Save Money by Using ACH Instead of Checks

If your business still pays vendors, employees, or contractors by paper check, you're not alone — but you're likely spending more than you need to.

ACH (Automated Clearing House) payments are faster, safer, and significantly cheaper than checks.

In this post, we’ll break down the real costs of paper checks, how ACH can cut those costs, and how to make the switch without disrupting your workflow.

The True Cost of a Paper Check

Writing a check might seem inexpensive, but when you factor in labor, supplies, and bank fees, the costs add up fast.

Here’s what a single check might cost you:

Cost Component	Estimated Cost
Check stock & printing	$0.10 – $1.00
Envelope & postage	$0.60 – $1.00
Staff time to process	$1.00 – $3.00
Reconciliation/admin	$0.50 – $1.00
Total per check	$2.20 – $6.00

Multiply that by hundreds of checks per month, and the costs are no longer trivial. Plus, if you've ever had check fraud, lost or stolen checks, stop-payment fees, or delayed vendor relationships, you know how quickly other costs can sneak into this process.

ACH is Simpler, Faster and Cheaper

ACH payments are electronic transfers that move money directly between bank accounts. They eliminate the paper trail and manual processing associated with checks.

ACH typically costs: $0.10 – $0.75 per transaction depending on your bank and software provider and the volume of transactions you process. That’s up to 90% cheaper than processing checks.

Other savings include:

• 🕒 Faster delivery (next-day posting vs. mail and vendor processing time)

• 🔒 Less fraud risk (no lost or forged checks, your account info isn't shared with the recipient)

• 📋 Simpler bookkeeping (automatic reconciliation and posting dates can match due dates)

• 💼 Better vendor relationships (reliable and timely payments with better cash application)

With ACH Pro, your cost per payment stays low — especially compared to mailing checks.

Cost Component	Estimated Cost
ACH Pro software	$15/month (includes up to 50 files)
ACH processing fee (bank-dependent)	$0.05 – $0.50 (varies by bank)
Staff time (data entry + upload)	Minimal — often <5 minutes
Reconciliation/admin	Often automated
Total cost per ACH payment	As low as $0.50 or less

If you send 50 ACH files a month, your software cost per transaction could be less than $0.50 — and even less if each file contains multiple payments. Compared to the $2.20–$6.00 cost of issuing a single paper check, switching to ACH is a significant cost saver for almost every business.

Real-World Example

Susan, the office manager at a 10-person company, processes about 80 checks per month. After reviewing her costs, she realizes the company is spending about $250–$300/month just to print and mail checks.

After switching to ACH, their average transaction cost drops from around $3.50 to under $0.50, an 85% savings, and she reclaims 4+ hours of administrative time every month.

Why More Businesses Are Making the Switch

• Check fraud is on the rise

• Vendors prefer ACH — they get paid faster and don’t have to deposit checks

• ACH software is affordable and easy to use

• Compliance and security standards for ACH are robust

How to Start Paying with ACH

Making the switch is easier than you think:

1. Gather recipient bank info (routing and account number)

2. Use software (like ACH Pro) to create NACHA files

3. Upload the file to your bank's ACH portal

4. Optionally notify recipients

You can even test accounts with prenotes before sending the first real payment.

Start Saving with ACH Pro

ACH Pro is built for businesses that want to ditch paper checks without adding complexity.

• Create and send ACH payments in minutes

• Import data from QuickBooks or spreadsheets

• Securely store and manage recipients

• No contracts or setup fees

  
  

Try ACH Pro free and see how much you could save by leaving checks behind.

Get Started