The fee should also be reasonably related to the value of that service. Fees should also be transparent and fully disclosed before you sign up for an account. Here is a list of fees that are commonly associated with merchant accounts:


  • Application or Account Setup Fees: While you may not see these often as you used to, some merchant service providers will charge you a one-time setup fee when you begin the service.


  • Account Maintenance Fees: Nearly all merchant providers charge some sort of fee to maintain your account. This might be billed monthly or charged monthly as an annual fee.


  • Monthly minimum: While this is not a fee in itself, a monthly minimum is a requirement that your plumbing business process a sufficient total amount in transactions to incur at least a specified amount, typically $25 in processing charges.


  • PCI Compliance Fees: All merchant service providers must comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) security standards. PCI compliance fees are paid by your processor in order to ensure your account remains PCI compliant.


  • Chargebacks: Chargebacks can occur due to technical errors, returned merchandise, or actual fraud.


  • Early Termination Fees (ETF): Some merchant account providers will sign you up for a long-term contract, typically 3 years, and will charge you an ETF if you try to close your account early for any reason.


3.  Real-Time Reporting


Look for a merchant services provider with a simple, cloud-based system that generates real-time reporting, such as Reliable Payments. This will allow easy batch viewing so you can line up your books and provide detailed reports with filters to view data, such as transaction types and time frames. Real-time reporting makes accounting and reconciliation easy.


4.  An Understanding of the Plumbing Industry


As a plumbing business owner, you certainly want to work with a merchant service provider that clearly understands the plumbing industry. Plumbers are extremely busy and want a payment processor that reduces costs and streamlines operations. Therefore, a good merchant account service should have innovative solutions to make payment collection for plumbers easy, secure and on time. Reliable Payments offers merchant account services specifically for plumbers and HVAC technicians. Their payment solutions are designed to help you save money while operating an on-the-go business to best serve your customers.


5.  Security and Fraud Prevention


We recommend working with a merchant account provider that is PCI compliant. Surprisingly, only one in 10 Merchant Services Providers that offer built-in merchant services is actually certified. Your provider is responsible for securing your customers’ card data, so working with a compliant provider will ensure you get the best security features with your merchant account. The best merchant services should also offer up-to-date software and equipment to protect against fraud.


6. Exceptional Customer Service and Support


Mysterious, unexplained charges will appear on your statement. Chargebacks will occur, even as you work hard to prevent them. For all of these and many other possible issues, you will need solid customer service and support from your merchant account provider. Most merchant account providers offer support via email or telephone. Chat support via the company’s website is also becoming more common. Go for a provider who provides customer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


So, what’s the best merchant service for your plumbing company?


The best merchant services provider will have a lasting impact on your plumbing business’ efficiency and bottom. So, it is important to take your time before making the final decision. If you are looking for the best merchant service for your plumbing business, then you should certainly try Reliable Payments. We recommend them due to their simplified payment processing solutions.


Reliable payments has many payment solutions for plumbers. Whether it is an online personalized payment gateway, or mobile processing on-site with your smartphone, Reliable Payments has a solution for your plumbing business. 

 

Apart from providing smooth payment solutions, Reliable Payments can also help you to add up to 3% back into your bottom line every single year. They will gladly offer you a Free Rate Analysis to help identify saving opportunities for your plumbing business. You’ll also get a reliable waive fee for your Client Payment link on your website, $350 value! Click Here to learn more about Reliable Payments, the best merchant service for plumbing businesses.


