Author: Tanner

Window and door replacement is a $50 billion-plus market in the US, and it is one of the most financing-friendly categories in home improvement. Jobs are high enough in ticket to need monthly payments, recurring enough to create seasonal demand, and energy-efficiency driven enough that homeowners are motivated to act. Here is how Hearth financing works for window and door contractors and the fee math at typical project volumes.

The Window and Door Market Context

Several forces are driving window and door replacement demand in 2026:

• Energy efficiency. Homeowners replacing single-pane or older double-pane windows are seeing immediate energy savings. Federal tax credits for energy-efficient upgrades have extended into 2026, adding financial incentive on top of comfort improvement.
• Aging housing stock. Most US homes were built before 1980. Windows have a 20 to 25 year functional life. An enormous portion of the residential housing base is past due for replacement.
• Whole-home projects. Homeowners who replace one window often end up replacing all of them. A project that starts as a $2,000 single-window repair quickly becomes a $15,000 full-home replacement once they get the quote comparison.

Typical Ticket Sizes for Window and Door Work

Project Scope	Typical Range	Financing Priority
Single window replacement	$800 – $1,800	Low (most pay cash)
3-5 windows (partial home)	$4,000 – $8,000	Medium
Whole-home window replacement (avg home)	$8,000 – $18,000	High
Whole-home (large home, premium product)	$18,000 – $35,000	Very high
Entry door replacement (standard)	$1,500 – $4,000	Low-medium
Full exterior door replacement (all doors)	$6,000 – $15,000	High

Hearth’s No-Per-Job-Fee Model at Window Volumes

Window contractors doing whole-home replacement jobs are in a perfect volume sweet spot for Hearth’s flat fee model. A contractor doing 50 jobs per year, with 25 percent financing at an average financed ticket of $12,000, is running $150,000 in annual financed volume.

Platform	Fee Structure	Cost at $150k Annual Volume
Hearth Pro	$1,799/year flat	$1,799
Synchrony HOME (6-8% avg)	Per-job dealer fee	$9,000 – $12,000
GreenSky (8% avg)	Per-job dealer fee	$12,000

At $150,000 in financed volume, Hearth saves $7,200 to $10,200 per year compared to Synchrony HOME or GreenSky. For a smaller window contractor doing $60,000 in annual financed volume, the comparison still favors Hearth: $1,799 versus approximately $4,200 to $4,800 in dealer fees.

The Energy Savings Pitch Combined With Financing

Window replacements have a built-in ROI story that financing amplifies perfectly. The pitch:

“These triple-pane windows will typically cut your heating and cooling costs by 15 to 25 percent. On a $200 monthly energy bill, that’s $30 to $50 per month in savings. The financing payment is $190 per month. So effectively, you’re paying $140 to $160 net after energy savings. You’re getting new windows and better insulation for less than you think.”

This framing turns the monthly payment into a net cost calculation that often makes the project feel nearly self-funding. Energy savings do not fully offset the loan payment in most cases, but the psychological effect of any offset is powerful. The homeowner is not just spending money; they are investing in ongoing savings.

Federal tax credits for qualified energy-efficient windows (up to 30 percent of cost, with annual limits as of 2026) add another financial incentive layer. Mentioning the tax credit during the financing conversation reinforces the value of moving forward.

Synchrony HOME: The Common Competitor in This Space

Synchrony HOME is the financing arm many window and door manufacturers have built relationships with, particularly Andersen, Pella, and Renewal by Andersen. Contractors who are authorized dealers for these brands may have Synchrony financing built into their sales process. Here is how Hearth compares:

Factor	Hearth	Synchrony HOME
Fee model	Flat annual ($1,799/yr)	Per-job dealer fee (varies)
Lender network	18+ lenders	Single lender (Synchrony Bank)
Minimum FICO	550	~620-640
Max loan amount	$250,000	Varies by program
Promotional 0% APR	Add-on (~$399/yr)	Available (dealer cost varies)
Approval rate	70-85%	Lower for sub-620 FICO

The main advantage of Synchrony HOME for brand-affiliated contractors is that the financing is tied to the product brand and may come with manufacturer-backed promotional rates. The main disadvantage is the single-lender model, the higher FICO threshold, and per-job fees that add up at volume.

Approval Rate Importance for Window Contractors

Window and door contractors often serve a broader income and credit demographic than luxury kitchen or bath remodelers. Homeowners in the 550 to 620 FICO range are a significant part of the market, particularly in older housing stock where the replacement need is most acute. Hearth’s 550 FICO acceptance floor and multi-lender model mean a contractor can introduce financing confidently to nearly every customer without guessing whether they will qualify.

Contractors who use Synchrony HOME exclusively will decline a meaningful percentage of customers who would be approved through Hearth’s network. Over a full year of estimates, that difference translates to real jobs funded versus lost. For more detail on how the multi-lender model improves approval rates, see our breakdown of Hearth’s lender network.

Bottom Line

Window and door contractors are well-positioned to benefit from Hearth’s flat-fee model. The ticket sizes, customer demographics, and repeat-project nature of whole-home window replacements align with what Hearth is built for. The energy savings pitch, combined with monthly payment framing, creates a compelling ROI story that moves homeowners off the fence. The 550 FICO floor ensures you are not pre-screening customers out of a financing conversation before they even start. For window contractors currently using Synchrony HOME or GreenSky and doing more than $30,000 in annual financed volume, the math in favor of Hearth’s annual subscription is straightforward.

Kitchen remodels average $25,000 to $75,000 depending on scope, finishes, and location. At those numbers, financing is not optional. It is the mechanism by which most mid-market and high-end kitchen projects get approved. The homeowner who has $75,000 in savings is not going to spend all of it on a kitchen. The homeowner who has $15,000 in savings and a great credit score can finance a $45,000 kitchen and keep their savings intact. Monthly payments change the entire conversation.

