Challenge

As a plumber, Dan Pollard experienced firsthand how frustrating it was to manage quotes, schedules, and invoices manually. In 2014, he founded Fergus, a job management platform designed to help tradespeople handle the administrative challenges that can make or break a job, such as creating accurate price estimates, tracking time, scheduling teams, and invoicing clients.

Fergus knew payments were one of the biggest pain points for tradespeople. While Fergus users could generate invoices inside the platform, they still had to wait for customers to initiate a bank transfer. They then had to manually match the payment with the job and confirm whether the customer paid the right amount. This created cash flow delays, extra reconciliation work, and uncertainty about which invoices were still outstanding.

“Cash flow is oxygen for a trade business. Getting paid faster means you can pay your team, buy materials, and get on with the next job. Taking payments from 13 days to one day makes a real difference,” said Fergus CEO Mark Bartels.

Fergus wanted to incorporate payment collection into its platform so users could quote, manage, invoice, and collect payment for a job all within a single workflow. It also wanted to expand contractors’ ability to accept the payment methods their customers prefer, such as credit cards, digital wallets, and BNPL, as well as in-person payments.

The company also recognized that tradespeople often rely on incoming payments to cover subcontractors, materials, payroll, and other operating costs before they can start the next job. Fegus saw an opportunity to offer funding that could help customers keep working even when cash flow is tight.

Solution

In 2021, Fergus adopted Stripe to launch Fergus Pay and embed payments directly into its platform. Because each payment is tied to a specific invoice inside Fergus, tradespeople can instantly see when a customer has paid and verify the amount, reducing the manual reconciliation work of matching payments to jobs.

Fergus Pay uses Stripe Connect to onboard new users, manage KYC requirements, and route funds from the end customer to the tradesperson’s bank account. The company integrated Connect with its in-house invoicing solution so tradespeople could collect payments in the same workflow they use to quote jobs, send invoices, and track billable time.

Fergus Pay implemented Stripe Payments to give tradespeople the ability to accept new payment methods, including credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and BNPL options including Klarna and Cash App Afterpay/Clearpay. The company also adopted Stripe Terminal to offer Tap to Pay so tradespeople can securely accept payments with their smartphone right from the job site.

In 2026, Fergus added Stripe Capital for platforms to give tradespeople access to fast, flexible financing based on their payment data. Users can apply directly within Fergus Pay and, if approved, use the funding to manage cash flow gaps, pay for up-front costs like materials, and invest in business growth.

Results

Fergus drives 60% YoY payment volume growth

Since its launch, 30% of Fergus customers have activated Fergus Pay, helping the company grow payment volume 60% year over year. Customers who activate Fergus Pay are also more likely to stay with Fergus and grow their use of the platform, contributing to a 5% increase in net and gross revenue retention.

“The more of a customer’s business that runs through Fergus, the more valuable Fergus becomes to them. Payments is a big part of that. They get paid faster and we improve retention and grow with them. Then with treasury offerings we can help them grow their business and start doing larger, more profitable jobs,” said Bartels.

Fergus Pay cuts median payment time from 13 days to one day

By embedding payments directly into its job management platform, Fergus enables tradespeople to accept payments on-site with Tap to Pay or through a payment link in an invoice. By supporting additional payment methods such as credit cards, digital wallets, and BNPL, and connecting invoices to the payment process, Fergus Pay reduces median payment time from 13 days for non-Fergus Pay users to one day for Fergus Pay users.

For example, Fergus Pay user SureFence reports receiving more than 60% of its payments within one or two days.

BNPL gives customers flexible funding to pay for larger jobs

Tradespeople often need customers to approve a quote and provide a deposit before they can begin a job. Rather than forcing the customer to figure out how they will pay for a project, tradespeople can now offer BNPL options during the quote conversation. This gives customers a clearer path forward for larger projects, such as a new roof, or unexpected repairs, like a broken water heater.

“A $10,000 roof or an emergency plumbing job doesn’t always arrive at a convenient time. Giving the customer a way to pay for it can be the difference between putting the job off and getting it done today,” said Bartels.

Fergus launches Capital in less than a month

Because the company built Fergus Pay completely on Stripe, it was able to add Capital to offer financing without building an internal solution, integrating a third-party provider, or taking on underwriting risk. As one of the first companies to offer Capital in Australia, Fergus implemented the solution in less than a month.

“Tradies often have to spend money before they make money. They need materials, equipment, and people before the customer pays them. Capital gives them access to funding inside Fergus so they don’t have to turn down the next job because the cash hasn’t arrived yet,” said Bartels. “We want to remove money as the reason a job doesn’t happen. Help the homeowner pay for the job, help the tradie fund the job, and then help them get paid as quickly as possible.”

Matthew Skelly of M.S. Electrical & Data, an early Capital user on the Fergus platform, applied and was approved within hours. “It took five minutes to apply, so it was extremely easy. I had the money the next day,” said Skelly.

He used the funding to purchase a work box trailer and signage for his new vehicle, allowing him to take on a bigger job earlier than planned. “Being able to pay through the Fergus Pay payments I receive means it works in the background, and it’s not something I need to keep thinking about,” said Skelly.