No one likes paying transaction fees when collecting payments. They’re just one of the many costs of doing business when trying to turn a profit on a job.

Finding ways to reduce payment processing fees can make a big difference to your bottom line. Here are two ways you may be able to track and reduce the cost of running your business with Joist.

#1 Use the Joist Markup feature

#2 Track processing fees for accurate tax filing

Read on for details on these potential opportunities. See if you could maximize savings and put real money back in your pocket.

Using Markup to Price Your Jobs

Markup is a simple but powerful tool in Joist that may be able to help you turn a healthy profit on your jobs. Many contractors simply price their items in Joist at-cost. Using Markup provides you with the opportunity to factor in the profit margin you need.

Need to make 20% profit on your jobs to keep your business healthy? Consider adding a 20% Markup to your Estimate. Using Markup saves you time, effort, and costly potential mistakes of doing all those individual calculations yourself.

When you use Joist’s Markup feature, your clients only see the updated item prices and total cost of the job, which now has your profit margin baked in. Find the Markup option in the Subtotal section of your estimate or invoice, on the edit screen.

Our top tip: Cover Payment Processing Fees

When you turn on Cover Payment Processing Fees you’ll see your item prices and total now reflect the estimated amount to cover your payment processing fees and make sure you’re still able to make the profit you’re looking for.

For more on how to use Markup in Joist, check out our detailed guide, “How do I add a markup to my estimate or invoice?”

Track Business Expenses with Joist Invoices

When it comes to tax time, you’ll be glad to have all of your invoices saved in one place, on the Joist app.

Please note that Joist is not an accounting software and cannot legally provide tax advice. We highly recommend you discuss any tax-related questions with a certified accountant. As always, businesses must abide by the laws and regulations of their local tax authority.

We know how important it is for you to track your business expenses throughout the year. This allows you to accurately file taxes. If you bought tools or equipment to use on the job, you’d keep your receipts. You may be able to treat payment processing fees the same way.

When you turn on Joist Payments and accept payments via credit card, debit card, or PayPal, a record of all your payments and fees are kept for you to access at any time. This way, you have the information you need to hand off to a certified account come tax time.

To access your Joist Payment processing records:

1. Log in to your PayPal account
2. Click Activity at the top of the page
3. Click Statements to the right of the page
4. Click Custom
5. Select "Activity Download"
6. Select the Transaction type, Date range, and File Type
7. Click Create Report

For more information, check with your local tax authority. Here are some helpful links:

• PayPal information on tax reporting for online sellers
• IRS publication regarding business expenses
• IRC information on business income tax reporting

While we can't provide tax advice, we are here to answer your questions about Joist. Feel free to reach out anytime at hello@joist.com or chat us in the app!