Why Kitchens Need Financing Even More Than Bathrooms

Bathroom remodels and kitchen remodels both benefit from financing, but kitchens have a higher average ticket, longer project timelines, and more complex scope discussions. The compounding effect is that there are more decision points where financing makes the difference:

• Cabinet quality (stock vs semi-custom vs full custom: a $10,000 to $25,000 swing)
• Countertop material (laminate vs quartz vs natural stone: a $3,000 to $12,000 swing)
• Appliance package (builder-grade vs mid-range vs professional: a $5,000 to $25,000 swing)
• Layout changes requiring structural or plumbing work ($8,000 to $30,000 additional)

Each of these decisions happens during the design and estimate phase. If the homeowner is thinking in cash terms, every upgrade is a direct deduction from a finite number. If they are thinking in monthly payments, each upgrade becomes a comparison of incremental monthly cost versus enjoyment value. The outcome of those conversations is very different.

Average Kitchen Ticket Ranges

Project Type	Typical Range	Notes
Budget kitchen update (paint, hardware, counters)	$8,000 – $18,000	Lower end of financing value
Mid-market full kitchen remodel	$25,000 – $45,000	Sweet spot for financing
High-end kitchen renovation	$50,000 – $75,000	Hearth’s $250k ceiling critical here
Luxury kitchen (full custom, layout change)	$80,000 – $150,000+	Hearth covers up to $250,000

Hearth’s $250,000 Ceiling Is Critical for Kitchen Work

This is one area where platform selection genuinely matters. Wisetack caps at $25,000. A mid-market kitchen remodel can easily exceed $25,000, and high-end kitchen renovations almost always do. A contractor using Wisetack as their primary financing option has to either direct customers to a personal loan for anything over $25,000 or watch jobs die because the financing tool cannot cover the amount.

Hearth’s $250,000 ceiling means you can finance any residential kitchen job through one platform without hitting a ceiling. For kitchen remodelers doing premium work, this is not a minor advantage. It is a structural one.

The Upgrade-on-Financing Psychology

The monthly payment frame makes kitchen upgrades dramatically easier to sell. Here is a concrete example:

The homeowner is approved for $40,000 at roughly $450 per month over 120 months (10 years). The base design is $35,000. You are proposing quartz countertops instead of laminate, adding $4,200 to the project.

“The quartz upgrade is $4,200. At your payment terms, that’s about $47 more per month. For a kitchen you’re going to use every day for the next 20 years, that’s less than two coffees a week. Do you want the quartz?”

At $47 per month, the homeowner is comparing it to a coffee habit, not to a $4,200 line item coming out of savings. That comparison almost always resolves in favor of the upgrade.

How to Structure a Kitchen Estimate to Lead With Monthly Payments

The framing sequence matters. Here is how to structure the kitchen estimate presentation:

1. Walk the scope, take measurements, and understand exactly what the homeowner wants
2. Before building the formal quote, run the Hearth pre-qual: “Let me check what financing terms you qualify for while I put this together.”
3. Once you have their approval letter and monthly payment ranges, build your quote to fit within what they told you feels comfortable monthly
4. Present the base design alongside its monthly payment first
5. Then walk through each upgrade as an incremental monthly add
6. Let the homeowner add or subtract items until they arrive at a monthly number they are comfortable with
7. Reveal the final project total last

This is the “let the project decide” close. The homeowner is making line-item decisions in monthly terms, and the total emerges naturally rather than landing as a single sticker shock number.

The “Let the Project Decide” Close

Many kitchen remodelers present the full project total and then negotiate down. This is the wrong sequence. It anchors the conversation at a high number and every subsequent conversation is about removing scope to reduce that number.

The better approach: present options in tiers and let the homeowner build up to their comfort level in monthly payments.

“Here’s the base option at $32,000. At your approval terms, that’s $360 a month. Here’s the full option at $47,000, which is $525 a month. And here’s a middle path at $38,000, which lands at $425 a month. Which of those monthly numbers works for your budget?”

In this framing, the homeowner is choosing between $360, $425, and $525 per month, not between $32,000, $38,000, and $47,000. The psychological distance between those numbers is very different. Most homeowners will land in the middle.

Hearth vs Personal Loan for Kitchen-Sized Projects

Some homeowners will compare Hearth financing to a personal loan from their bank or credit union. A few things to address when this comes up:

• Personal loan applications through banks require a full hard pull before you see any terms. Hearth’s soft pull pre-qual shows options before any credit impact.
• Personal loans often cap at $35,000 to $50,000 for unsecured borrowers. Hearth goes to $250,000.
• A personal loan takes days to weeks to process. Hearth approvals happen in minutes, and payout is 2 to 3 business days after project completion.
• If the homeowner has a HELOC, that may have a lower rate. Acknowledge it honestly: “If you have a HELOC, that rate is probably better. If you don’t want to tap it or don’t have one, this is a cleaner option.”

Bottom Line

Kitchen remodeling is the highest-ticket residential trade outside of full home additions, and monthly payment framing is the single most effective tool for closing at the mid to high end. Hearth’s $250,000 ceiling, flat fee structure, and 550 FICO minimum make it the right platform for kitchen contractors who regularly work above $25,000 per job. Structure every kitchen estimate around monthly payments, introduce financing before the total price, and let the homeowner build the project in monthly increments. For more on the upgrade conversation specifically, see our bath remodeler financing guide for parallel strategies that apply equally to kitchen work.

