Payment methods in Ireland: bank transfer and cash
Two methods cover almost every job. Know which one to lean on so you get paid faster and without the back-and-forth.
Bank transfer: the standard way to get paid
For most jobs in Ireland, bank transfer is the default. It works through SEPA, the payment network that connects Irish and EU bank accounts, using your IBAN (the long account number starting with IE).
How it works: you share your IBAN with the customer, they open their banking app, enter it along with the amount, and confirm. With most Irish banks the money lands within minutes; with some transfers between different banks it can take until later the same day or the next working day, but same-day is the norm now for the vast majority of transfers.
Advantages: - Free to receive with almost every Irish bank and account - Automatic record on your bank statement, no extra paperwork - Works for large amounts without any practical limit - The customer doesn't need to meet you in person
Something to keep in mind: - Transfers between two different banks can occasionally take a few hours rather than being instant - The customer needs your IBAN, so it has to be easy for them to find
For tradespeople: keep your IBAN ready to share on WhatsApp the moment a quote is accepted, and add it to your Prummo settings so it appears automatically on every quote you send. For bigger jobs, kitchen fit-outs, rewires, extensions, asking for a deposit by bank transfer before you start is still the safest way to work.
Cash: still useful for smaller jobs
Cash hasn't gone away, and for small, straightforward jobs it's often still the quickest way to get paid on the spot.
Advantages: - Paid immediately, no waiting on a transfer to clear - No fees at all - No app, signal or technology needed - Works for any customer, whether or not they're comfortable with online banking
Something to keep in mind: - Carrying larger amounts of cash has an obvious security downside - It's easy to lose track of what you've actually earned if you don't log it - The customer might not have the exact amount on them
Practical tip: cash works well for smaller call-outs and quick repairs. For anything more than a small job, bank transfer is more practical because the record is automatic. Either way, always log the payment in Prummo so your history stays organised, and if you're paid in cash, it's worth jotting a quick receipt with the date, amount and job description.
Getting paid faster: practical tips
Put your IBAN on the quote itself from the start, not just after the customer asks for it. It removes a step and makes accepting and paying feel like one smooth action rather than two separate conversations.
For bigger jobs, ask for a deposit up front by bank transfer before you start work, and agree the balance on completion. It protects your time and materials cost, and most customers expect it for anything beyond a small job.
It genuinely doesn't matter which bank or provider your customer uses, AIB, Bank of Ireland, permanent tsb, Revolut, N26, or any other bank, transfers work the same way once you have their sort code and IBAN details or you've shared yours. A clear, itemised quote with your IBAN and payment terms spelled out reduces the back-and-forth that slows a lot of jobs down.
With Prummo: your IBAN sits in your payment details and shows up automatically on every quote you send. You mark payments as received directly on the quote, so both you and the customer can see exactly what's been paid and what's still outstanding.
Which method for which job?
Quick comparison:
Bank transfer: free with almost every Irish bank, money lands within minutes to the same day, best for medium and large jobs, and for deposits on bigger work. Cash: free, instant, best for small jobs or a customer who prefers to pay on the spot.
Prummo doesn't process card payments and doesn't offer instalments or financing for quotes in Ireland, you get paid directly by bank transfer or cash, and you log each payment on the platform yourself. That keeps your payment history organised without adding a payment processor or extra fees into the mix.
With Prummo: whichever method the customer uses, bank transfer or cash, you record it against the accepted quote and the customer can see the payment status on the same link they used to accept the job.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest way to get paid?
Bank transfer. It's free to receive with almost every Irish bank account, and the money usually lands within minutes to the same day. Cash has no fee either, but it's harder to keep an accurate record of unless you log every payment yourself.
How do I add my IBAN to my quotes in Prummo?
Add your IBAN under your payment details in Prummo's settings. Once it's saved, it appears automatically on every quote you send, so you don't need to type it out for each customer.
Can my customer pay from Revolut or N26 instead of a normal bank?
Yes. Revolut, N26 and similar providers issue standard IE IBANs and use the same SEPA network as traditional banks, so a transfer works exactly the same way regardless of which one your customer uses.
Does Prummo support card payments or instalments for Irish quotes?
No. Prummo doesn't process card payments or offer instalment plans for quotes in Ireland. You get paid directly by bank transfer or cash, with no intermediary or processing fee, and you log the payment in Prummo yourself.
Should I ask for a deposit on bigger jobs?
Yes, it's standard practice for anything beyond a small job. A deposit by bank transfer before you start protects you against cancelled jobs and covers your materials cost upfront, with the balance due on completion.
Cash or bank transfer, which should I use?
It depends on the size of the job. For a quick, small job, cash is simple and immediate. For anything larger, bank transfer is more practical because it leaves an automatic record and there's no need to carry cash around. Offering both and letting the customer choose usually gets you paid fastest.