Most health and wellness practices default to credit card processing for everything. It’s fast, familiar, and clients expect it. But for high-ticket procedures — surgical packages, annual wellness memberships, comprehensive treatment programs — credit card processing is often the most expensive way to collect payment. ACH is the alternative worth understanding.
How ACH Processing Works
ACH (Automated Clearing House) is the network that handles direct bank-to-bank transfers in the US. When a client pays via ACH, the funds transfer directly from their checking account to yours, typically within 24–48 hours. There are no card networks involved, which means no interchange fees — the primary cost driver in credit card processing.
ACH processing fees typically range from $0.25 to $1.50 per transaction, or a flat rate of 0.5–1.0% with a cap. Compare that to credit card processing at 1.8–2.5% on a $10,000 surgical package — that’s $180–$250 in credit card fees versus $1–$5 for ACH.
When to Offer ACH
ACH makes the most sense for transactions above $2,000 where the fee savings are meaningful enough to justify offering clients an alternative payment method. Common use cases in health and wellness:
- Plastic and cosmetic surgery packages ($5,000–$20,000+)
- Annual concierge medicine or functional medicine memberships ($3,000–$10,000/year)
- Medical weight loss programs with quarterly billing
- Corporate wellness contracts billed to a business account
- Multi-visit aesthetic treatment packages paid upfront
For transactions under $500, ACH is generally not worth the friction of asking a client to provide bank account details. The fee savings are small, and most clients prefer the simplicity of card payment at that level.
Client Willingness to Use ACH
The common assumption is that clients won’t want to give out bank account information. In practice, clients who are comfortable with a $12,000 surgical fee often appreciate being offered a payment method that saves them from putting a large charge on their credit card — particularly when they’re not trying to earn rewards on healthcare spending.
Framing matters. “We accept bank transfer for larger payments — it’s a bit faster to process and there’s no card surcharge” tends to land well. You’re not pushing anything; you’re offering an option that benefits both parties.
ACH and Your Processing Setup
ACH processing is available through Beacon alongside standard card processing — you don’t need a separate account or relationship. Your virtual terminal handles both, and transactions appear in the same reporting dashboard.
For plastic surgery, functional medicine, and other high-ticket practices, adding ACH as a payment option is one of the fastest ways to reduce processing costs without changing anything about how you operate. Learn more about ACH and eCheck processing or get a free audit that covers your current card processing costs alongside ACH savings potential.