Bathroom remodels average $12,000 to $35,000. That range sits squarely in the “most homeowners want it but need a payment plan” zone. Unlike HVAC or roofing, a bathroom remodel is discretionary. The homeowner chooses to do it. That makes the decision more emotionally driven and more price-sensitive at the same time. Financing is the tool that converts that emotional want into a signed contract. Here is how Hearth works for bath remodelers, from the fee math to the upgrade conversation.

Why Bathroom Remodeling Is Perfectly Suited for Financing

Bath remodels hit a particular sweet spot for financing for a few reasons:

• The want is real but the sticker shock is brutal. A homeowner who has been dreaming about a new master bath is genuinely excited until they hear $22,000. Monthly payment framing converts that emotional excitement into a buying decision rather than letting the number kill the deal.
• Upgrades are easy to justify in monthly terms. The difference between a standard tile package and a premium tile package is often $3,000 to $5,000. In a cash conversation, that is a hard add-on. At $45 to $75 more per month, it’s an easy yes.
• The decision timeline is flexible. Bath remodels are rarely emergency purchases. That means the homeowner is shopping and comparing. If you are the contractor who offers financing and your competitor does not, you win on friction alone.

Average Ticket Ranges for Bathroom Remodels

Scope	Typical Range	Notes
Basic refresh (fixtures, vanity, tile)	$6,000 – $12,000	Some homeowners pay cash at this range
Mid-range full remodel	$12,000 – $22,000	Sweet spot for financing
High-end master bath	$25,000 – $50,000	Financing almost mandatory
Full primary bath gut and rebuild	$35,000 – $75,000+	Hearth’s $250k ceiling relevant here

Monthly Payment Math on Common Bath Tickets

Here is what common bathroom remodel amounts look like at different loan terms, using approximate market rates as of 2026 (rates vary by credit profile):

Project Total	36-Month Payment	60-Month Payment	84-Month Payment
$12,000	~$385/mo	~$245/mo	~$190/mo
$18,000	~$580/mo	~$370/mo	~$285/mo
$25,000	~$800/mo	~$510/mo	~$395/mo
$40,000	~$1,280/mo	~$815/mo	~$630/mo

Note: these payments assume rates in the 9% to 14% range for creditworthy borrowers. Actual rates vary based on FICO score and lender. The point is not the exact number but the framing: $285 per month for a bathroom the homeowner has wanted for a decade is a completely different conversation than $18,000 upfront.

The Upgrade Close in Action

Financing transforms the upgrade conversation in bathroom remodeling. Here is how it plays out in the field:

The homeowner is approved for $20,000 at $320 per month over 84 months. The base package is $17,500. You have a premium heated floor option that adds $2,800 to the project total.

“The heated floor adds about $2,800 to the project. At your payment terms, that’s roughly $44 more per month. So instead of $320, you’re at $364. Do you want the heated floor in the plan?”

At $44 more per month, the homeowner compares that to the enjoyment value of stepping onto a warm floor on a cold morning. Most say yes. In a cash conversation, $2,800 on top of $17,500 gets debated and frequently cut.

Hearth vs GreenSky for Bath Remodelers

Bath remodeling customers skew toward the 550-640 FICO range more than some other trades. Discretionary remodeling customers are more likely to have moderate credit than emergency-repair customers who often own their homes with more equity built up. This makes Hearth’s 550 FICO floor more valuable for bath remodelers than GreenSky’s approximately 600 minimum. For every 10 bath customers who apply, roughly 1 to 2 who would be declined by GreenSky may be approved through Hearth’s network. Over a full year of estimates, that adds up to real closed jobs.

On fee structure, a bath remodeler doing $200,000 in annual financed volume pays around $1,799 with Hearth versus $14,000 to $18,000 in dealer fees on GreenSky at 7% to 9%. The math is decisive at that volume level. For the full side-by-side, see our Hearth vs GreenSky comparison.

How Our Company Uses Financing

As CMO of a bathroom remodeling company, I can tell you that financing is not a backup option. It is part of every in-home estimate. We introduce it before we show the price. We run the soft pull at the kitchen table. We present monthly payment alongside the project total on every written proposal. Our conversion rate on financed estimates is materially higher than on cash estimates, and our average ticket on financed jobs is about 20% higher because the upgrade conversation plays out completely differently when the homeowner is thinking in monthly increments.

The key is making it a standard, normalized part of the process rather than something you only bring up when a customer says they can’t afford it. By then, you’ve already framed the price as a cash number and you’re working uphill.

What Percentage of Bath Jobs Should Go Through Financing

In our experience and based on industry data for residential remodeling, 35 to 50 percent of mid-range bath remodel customers will use financing if it is offered proactively. That number drops dramatically if financing is only offered as a fallback when they object to the price. For high-end bath projects over $30,000, the percentage using financing can be even higher because even homeowners with strong finances often prefer to preserve liquidity.

Bottom Line

Bathroom remodeling and contractor financing are a natural match. The ticket sizes, the discretionary nature, and the upgrade potential all align perfectly with what financing does for the sales process. Hearth specifically wins for bath remodelers because of the 550 FICO floor, the flat fee model at meaningful financed volumes, and the $250,000 ceiling that covers even large primary bath rebuilds. If you’re running in-home bath estimates without offering financing as a standard step, you are leaving deals on the table and upgrades unclicked every day.

Roofing is a high-ticket, high-urgency trade that runs on financing. Most homeowners replace a roof every 20 to 30 years. They have not saved for it, they did not plan for it, and they need it done before the next rain. At $9,000 to $14,000 for a standard asphalt replacement, financing is not a luxury. It is the mechanism that turns an estimate into a job. Here is exactly how Hearth financing works for roofing contractors and when to use it versus a competitor.