A laptop showing charts sits by tools and burning cash, with the text:
By Tony Gee March 31, 2026
Many plumbing companies struggle with inconsistent call volume, rising ad costs, and marketing that promises results but delivers very little. One week, the schedule is full; the next, it’s quiet, and no one explains why. At Strictly Plumbers Inc., we’ve worked with over 500 plumbing businesses since 2017 and seen the patterns firsthand. Studies show that over 70% of homeowners search online before hiring a plumber, yet most plumbing websites fail to convert those visitors into real calls. That’s where the gap lies. We know how to make your phone ring with customers every day. We work with over 500+ large, medium & small Plumbing companies and provide prestige marketing services for Plumbers. Schedule your free marketing consultation now and learn how we can help! In this blog, we break down what actually works based on real-world data, proven campaigns, and measurable results. You’ll learn the fundamentals of marketing services for plumbers that drive consistent leads, booked jobs, and real revenue without wasting money. Why Most Plumbing Marketing Fails Many plumbing companies invest in marketing but still struggle to generate steady calls and booked jobs. The problem is not effort, it is direction. When the strategy is built on the wrong foundation, results become unpredictable and frustrating. Here is why plumbing marketing fails for so many businesses and what is really happening behind the scenes. Inconsistent leads Many plumbers experience unpredictable lead flow, with busy weeks followed by slow periods. This happens when marketing lacks a stable system that consistently brings in high-intent customers. Without a reliable strategy, your schedule will always depend on chance instead of control. Agencies don’t understand plumbing A major reason plumbers struggle to get leads is that they work with agencies that treat plumbing as just another industry. Plumbing customers search with urgency and specific intent, which requires a different approach. When this is ignored, campaigns fail to connect with real buyers. Focus on traffic, not revenue One of the most common plumbing marketing mistakes is chasing website traffic instead of booked jobs. More visitors do not automatically mean more calls or revenue. What matters is attracting the right people who are ready to hire and turning them into paying customers. No tracking means no clarity Many plumbing businesses have no clear way to track where their leads are coming from. Without call tracking and data, it becomes impossible to know what is working and what is wasting money. This leads to poor decisions and continued frustration with marketing results. After working with 500+ plumbers, we saw the same patterns… What 500+ Plumbing Companies Taught Us (Core Insights) After working with hundreds of plumbing companies across different markets, we started to see clear patterns in what drives real results. These are not theories. These are proven plumbing marketing strategies built from real campaigns, real data, and real revenue outcomes.  Speed to lead Most plumbers focus on getting more website visitors, but the real difference comes from how fast you respond to incoming calls and leads. Studies show that over 70 percent of customers choose the first plumber who answers or calls back. In one campaign, simply reducing response time increased booked jobs by over 40 percent without increasing traffic. Google Maps drives the majority of calls A large percentage of plumbing leads come from local searches, especially “near me” queries. We consistently see that Google Business Profile listings generate more calls than websites when properly optimized. This is why strong local visibility is a core part of effective marketing for plumbers . Reviews directly impact revenue Plumbers with more high-quality reviews not only get more calls but also close at higher rates. Data shows that businesses with 50+ reviews can see up to 2 times more conversions compared to those with fewer than 10. Reviews build trust instantly and often determine who gets the job. Missed calls equal lost money Many plumbing companies lose thousands each month simply by missing calls or failing to follow up. One client discovered they were missing nearly 30 percent of inbound calls, which translated to tens of thousands in lost revenue. Adding a simple missed call text-back system recovered a significant portion of those jobs. Your website should convert, not just exist A good-looking website is not enough if it does not generate calls. High-performing sites focus on clear messaging, strong calls to action, and mobile responsiveness. Even slight improvements in conversion rates can have a major impact on overall plumbing business growth. Cheap marketing often leads to expensive problems Many plumbers try low-cost marketing solutions that promise quick results but deliver poor-quality leads. Over time, this leads to wasted budgets and frustration. Investing in the right strategy from the start produces more consistent and profitable outcomes. Consistency beats short-term tactics Successful plumbing companies do not rely on one channel or quick wins. They build systems that generate leads every day through SEO, local visibility, and paid ads. This consistent approach is what separates stable businesses from those that struggle month to month. 