Cleared Payment

What is a cleared payment?

A cleared payment means the money has fully transferred from the payer's account to yours and is now available to use. The transaction is complete—no more waiting, no risk of the payment bouncing or being reversed under normal circumstances.

Until a payment clears, it might show as "pending" in your account. You can see the money, but you can't rely on it yet.

Clearing times by payment method

Different payment methods have different clearing times:

• Credit/debit cards — Usually 1-3 business days to clear
• ACH bank transfers — Typically 2-5 business days
• Wire transfers — Often same-day or next business day
• Checks — Can take 2-7 business days; longer for large amounts
• Digital wallets — Usually instant to 1 business day

Why clearing time matters

Understanding clearing times helps you manage cash flow. Just because a client says they've paid doesn't mean the money is available yet. For large projects, wait for payments to clear before purchasing materials or paying subcontractors. This protects you from bounced checks or reversed transactions.