Roofing Financing Use Cases

Roofing jobs fall into three distinct financing scenarios, each with slightly different dynamics:

1. Standard replacement. Asphalt shingle replacement at end of life. Homeowner knows it is coming but has not saved the full amount. Financing makes the immediate decision easy.
2. Storm restoration. Insurance covers the base replacement, but the deductible, code upgrades, and any premium material upgrades fall out of pocket. Financing the out-of-pocket portion closes the gap.
3. Premium material upgrade. Homeowner is getting a new roof regardless and is considering metal, impact-resistant, or architectural shingles. Monthly payment framing makes the $6,000 to $10,000 premium feel manageable.

Typical Roofing Ticket Sizes

Job Type	Typical Range	Financing Priority
Standard asphalt (average home)	$8,000 – $14,000	High
Large home asphalt	$14,000 – $22,000	Very high
Metal roofing	$20,000 – $40,000	Critical
Storm restoration (out-of-pocket portion)	$1,000 – $8,000	Medium
Full premium material upgrade	$30,000 – $60,000+	Critical (Hearth’s $250k ceiling matters)

Hearth’s $250,000 Ceiling vs Wisetack’s $25,000 Cap

This is the most important comparison for roofing contractors specifically. Wisetack caps individual loans at $25,000. For a standard asphalt replacement on a typical home, that is fine. For a metal roof on a large home, a full premium system on a commercial-grade residential property, or a multi-structure job, $25,000 is not enough.

Hearth’s lending network goes up to $250,000 per loan. For a roofing contractor doing premium work, this ceiling matters. A $38,000 standing seam metal roof job cannot be financed through Wisetack. It can be financed through Hearth. That difference alone can justify the annual subscription cost for contractors who regularly work at higher ticket sizes.

Fee Math at Typical Roofing Volumes

A roofing contractor doing 40 jobs per year with 30 percent of customers financing (12 jobs) at an average financed ticket of $11,000 is doing $132,000 in annual financed volume.

Platform	Fee Model	Annual Cost at $132k Volume
Hearth Pro	$1,799 flat/year	$1,799
Wisetack (7% avg)	Per-job dealer fee	$9,240
GreenSky (9% avg)	Per-job dealer fee	$11,880

At these numbers, Hearth saves $7,441 to $10,081 per year compared to per-job competitors. That is a significant margin improvement for a roofing operation of any size.

The Storm Estimate Script

Storm restoration jobs often have insurance paying for the base replacement, leaving the homeowner responsible for the deductible and any out-of-pocket upgrades. The financing conversation for storm jobs is different from standard replacement:

“The insurance is covering the base replacement. The deductible is $2,500 and if you want to go with the impact-resistant shingles instead of the standard, that’s another $3,200 out of pocket. So your out-of-pocket is around $5,700. We have financing that covers that portion. Takes two minutes to check, soft pull, no credit impact. Want to see if you qualify before we finalize the scope?”

This framing positions financing as the solution to a specific, defined out-of-pocket number, which feels much smaller and more manageable than financing a full roof replacement. Approval rates on $5,000 to $7,000 loans are very high because the amount is modest relative to typical credit limits.

When EnerBank ZIL Is Better for Storm Restoration

For storm jobs where the homeowner is specifically sensitive to paying interest (common when they feel they should not have to spend anything out of pocket because “insurance should cover it”), EnerBank’s Zero Interest Loan can be an easier sell. The homeowner pays no interest; you as the contractor pay a dealer fee. If the deductible amount is relatively small ($1,500 to $3,000), the 0% promotion may close faster than a market-rate loan. Hearth’s 0% APR add-on covers this scenario within the Hearth platform if you have added it to your subscription.

Hearth’s 550 FICO Acceptance for Declined Homeowners

Roofing customers who get declined elsewhere are not necessarily out of options. Hearth’s multi-lender network considers borrowers starting at 550 FICO. If a homeowner was previously declined by GreenSky (which requires 600 or higher), Hearth’s network may find a lender willing to approve them at a higher interest rate. For contractors who service neighborhoods with mixed credit profiles, this expanded acceptance window means more jobs funded rather than lost. For more on FICO requirements and what they mean for your customers, see our FICO score and contractor financing guide.

Bottom Line

Roofing is one of the highest-volume financing trades, and Hearth’s flat fee model delivers the most savings at the volumes serious roofing contractors operate. The $250,000 loan ceiling is a genuine differentiator for contractors doing premium work. The 550 FICO floor and 70 to 85 percent approval rate mean fewer lost jobs at the financing step. If you’re currently using a per-job fee platform for roofing financing and doing more than 10 to 12 financed jobs per year, run the math. At almost any meaningful roofing volume, Hearth’s annual subscription saves money and opens access to larger loan amounts.

HVAC is one of the best use cases for contractor financing in the entire home improvement industry. Replacements are urgent, often unexpected, and expensive. Homeowners are not planning for a $9,000 new system. When their AC dies in July, they need a solution today, and they rarely have $9,000 sitting liquid. Financing is not a nice-to-have for HVAC contractors. For high-ticket installs, it is how jobs close.

Why HVAC Is a Natural Fit for Financing

Three factors make HVAC uniquely well-suited for financing:

1. Urgency. A failed HVAC system is not a discretionary purchase a homeowner can defer. In summer heat or winter cold, the job needs to happen this week. Urgency makes homeowners willing to commit fast, and financing removes the “I don’t have the cash right now” barrier in real time.
2. High average ticket. Standard replacements run $5,000 to $12,000. Whole-home systems, geothermal, and dual-zone installs run $15,000 to $30,000 or more. These are the ticket sizes where monthly payment framing changes the conversation.
3. No visible upgrade value. Unlike a kitchen remodel or a new bathroom, a new HVAC system looks identical to the old one from the homeowner’s perspective. The only way to sell the premium option is on performance and cost savings, and financing is what makes the premium option affordable month-to-month.

