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For contractors · Projects and payments

The customer said yes.Now get paid at every stage

Every milestone is funded and held before you start it. Do the work, post the photos, request the payout. The customer approves and the money goes to your bank. No chasing checks, no net-30.

Free to use · 1% plus Stripe fees on payouts · $20 per contact unlock · Payments through Stripe

Funded before you start

Know the money is there before you pick up a tool

The customer funds each milestone and the payout is held. Finish the stage, upload your photos, and request the payout. Once they approve, it settles to your bank in 2 to 5 business days.

From a real $35,000 bathroom remodel, shown partway through.

Payment progress $35,000

1 of 5 milestones paid · $7,000 released

Contract signing and scheduling deposit

Jul 15 · Held

$7,000

Paid

Materials procurement

Jul 29 · Held

$7,000

Payout requested

Rough-in and surround installation

Aug 12 · Held

$8,750

Held

Cabinetry, countertop, and finishes

Aug 26 · Held

$7,000

Pending

Substantial completion and final walk-through

Sep 9 · Held

$5,250

Pending
Payment change request Expires in 3 days
TypeAddition
DescriptionQuiet exhaust fan with humidity sensor
Amount$650
DueAug 20 · Held

Homeowner asked for a quieter fan during the rough-in walkthrough. Adds the fan, sensor switch, and install.

Waiting on the homeowner to approve

Changes in writing

Scope grew? Get it approved before it counts

Add a payment, change one, or remove one. Say what it is, what it costs, and why. The homeowner gets it as an action item and approves it before anything changes, so there is nothing to argue about at the end.

Requests expire in 3 days, and you can withdraw one any time before then.

Photos, documents, and the record

Proof of every stage, in order

Progress photos, lien waivers, and receipts live on the job. Every payment, photo, message, and status change lands in the project record, next to the quote the customer accepted, frozen as it was.

Project record

  1. Aug 5

    Payment change requested: quiet exhaust fan with humidity sensor, $650, scheduled for Aug 20

  2. Aug 1

    Payout requested for materials procurement, with receipts attached

  3. Jul 16

    Deposit released to your bank

  4. Jul 14

    Quote accepted for $35,000. Scope frozen at acceptance

FAQs

Common questions

How do payments work?

All new contractors start with held payments: your payout is held in Stripe until the homeowner approves the work, or until our team reviews the project record if a payout request goes unanswered for 14 days, which reduces chargeback risk. You unlock Quick Pay, which sends funds straight to your bank with no approval hold, after 3 completed projects, $5,000 in approved payments, a 90% or higher approval rating, 60 days on the account, and no open payment disputes or chargebacks. Both settle in 2 to 5 business days through Stripe. RenovationRoute keeps 1% of each payout and Stripe’s processing fee comes out of the same payment. The one other charge is a one-time $20 per project to unlock a homeowner’s contact details.

What happens if a homeowner cancels or disputes a payment?

Held payment: a payout that has not been released stays held while our team reviews the project record. Quick Pay: since funds skip the approval hold, disputes can turn into chargebacks, though that is less common for completed work. Every message, photo, and approval is timestamped to protect you. Use held payments for the most protection.

Can I use RenovationRoute with my own clients?

Yes. Send them a direct quote and run the whole job here: milestone payments, changes in writing, photos, and the project record.

Can I invite my crew?

Yes. Add team members under your company profile so they can upload photos, update progress, and stay on schedule.

Get paid for every stage you finish

Free to use. You pay 1% plus Stripe fees when a milestone pays you out, and $20 to unlock a homeowner’s contact details.