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Why Tilers Are Switching to Nickel

Unlike traditional payment processors that treat you like a "high-risk" business, Nickel was built specifically for trade professionals who handle large invoice-based transactions. We understand that:

  • $18,000 kitchen backsplash and floor installations are routine business, not suspicious activity
  • Luxury bathroom renovations with premium stone and porcelain create larger payment amounts that banks incorrectly flag
  • You need reliable processing during peak renovation seasons when homeowners are investing in upgrades
  • Your profitability depends on predictable payment timing, not account holds from processors who don't understand the tile industry

Result: No surprise account holds, no "business verification" delays, no risk department calls when you're processing legitimate tile installation payments.

Why Tilers Are Switching to Nickel

Unlike traditional payment processors that treat you like a "high-risk" business, Nickel was built specifically for trade professionals who handle large invoice-based transactions. We understand that:

  • $18,000 kitchen backsplash and floor installations are routine business, not suspicious activity
  • Luxury bathroom renovations with premium stone and porcelain create larger payment amounts that banks incorrectly flag
  • You need reliable processing during peak renovation seasons when homeowners are investing in upgrades
  • Your profitability depends on predictable payment timing, not account holds from processors who don't understand the tile industry

Result: No surprise account holds, no "business verification" delays, no risk department calls when you're processing legitimate tile installation payments.

Before Nickel vs. After Nickel

Before: The Old Way
  • Complex workflows
    Multiple systems for invoicing, payments, and bookkeeping
  • Account holds
    Banks freeze accounts over routine $18,000 kitchen tile installation payments
  • Processing fees
    Lose 1-3% on every transaction ($180-540 per typical project)
  • "High-risk" treatment
    Banks don't understand tile installation business patterns
  • Manual reconciliation
    Hours spent matching payments to invoices in QuickBooks
  • After: The Nickel Way
  • One simple system
    Everything integrated: invoicing, payments, and QuickBooks sync
  • Process large payments worry-free
    We understand large and variable transactions are normal for tilers and our support team is highly responsive if you ever run into issues
  • Zero fees on ACH
    Keep 100% of what customers pay you
  • Built for tilers
    Designed around how your business actually works
  • One-click QuickBooks sync
    Your invoices and payments automatically sync to the right customer, tile project, and job site, plus seamless AP integration
  • The Tile Industry's Payment Perfect Storm

    The $17.2 billion tile installation industry faces unique financial challenges that most payment processors don't understand. With 66,076 tile installation businesses nationwide competing primarily on price, contractors are caught between rising material costs and clients who expect competitive pricing with flexible payment terms.

    Material Cost and Cash Flow Pressure:

    Professional tile installation requires significant upfront material investments. Premium porcelain tiles cost $8-15 per square foot, while natural stone can reach $20-45 per square foot. For a typical 400-square-foot kitchen renovation, tilers often front $5,000-12,000 in materials before receiving any payment. When clients choose expensive materials like Carrara marble or large-format porcelain, the upfront investment can exceed $20,000 - money that must come out of your pocket weeks before the client pays.

    Project Complexity and Payment Timing:

    Modern tile installations aren't just about basic ceramic tiles anymore. Luxury projects involve intricate patterns, mixed materials, and custom work that can stretch installation timelines. A bathroom renovation might include subway tiles, mosaic accents, natural stone flooring, and waterproofing systems - each requiring different suppliers and payment schedules. Traditional payment processors see these complex, multi-stage projects as confusing rather than standard tile industry practice.

    Seasonal Revenue Fluctuations:

    Home renovation spending follows predictable seasonal patterns, with spring and summer generating 60-70% of annual tile installation revenue. During peak season, successful tilers might process $25,000-40,000 monthly, while winter months can drop to $8,000-12,000. Banks and payment processors designed for steady monthly revenues flag these seasonal spikes as suspicious, leading to holds right when cash flow is most critical.

    Competition and Margin Pressure:

    The tile installation market is highly price-competitive, with many contractors offering similar services. Industry research shows tilers compete primarily on price, especially for standard ceramic installations. With material costs rising due to inflation and supply chain issues, every processing fee and payment delay directly impacts already thin margins.

    The Tile Industry's Payment Perfect Storm

    The $17.2 billion tile installation industry faces unique financial challenges that most payment processors don't understand. With 66,076 tile installation businesses nationwide competing primarily on price, contractors are caught between rising material costs and clients who expect competitive pricing with flexible payment terms.

    Material Cost and Cash Flow Pressure:

    Professional tile installation requires significant upfront material investments. Premium porcelain tiles cost $8-15 per square foot, while natural stone can reach $20-45 per square foot. For a typical 400-square-foot kitchen renovation, tilers often front $5,000-12,000 in materials before receiving any payment. When clients choose expensive materials like Carrara marble or large-format porcelain, the upfront investment can exceed $20,000 - money that must come out of your pocket weeks before the client pays.

    Project Complexity and Payment Timing:

    Modern tile installations aren't just about basic ceramic tiles anymore. Luxury projects involve intricate patterns, mixed materials, and custom work that can stretch installation timelines. A bathroom renovation might include subway tiles, mosaic accents, natural stone flooring, and waterproofing systems - each requiring different suppliers and payment schedules. Traditional payment processors see these complex, multi-stage projects as confusing rather than standard tile industry practice.

    Seasonal Revenue Fluctuations:

    Home renovation spending follows predictable seasonal patterns, with spring and summer generating 60-70% of annual tile installation revenue. During peak season, successful tilers might process $25,000-40,000 monthly, while winter months can drop to $8,000-12,000. Banks and payment processors designed for steady monthly revenues flag these seasonal spikes as suspicious, leading to holds right when cash flow is most critical.