Typical HVAC Ticket Sizes

Job Type	Typical Range	Notes
Standard AC replacement (2-3 ton)	$4,500 – $8,500	Most common residential job
Furnace replacement	$2,500 – $6,000	Often bundled with AC
Full HVAC system (AC + furnace)	$8,000 – $15,000	Financing almost mandatory at this level
Mini-split system (multi-zone)	$6,000 – $18,000	Growing segment
Geothermal / whole-home system	$15,000 – $30,000+	High-efficiency premium installs

Fee Math: Hearth vs Wisetack at HVAC Volumes

Assume an HVAC contractor does $120,000 in financed jobs per year, averaging $9,000 per job (roughly 13-14 financed jobs).

Platform	Fee Structure	Annual Cost at $120k Volume
Hearth Pro	$1,799/year flat	$1,799
Wisetack (7% blended)	Per-job dealer fee	$8,400
GreenSky (8% blended)	Per-job dealer fee	$9,600

At $120,000 in annual financed HVAC volume, Hearth saves roughly $6,600 to $7,800 per year compared to per-job fee models. That is enough to cover a service tech’s monthly salary for a full month.

The Comfort Upgrade Opportunity

One of the most overlooked financing opportunities in HVAC is the add-on upgrade. While replacing an HVAC system, the homeowner has a captive ear. Adding a UV air purifier ($800-$1,500), a smart thermostat ($200-$500), a whole-home humidifier ($400-$900), or an upgraded air handler is much easier to sell when the homeowner is already thinking in monthly payments.

“We can add the whole-home air purifier to the install. It adds about $28 a month to your payment. For a house with allergies or pets, it is a significant quality-of-life upgrade.”

At $28 per month, a $1,200 add-on almost always gets approved. The same $1,200 in a cash-at-signing conversation often gets cut.

How to Introduce Financing in the HVAC Sales Process

The HVAC financing conversation is slightly different from other trades because the job is often urgent. The homeowner is already motivated. You do not need to create urgency. You need to remove the payment barrier fast.

When you arrive for the assessment:

“I’ll get you priced out in a few minutes. One thing to know: we have a financing option that takes two minutes to check and doesn’t affect your credit score. Most of our customers go this route. I’ll pull it up when we’re done here.”

Then proceed to your assessment. When you have the quote ready, run the pre-qual before revealing the total. Show monthly payment first. Reveal total second.

The EnerBank ZIL Option for HVAC

For HVAC contractors serving customers replacing systems after storm damage or in conjunction with insurance claims, EnerBank’s Zero Interest Loan (ZIL) program is worth knowing. The homeowner pays zero interest, and the contractor pays a dealer fee (which is effectively the cost of the promotional rate). For some HVAC scenarios, particularly where the customer is deductible-sensitive or insurance is covering part of the cost, a 0% promotional rate closes faster than a market-rate loan. Hearth’s 0% APR add-on covers similar ground within the Hearth platform for around $399 per year.

Bottom Line

HVAC is arguably the highest-ROI trade for contractor financing. The combination of urgency, high ticket, and non-discretionary nature of the purchase means homeowners are motivated and the only barrier is payment. Hearth’s flat fee model at HVAC volumes ($80,000+ per year financed) saves thousands annually compared to per-job alternatives, and the 70 to 85 percent approval rate means you can rely on it as a standard part of your sales process. If you are an HVAC contractor currently using Wisetack or GreenSky at any meaningful volume, run the break-even math against Hearth’s annual subscription. For most shops doing more than 8 to 10 financed jobs per year, the math moves in Hearth’s direction. For a broader comparison of financing platforms, see our full platform comparison.

When a homeowner applies for financing through Hearth, their application does not go to one lender. It goes to 18 or more lending partners simultaneously. This is the core mechanic that makes Hearth different from most contractor financing platforms, and it is the reason Hearth’s approval rates run 70 to 85 percent while single-lender platforms often land in the 50 to 65 percent range. Here is how it actually works.

Single Application, Multiple Lenders Explained

When a homeowner submits the pre-qual form through Hearth, the platform broadcasts that application to its full network of 18-plus lending partners in a single request. Each lender in the network evaluates the application against their own underwriting criteria and returns an offer (or a declination) simultaneously. The homeowner sees whatever offers come back, sorted by terms.

This is fundamentally different from what happens when a homeowner walks into a Home Depot and applies for GreenSky financing. GreenSky routes through a single primary lender (or a very limited set). If that lender’s criteria says no, the application fails. There is no second attempt built into the system.

Why a 550 FICO Applicant Gets Approved Through Hearth’s Network

Every lender in Hearth’s network has slightly different underwriting criteria. Some lenders specialize in near-prime borrowers and are comfortable with FICO scores in the 550-600 range, particularly when income and debt-to-income ratios are reasonable. Others specialize in prime borrowers and would decline anyone under 680.

When a homeowner with a 572 FICO applies through Hearth, the application hits both of those lenders at the same time. The prime lender declines. The near-prime lender says yes at a higher interest rate. The homeowner sees that offer and can choose to accept it or not. Without Hearth’s multi-lender model, that homeowner would have been declined with a single-lender platform and the job would have died.

The Waterfall vs Simultaneous Model

Some financing platforms use a waterfall model: they route to lender 1 first, wait for a response, then route to lender 2 if lender 1 declines, and so on. This is slow and the homeowner sees a sequential process that feels like rejection. Hearth’s model is simultaneous, so all lenders respond at once and the homeowner gets a full picture of their options in one session, usually in under 60 seconds.