5 Core Marketing Services Every Plumber Needs to Make More Money Most plumbers do not struggle because they lack skill. They struggle because their marketing is inconsistent, unclear, or built on the wrong foundation. After working with hundreds of plumbing companies, we have seen that success is not random. It comes from using the right combination of marketing systems that consistently generate calls and booked jobs. If you want steady growth, you do not need to try everything. You need to focus on the five services that have proven to work across different markets and service areas. Below are the core marketing services every plumber needs to stay visible, competitive, and fully booked. Plumber Web Design Your website is not just an online brochure. It is your most important sales tool. When someone finds you through Google Business Profile for plumbers or clicks from local SEO for plumbers, your website is where they decide whether to call you or move on to the next company. Most plumbing websites fail because they are slow, confusing, or lack clear calls to action. A high-performing plumbing website is built to convert plumber near me searches into real phone calls. That means fast loading speed, clear service pages, strong trust signals, and click-to-call buttons placed exactly where users need them. The goal is simple. Turn every visitor into a potential job. When your website is designed correctly, it works for you around the clock, capturing leads even when you are out on a job or after hours. We offer modern plumber web design that gets potential clients searching for your services. Plumber SEO, AEO and GEO Search visibility is the backbone of consistent lead generation. When someone searches for a plumber, you need to show up at the exact moment they are ready to hire. That is where SEO for plumbing companies comes in. It helps your plumbing website rank on Google for high-intent searches that drive calls. At Strictly Plumbers, our approach goes beyond traditional SEO. We combine plumbing AI SEO services with advanced strategies like GEO for plumbers and AEO for plumber searches. This means optimizing your presence not just for search engines, but also for AI-driven results and location-based queries that dominate today’s search behavior. Our SEO also includes deep Google Business Profile optimization, which plays a major role in local rankings. We have developed a strategy specifically for plumbers that focuses on service authority, location signals, and conversion-focused content. The result is simple. You do not just rank your plumbing website. You attract the right customers who are ready to book. Google PPC and LSA If you want immediate results, paid advertising is one of the fastest ways to generate calls. Google Ads for plumbers allow you to appear at the top of search results when customers are actively looking for services. These are not casual visitors. These are people with urgent problems who are ready to hire. Plumbing PPC campaigns, when set up correctly, target high-intent keywords such as emergency plumbing leads. This ensures your budget focuses on clicks more likely to lead to real jobs. Local Services Ads also play a major role. LSA for plumbers puts your business in front of customers with the Google Guaranteed badge, which builds instant trust. This increases the likelihood of calls and booked appointments. The key is not just running ads. It is about managing them properly, tracking every call, and optimizing cost per job so you get the highest return on your investment. Yelp Advertising For Plumbers Yelp remains one of the most powerful platforms for service-based businesses, especially in competitive markets. Many homeowners use Yelp to compare options, read reviews, and choose a plumber they can trust. As a certified Yelp advertising partner, Strictly Plumbers helps plumbing companies turn Yelp into a consistent source of inbound calls. We optimize your profile, position your business effectively, and run targeted campaigns that put you in front of customers actively searching for plumbing services. The advantage of Yelp advertising is intent. These users are not browsing. They are ready to hire. When your profile is properly optimized and supported by strong reviews, it becomes a powerful driver of high-quality leads. With the right strategy, Yelp can become a reliable channel that supports your overall marketing system and keeps your phone ringing. Business Coaching and Sales Training For Plumbers Marketing does not end when the phone rings. What happens after the call determines whether you win or lose the job. That is why business coaching and sales training are essential parts of a successful plumbing marketing system. We work with plumbing companies to improve how they handle calls, price jobs, and communicate value to customers. Small improvements in these areas can lead to significant increases in conversion rates and overall revenue. Many plumbers invest in marketing but miss opportunities due to missed calls, weak communication, or inconsistent follow-up. By strengthening your sales process, you maximize the value of every lead that comes in. This is where real growth happens. When marketing and sales work together, you do not just get more calls. You turn more of those calls into paying customers and long-term business. The Plumbing Revenue System Most marketing agencies focus on traffic. More clicks, more impressions, more visitors. But traffic alone does not pay the bills. What matters is how that traffic turns into real jobs and real revenue. That is where our plumbing lead generation system stands out. At Strictly Plumbers Inc., we focus on the full pipeline. Every successful campaign follows a clear flow. Traffic turns into leads. Leads turn into calls. Calls turn into booked jobs. Booked jobs turn into revenue. If any part of this chain is broken, you lose money. Our plumber marketing system is built to strengthen every step. We bring in high-intent traffic through search, ads, and local visibility. Then we convert that traffic into leads using optimized websites and strong calls to action. From there, we help improve call handling and follow-up so more inquiries turn into booked appointments. Here is what that looks like in real numbers. A plumbing company might generate 1,000 monthly visitors. If their website converts at just 3 percent, that is 30 leads. If only half of those leads call, they end up with 15 conversations. Now, imagine improving each stage. Increase conversion to 6 percent, improve