Original data · Snapshot v0.7 · fees checked 2026-10-23
Payment fees: HoneyBook vs Dubsado vs Bonsai
Short answer: for retainer invoices paid by bank transfer, Dubsado is far cheaper because its ACH fee is 0.8% capped at $5. On a $6,000 monthly retainer, ACH costs $5 on Dubsado, $60 on Bonsai and $90 on HoneyBook, which is $1,020/yr between the cheapest and the dearest for one client. For card payments HoneyBook is slightly cheaper (from 2.7% + 10¢ vs 2.9% + $0.30). Above roughly $625, Dubsado's ACH fee stops growing.
US merchant, US client, domestic payment. “Example size” invoices are worked examples, not market data. Software prices are on the Pricing Snapshot; the fee rules below are read from each vendor's own pricing page or help center.
Fee per payment at common invoice sizes
| Tool · method | $500 | $2,500 | $6,000 | $10,000 | $6,000 × 12 / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HoneyBook · ACH | $7.50 | $37.50 | $90 | $150 | $1,080 |
| Dubsado · ACH | $4 | $5 | $5 | $5 | $60 |
| Bonsai · ACH | $5 | $25 | $60 | $100 | $720 |
| HoneyBook · Card | $13.60 | $67.60 | $162.10 | $270.10 | $1,945.20 |
| Dubsado · Card | $14.80 | $72.80 | $174.30 | $290.30 | $2,091.60 |
| Bonsai · Card | $14.80 | $72.80 | $174.30 | $290.30 | $2,091.60 |
Cheapest ACH on a $6,000 invoice: Dubsado $5 · Bonsai $60 · HoneyBook $90.
The rules (receipts)
| Tool | Processor | Method | Rule | Quoted evidence | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HoneyBook | HoneyBook Payments | Card | 2.7% + $0.10 | “Card fees start at 2.7% + 10¢” | “Start at” rate; HoneyBook may charge more for some cards |
| HoneyBook | HoneyBook Payments | ACH | 1.5% | “Bank transfer fees are 1.5%” | No cap stated |
| Dubsado | Dubsado Payments (Stripe) | Card | 2.9% + $0.30 | “US-based cards 2.9% + $0.30” · “Dubsado does not charge any additional payment fees” | US-based cards; international cards 4.4% + $0.30. Dubsado adds no fee of its own. |
| Dubsado | Dubsado Payments (Stripe) | ACH | 0.8%, max $5 | “ACH direct debit (US Bank payments) 0.8% (up to a $5 maximum)” | US merchants + US client bank accounts only; ~4 business days to settle; $20,000/week starting limit; $4 per failed ACH |
| Bonsai | Bonsai Payments | Card | 2.9% + $0.30 | “Credit and Debit Cards … 2.9% + $0.30” | Amex 3.25% + $0.30; Instant Payouts add 1.5%; international payments add a 2.5% FX fee |
| Bonsai | Bonsai Payments | ACH | 1.0%, min $1 | “Bank Transfer (ACH): 1.0% ($1 minimum)” | No cap stated; 2–5 business days to process |
Gotchas that change the answer
- Bonsai with Stripe or PayPal: where Bonsai Payments is available, routing payments through another processor adds a 1% platform fee (1.35% on Amex via Stripe). Source.
- Dubsado ACH limits: US merchants and US client bank accounts only, about 4 business days to settle, a $20,000/week starting limit, and $4 per failed ACH payment.
- Dubsado card processor: you can use Dubsado Payments or Square for cards, not both; PayPal can sit alongside either. Dubsado adds no fee of its own.
- International clients: Dubsado Payments charges 4.4% + $0.30 on international cards; Bonsai adds a 2.5% FX fee on international payments.
- Surcharging (passing card fees to the client) is restricted in some US states. Check your state before turning it on.
What this means for your stack
If most clients pay large retainers by bank transfer, payment fees can cost more than the software. See the worked examples in thefractional CFO, bookkeeping practice andfractional CMO stacks, or compare the tools in Dubsado vs HoneyBook vs Bonsai.
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