The practical effect: the homeowner sitting in your kitchen waiting on results sees multiple offers pop up at once rather than watching a “checking more options” spinner that signals they were just declined somewhere.

What Determines Which Lender Offer Appears at the Top

Hearth’s interface presents loan offers in a way that emphasizes the monthly payment. Offers with lower monthly payments (typically longer terms) appear prominently. The homeowner is not reading lender names or digging through APR comparisons. They see loan amounts, term lengths, estimated monthly payments, and APR. Most homeowners pick based on monthly payment, not total interest cost over the life of the loan. This is consistent with how people buy cars and choose mortgages.

The Soft Pull Mechanism

The initial pre-qualification uses a soft credit pull. This means the credit bureaus record the inquiry, but it does not affect the homeowner’s credit score. The homeowner can see their loan options with zero downside risk from a credit perspective. Only when the homeowner selects a specific offer and accepts it does a hard pull occur to finalize the loan terms. This two-step approach eliminates the main objection most homeowners have to applying for financing in front of a contractor: fear of damaging their credit score.

Approval Rates: 70-85% vs Single-Lender Platforms

Hearth’s published approval rate is 70 to 85 percent. For context, single-lender contractor financing platforms typically run 50 to 65 percent. The difference is almost entirely explained by the multi-lender model. More lenders with different risk appetites means more applicants find at least one lender willing to approve them.

For contractors, this translates to fewer awkward “the financing didn’t go through” conversations in the home. When you have a 70 to 85 percent approval rate, financing becomes reliable enough to build into your sales process as a standard step, not a hopeful gamble.

What Happens When Nobody Approves

Roughly 15 to 30 percent of applicants will not receive any approved offers from Hearth’s network. This usually happens with FICO scores below 550, high existing debt loads, or income that does not support the requested loan amount. When this happens:

• Ask if there is a co-applicant (spouse, partner, family member) with stronger credit
• Discuss a smaller project scope that requires a smaller loan amount
• Suggest the homeowner look into a personal loan or HELOC through their own bank, which may have different approval criteria
• Offer a payment plan directly if the job size and your cash flow support it

A declined application does not mean the job is dead. It means the financing route did not work, and you need a backup plan.

Practical Implication: Fewer Declined Conversations in the Home

The single biggest operational benefit of Hearth’s lender network for contractors is that it reduces the frequency of the most uncomfortable moment in contractor sales: telling a homeowner their financing did not go through. That conversation kills deals, creates awkwardness, and wastes time. At 70 to 85 percent approval rates, you can introduce financing to every qualifying homeowner with confidence that most of them will see at least one workable offer. The conversations that do end in declination are the exception, not the rule.

Bottom Line

Hearth’s 18-lender network is not a marketing line. It is the structural reason the platform outperforms single-lender alternatives on approval rates. The simultaneous multi-lender model, combined with a soft-pull pre-qual, creates a friction-free way to offer financing that converts at a higher rate than anything built around a single underwriting source. For contractors who do high-ticket residential work, that approval rate difference translates directly into closed jobs that would have otherwise died at the financing question. For more on how Hearth compares to GreenSky specifically, see our full Hearth vs GreenSky breakdown.

Before most contractors sign up for Hearth, they have a list of questions they want answered. Not marketing copy answers, real answers. Here are the 15 most common questions contractors ask about Hearth before committing, answered directly.

1. How Much Does Hearth Cost?

Hearth offers three subscription tiers as of 2026. Starter runs around $1,499 per year and includes financing access only. Pro runs around $1,799 per year and adds digital quotes, contracts, invoices, and payment collection. Enterprise is around $4,999 per year and is built for higher-volume multi-location operations. There is also an optional 0% APR add-on for around $399 per year on Starter and Pro plans. All plans are billed annually with auto-renewal.

2. What Is the FICO Minimum?

Hearth’s lending network considers applicants with FICO scores starting at 550. This is one of the lowest thresholds in the contractor financing space. GreenSky typically requires 600 or higher. Wisetack’s published minimum is also around 550, but approval rates at the low end can vary by lender. Hearth’s 18-lender network means a 550 FICO applicant has multiple lenders evaluating the application simultaneously, which improves the chance of getting at least one approval.

3. How Fast Do I Get Paid?

Once a homeowner accepts a loan offer and the project is funded, Hearth typically pays out to the contractor in 2 to 3 business days. This is comparable to GreenSky and slightly faster than some regional lender networks. The payout timeline starts after the homeowner confirms completion, so make sure you understand the project completion confirmation step in the Hearth dashboard.

4. What If a Homeowner’s Application Is Declined?

If no lender in the Hearth network approves the application, the homeowner receives a declination. At that point, you have a few options: explore whether the homeowner has a co-applicant with stronger credit, discuss a smaller loan amount (if the project can be scoped down), or refer them to a personal loan option through their own bank. Hearth does not penalize you for declined applications, and there is no fee for a declination.

5. Do I Pay Anything If a Customer Does Not Fund?

No. Because Hearth charges a flat annual subscription and no per-job dealer fees, you pay nothing additional when a homeowner applies and does not fund. This is fundamentally different from per-job fee models where you might pay a fee at some point in the application process. With Hearth, the risk is entirely in your annual subscription, not in individual applications.

6. Can I Use Hearth Alongside Wisetack or GreenSky?

Yes. There is no exclusivity requirement. Some contractors maintain Wisetack (which is free to join) as a backup for smaller jobs or specific lender preferences, while using Hearth as their primary financing tool. Running multiple platforms simultaneously is a legitimate strategy, particularly for contractors who serve diverse customer demographics with varying credit profiles.