call handling, and suddenly those same 1,000 visitors can produce 40 to 50 real job opportunities. That is not luck. That is a well-structured plumbing sales funnel designed to capture, convert, and close. We do not just bring traffic. We build a system that turns attention into consistent, predictable revenue. Why is Strictly Plumbers Different? Most agencies talk about clicks, impressions, and rankings. But plumbing companies do not run on metrics. They run on calls, booked jobs, and revenue. That is where Strictly Plumbers Inc. stands apart. Strictly Plumbers was built by Tony Gee, a plumber with 15 years of real field experience. That foundation changes everything. Instead of guessing what works, we understand how customers think, how they search, and what makes them pick up the phone. Over the years, we have worked with more than 500 plumbing companies, helping them fix broken marketing systems and turn them into predictable revenue streams. Our approach to marketing for plumbers is simple. Focus on what actually drives business growth. That means more calls, better-quality leads, and higher-ticket jobs. We are not just plumbing marketing experts. We are partners in your growth. Our strategies are built around real data, real campaigns, and real case studies that show what is possible when marketing is done right. Ready to Fix What’s Holding Your Plumbing Business Back? If your marketing feels inconsistent, unpredictable, or simply not delivering the results you expected, you are not alone. Many plumbing companies invest in plumbing marketing services but never see the return they should. That is the gap we help close. There is a better way to generate more plumbing leads without wasting time or money on ineffective strategies. When your marketing is built correctly, it creates steady plumbing growth and gives you control over your schedule and revenue. Book a free marketing consultation with Strictly Plumbers Inc. today. We will walk you through what is working, what is missing, and exactly how to turn your marketing into a system that consistently brings in calls and booked jobs.
AI SEO For Plumbers
By Tony Gee March 10, 2026
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and show you why immediate implementation is critical for your company's survival and growth.
A man is pointing at a sign that says plumbline
By Tony Gee March 6, 2024
In the competitive world of plumbing services, standing out and offering unparalleled customer service can make all the difference. That's where PlumbLine comes in, a game-changing answering service designed specifically for plumbing companies. What sets PlumbLine apart is its innovative pricing model: charging exclusively per booked call. This approach not only ensures cost-effectiveness but also aligns directly with the success of your plumbing business. Tailored for Your Success Understanding the unique challenges plumbing companies face, PlumbLine offers a bespoke solution that caters specifically to the needs of this industry. Our service ensures that every call is answered with professionalism and expertise, acting as an extension of your own business. The per booked call model means you only pay for results, making it a risk-free investment in your company's growth and customer satisfaction. One of the standout features of our service is the ability to book appointments directly into your company's scheduling software. This seamless integration ensures that the booking process is as efficient and error-free as possible, further enhancing the customer experience and streamlining your operations. How PlumbLine Works PlumbLine employs a team of highly trained professionals 24/7/265, who understand the nuances of the plumbing industry. When a potential client calls, our representatives handle the call with the same care and knowledge as if they were your own employees. They are trained to not only answer general inquiries but also to effectively book appointments, ensuring that potential leads turn into actual business. This efficiency boosts your conversion rate and, ultimately, your bottom line. Cost-Effective and Efficient By charging only for booked calls, PlumbLine ensures that your marketing dollars are spent wisely. This pricing strategy eliminates the concern of paying for services that don't directly contribute to your revenue. It's a straightforward, transparent approach that benefits your business by directly linking our success to yours. This model encourages us to work harder for your business, as our growth is directly tied to your success. Benefits Beyond Savings Aside from the obvious financial benefits, partnering with PlumbLine brings numerous advantages to your plumbing business: **24/7 Availability:** Missed calls are missed opportunities. PlumbLine ensures you're always available to your customers, capturing leads even outside of regular business hours. **Professional Representation:** First impressions matter. Our team handles each call with the professionalism and courtesy your customers expect. **Direct Booking into Your Scheduling Software:** Streamline your appointment setting process with our direct booking feature, ensuring efficient scheduling and customer satisfaction. **Increased Conversion Rates:** With expert handling of inquiries and appointment bookings, you'll see a significant increase in conversion rates, driving more business your way. Join the PlumbLine Family  PlumbLine is more than just an answering service; it's a partner in your business's growth. Our unique pay-per-booked-call model, combined with our industry-specific expertise and direct booking capabilities, makes us the ideal choice for plumbing companies looking to enhance their customer service and increase their revenue. With PlumbLine, you're not just hiring an answering service; you're investing in a tailored solution that grows with your business. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help elevate your plumbing business to new heights.