    Competition and Margin Pressure:

    The tile installation market is highly price-competitive, with many contractors offering similar services. Industry research shows tilers compete primarily on price, especially for standard ceramic installations. With material costs rising due to inflation and supply chain issues, every processing fee and payment delay directly impacts already thin margins.

    Simplified Modern Workflow

    1 Number Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com

    Send invoice (or use your existing invoicing)

    Left Arrow Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com
    2 Number Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com

    Customer pays instantly via secure link

    Left Arrow Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com
    3 Number Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com

    Payment auto-syncs to QuickBooks

    Left Arrow Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com
    4 Number Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com

    Money hits your account in 2 business days

    Built-in QuickBooks Integration

    Your payments automatically sync to the right invoice, customer, and job. No more:

  • Manual entry errors
  • Mismatched payments
  • End-of-month reconciliation nightmares
  • Hunting through bank statements
  • Compare: Nickel vs. Other Payment Platforms

    Payment Capabilities Nickel QuickBooks Pay Melio Payments Forwardly
    ACH bank transfer ✅ Free ❌ 1% with no cap ❌ 5 free / month ❌ Defaults to 1% Instant ACH
    Requires Plaid ✅ No ✅ No ❌ Highly encouraged ❌ Yes
    Credit card ✅ Flat 2.9% ❌ 2.99 – 3.8% ✅ Flat 2.9% ❌ 2.99% + Fees
    Mail a check ❌ $2 ❌ No ✅ $1.5 ❌ No

    What This Means for Your Tiling Business

    Save Money

    Money Bill Fly Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com

    Zero ACH fees: Save $4,000-8,000 per year on a typical tiling business No hidden costs: No setup fees, monthly fees, or surprise charges Early payment discounts: Pay and get paid faster, capture supplier discounts

    Save Time

    Wealth Time Money Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com

    Automated reconciliation: 3+ hours per week saved on bookkeeping Instant invoicing: Send payment links directly from job sites One system: Stop switching between payment apps, banking apps, and QuickBooks

    Reduce Risk

    Lock Key 1 Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com

    Process large payments worry-free: We understand tiling transactions and provide responsive support when needed Predictable processing: Money hits your account in 2 business days Secure payments: Bank-level security without the bank headaches

    Tiling Industry Payment Breakdown

    The tile installation industry's combination of material-heavy projects, seasonal demand, and price competition creates a perfect storm of cash flow challenges that traditional payment systems weren't designed to handle.

    Market Structure and Payment Challenges:

    With 66,076 tile installation businesses competing for projects, the industry is highly fragmented with intense price competition. Most tilers are small operations - often 1-3 person crews - who lack the negotiating power to secure favorable payment terms from banks or processors. When you're processing $15,000-30,000 monthly through ACH transfers for bathroom and kitchen renovations, even small processing fees add up to thousands annually.

    Material-Heavy Business Model:

    Unlike many trades, tile installation is material-intensive, with materials often representing 40-60% of project costs. A luxury bathroom renovation might require $12,000 in tiles, adhesives, grout, and waterproofing materials that must be purchased before installation begins. Tilers essentially become short-term lenders to their clients, financing expensive materials for 30-60 days until project completion and payment.

    Renovation Market Dynamics:

    The global ceramic tiles market is projected to reach $306.73 billion by 2030, driven largely by residential renovation projects. However, renovation work creates unique payment challenges compared to new construction. Homeowners often make material selections during the project, leading to change orders and additional payments that can confuse traditional payment processors unfamiliar with renovation workflows.

    Regional Cost Variations:

    Tile installation costs vary dramatically by location, with urban markets commanding $10-32 per square foot while rural areas might see $4-15 per square foot. This geographic variation in project values can trigger fraud alerts when tilers work across different markets or take on high-end projects that are outside their typical payment ranges.

    Tiling Industry Payment Breakdown

    The tile installation industry's combination of material-heavy projects, seasonal demand, and price competition creates a perfect storm of cash flow challenges that traditional payment systems weren't designed to handle.

    Market Structure and Payment Challenges:

    With 66,076 tile installation businesses competing for projects, the industry is highly fragmented with intense price competition. Most tilers are small operations - often 1-3 person crews - who lack the negotiating power to secure favorable payment terms from banks or processors. When you're processing $15,000-30,000 monthly through ACH transfers for bathroom and kitchen renovations, even small processing fees add up to thousands annually.

    Material-Heavy Business Model:

    Unlike many trades, tile installation is material-intensive, with materials often representing 40-60% of project costs. A luxury bathroom renovation might require $12,000 in tiles, adhesives, grout, and waterproofing materials that must be purchased before installation begins. Tilers essentially become short-term lenders to their clients, financing expensive materials for 30-60 days until project completion and payment.

    Renovation Market Dynamics:

    The global ceramic tiles market is projected to reach $306.73 billion by 2030, driven largely by residential renovation projects. However, renovation work creates unique payment challenges compared to new construction. Homeowners often make material selections during the project, leading to change orders and additional payments that can confuse traditional payment processors unfamiliar with renovation workflows.

    Regional Cost Variations:

    Tile installation costs vary dramatically by location, with urban markets commanding $10-32 per square foot while rural areas might see $4-15 per square foot. This geographic variation in project values can trigger fraud alerts when tilers work across different markets or take on high-end projects that are outside their typical payment ranges.

    Ranked #1 Easiest to Use Payment Solution by G2

    See why Nickel outranks every major competitor, including Forwardly, Melio, and Square

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