7. Does Hearth Do a Credit Check on My Business?

Hearth does conduct a review of your contracting business as part of the onboarding process. This is a background and licensing check, not a personal credit inquiry on you as an individual. They are validating that you are a legitimate licensed contractor. This is standard for any contractor financing platform and should not affect your personal credit score.

8. What Trades Does Hearth Work For?

Hearth works for any residential home improvement trade. The most common users are roofing contractors, HVAC contractors, bath and kitchen remodelers, window and door contractors, siding contractors, electricians, and plumbers. If your business does residential work with ticket sizes above $2,500, Hearth is worth evaluating. Commercial contractors and new construction builds are generally not the right fit.

9. Is There a Minimum Job Size?

Hearth does not publish a hard minimum loan amount, but lenders in the network typically want to see loan requests of at least $1,000 to $2,000 to be worth processing. Practically speaking, financing becomes most useful for jobs over $5,000. Below that, most homeowners are comfortable paying out of pocket and the monthly payment benefit is not compelling enough to change behavior.

10. What Is the Maximum Loan Amount?

The maximum loan amount available through Hearth’s lending network is $250,000 as of 2026. This is a significant advantage over platforms like Wisetack, which caps loans at $25,000. For large remodeling projects, roofing jobs with premium materials, or whole-home HVAC systems, Hearth’s higher ceiling matters. Approval at the high end of the range depends on the homeowner’s creditworthiness, income, and other lender-specific factors.

11. How Does the 0% APR Option Work?

The 0% APR option is a promotional financing product where the lender offers the homeowner an interest-free loan for a set term, and the contractor pays a fee to subsidize the interest. On Hearth, this add-on costs around $399 per year. When you use it on a job, a dealer fee (typically 3% to 8% depending on the term length) is charged to you for that specific job. Shorter 0% terms cost less in dealer fees. This is the one scenario where Hearth does charge a per-job fee, but only when you opt into the 0% APR promotional product specifically.

12. What Software Is Included?

On the Pro plan and Enterprise plan, Hearth includes digital quotes, contracts, invoices, and payment collection (credit card, debit card, and ACH). The Starter plan includes only the financing functionality. The software tools are built specifically for home improvement contractors and integrate with the financing workflow, so a homeowner can review a quote and apply for financing in the same flow.

13. How Does Auto-Renewal Work and Can I Cancel?

Hearth subscriptions auto-renew annually. You need to cancel before your renewal date to avoid being charged for another year. Cancellation is typically done through your account settings or by contacting Hearth’s support team directly. There is no monthly subscription option, so if you cancel mid-year, you lose access for the remainder of the subscription period without a refund. Set a calendar reminder 30 to 45 days before your renewal date so you have time to evaluate whether to continue.

14. What Happens If a Homeowner Defaults?

Once a loan is funded, the financial relationship is between the homeowner and the lender, not between the homeowner and you. If a homeowner defaults on their loan after you have been paid, that is the lender’s problem, not yours. You have already received your payout. This is a critical distinction from contractor-financed installment plans, where you carry the repayment risk yourself. With Hearth, you get paid and the lender handles collection.

15. How Does Hearth Compare to GreenSky on Fees?

GreenSky charges dealer fees per funded loan, typically ranging from 6% to 18% depending on the loan terms and promotional rate you are offering. On a $15,000 job at an 8% dealer fee, you pay $1,200 for that single transaction. Hearth charges a flat annual fee with no per-job dealer fees (except for optional 0% APR promotions). At low funded volumes (under $20,000/year), GreenSky’s per-job model can actually be cheaper. At moderate to high volumes, Hearth wins decisively. A contractor doing $100,000 in financed jobs at 8% GreenSky fees pays $8,000 per year. Hearth costs $1,799. The math is not close at scale. For a more detailed breakdown, see our Hearth vs GreenSky comparison.

The contractors who close the most financed jobs do not introduce financing after the homeowner hears the price and chokes. They introduce it before. The timing is everything. This guide walks you through the exact step-by-step process for using Hearth during an in-home estimate, from the moment you walk in to the moment the homeowner applies.

The Timing Principle That Changes Everything

When a homeowner hears a $22,000 price tag, that number becomes an anchor. Every question they ask after that is colored by sticker shock. But when a homeowner hears “most people do this on monthly payments, it usually comes out to a few hundred dollars a month” before they hear the total, they start thinking about the project differently. They compare it to a car payment. They mentally move from “can I afford this?” to “does this fit my monthly budget?”

Industry data from multiple home improvement sales training programs consistently shows that introducing financing before the total price increases funded deal rates significantly, often doubling them in in-home sales environments. The Hearth platform is designed for this exact moment.

What to Say When You Walk In

Normalize financing in the first five minutes, before you have measured anything, before you’ve opened your laptop. A simple one-liner works:

“By the way, most of our customers do this through monthly payments. We have a financing option that takes two minutes to check. It’s a soft pull, no impact on your credit, and it shows you what terms you qualify for before we even talk about price. We can pull it up at the end.”

That is it. You have planted the idea. You have removed the mystery. You have told them it is soft-pull (no credit risk), fast (two minutes), and non-binding (they are just checking). Do not make a big deal of it. Drop it and move on to the estimate.

The Pre-Qual Moment

After you have walked the job, taken measurements, and built your quote, but before you reveal the number, bring up financing again. Here is the transition:

“Before I show you the total, let me pull up that financing link so you can see your options. It literally takes two minutes and it doesn’t touch your credit score.”

Then either pull up your Hearth contractor dashboard on your phone or tablet and share the customer-facing pre-qual link, or text it directly to the homeowner so they fill it out on their own phone. The homeowner enters: name, address, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. That is all that is needed for the soft pull.

What Happens on Screen After Submission

Within seconds of submitting the soft-pull form, the homeowner sees a list of loan offers from Hearth’s lending network. Each offer shows the loan amount, estimated monthly payment, interest rate, and term. They typically see multiple options at different term lengths (2 years, 5 years, 7 years, 10 years, 12 years) so they can choose the monthly payment that fits their budget.

Nothing is committed at this stage. The homeowner is just seeing what they qualify for. No funds are moved, no hard pull has hit their credit, no contract has been signed. This is a critical point to emphasize to homeowners who are nervous about credit.

How to Present Monthly Payment Options

Once the homeowner has their offers on screen, walk through the options with them:

“So you can see here, for the full project at $22,000, you’re looking at around $340 a month over 84 months, or $520 a month over 48 months. Most people go with the longer term to keep the payment manageable. Which of these feels comfortable?”

Notice what you are not doing: you are not asking “can you afford this?” You are asking “which payment works for you?” The framing assumes they are moving forward. You are just negotiating the monthly number, not the total.

Handling “I Need to Think About It”

If a homeowner says they need to think about it after seeing the financing options, financing is your response, not backing off:

“Totally fair. The one thing I’d mention is that these loan offers are good for a limited window, and rates can shift. If the $340 a month works for your budget, it might be worth locking that in today rather than risking a different rate later. What part of it do you want to think through? I’m happy to answer anything right now.”

Most “I need to think about it” objections dissolve when you address the specific hesitation. Sometimes it is a spouse who is not present. Sometimes it is fear of commitment. Financing makes commitment feel smaller. Use it that way.

The Upgrade Conversation

Monthly payment framing also opens the door to upgrades that would never land in a cash conversation. When a homeowner is already at $340/month for the base project, adding a premium option becomes a question of incremental monthly cost:

“The upgrade to the heated floor is about $2,800 more on the project. That works out to around $42 more per month. For $382 a month, you get the heated floor you’ve been looking at for five years. Want to add it?”

At the kitchen table, $42 a month is an easy yes. $2,800 upfront rarely gets approved without discussion. Financing changes the math entirely.

Step-by-Step Process Summary

1. Walk in and plant the financing seed with a single casual sentence in the first five minutes
2. Run your estimate normally: measure, scope, price
3. Before revealing the total, transition to the financing check (“takes two minutes, soft pull”)
4. Pull up the Hearth pre-qual link and hand the homeowner your phone, or text them the link
5. Homeowner completes the soft-pull form (name, address, DOB, last 4 SSN)
6. Review the loan options together on screen
7. Present the monthly payment options: “Which of these works for your budget?”
8. Reveal the project total alongside the monthly payment: “$22,000 total, $340 a month”
9. If they say yes, they accept a loan offer and a hard pull occurs to finalize
10. You get paid in 2-3 business days after project funding

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Introducing financing after the price shock. The whole point is to present monthly before total. If you say “$22,000” first and financing second, you’re fighting an uphill battle.
• Making it sound optional or unusual. Say “most of our customers do this” even if only some do. Normalize it as standard.
• Forgetting to mention the soft pull. Homeowners who think a credit check is being run without their permission will refuse. Always lead with “soft pull, no credit impact.”
• Not having the link ready. If you have to search for it in your phone while the homeowner watches, the moment dies. Save it in your notes app or as a contact in your phone labeled “Hearth Link.”

Bottom Line

The in-home estimate is where Hearth either pays off or collects dust. The platform only works when you make it part of your sales conversation, not a fallback for homeowners who are already saying no. Learn the one-liner, have the link ready, and make the soft pull a normal step in every estimate. Contractors who do this consistently report material increases in close rates and average ticket sizes within a few months.

Hearth sells three subscription tiers as of 2026: Starter at around $1,499 per year, Pro at around $1,799 per year, and Enterprise at around $4,999 per year. Most contractors asking about this are deciding between Starter and Pro, because the Enterprise tier is aimed at multi-location operations with high volume. Here is the honest breakdown of what you get at each level and how to decide which one makes sense for your business.

The Three Tiers at a Glance

Feature	Starter (~$1,499/yr)	Pro (~$1,799/yr)	Enterprise (~$4,999/yr)
Financing access (18+ lenders)	Yes	Yes	Yes
No per-job dealer fees	Yes	Yes	Yes
Digital quotes	No	Yes	Yes
Digital contracts	No	Yes	Yes
Digital invoicing	No	Yes	Yes
Digital payments (credit/debit/ACH)	No	Yes	Yes
0% APR add-on available	Add-on (~$399/yr)	Add-on (~$399/yr)	Included
Volume pricing / custom rates	No	No	Yes
Dedicated account support	No	No	Yes

The Real Question: Do You Need the Software or Just the Financing?

This is where most contractors overthink the decision. If you already have a quoting, contract, invoicing, and payment system that works for your business, Starter is probably enough. You’re paying for the financing network, and that’s all you need.

If you are running your business on paper, sending Word docs as contracts, and collecting checks, the Pro plan’s software suite at $1,799 per year is genuinely a deal compared to buying those tools separately. Jobber’s lowest plan runs around $49 per month ($588/year) for basic scheduling and invoicing. Add a separate contract tool and a payment processor and you’re past $900/year before you even add financing. Pro bundles everything at $1,799 total.

Who Should Choose Starter

Choose Starter if you meet all three of these:

• You already use a CRM or field service platform (Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, etc.) that handles quotes, contracts, and invoicing
• You want to add financing to your sales process without switching your back-office tools
• Your financed volume will be in the $25,000 to $80,000 range annually

Who Should Choose Pro

Pro makes the most sense if:

• You are not currently paying for a dedicated quoting or invoicing tool and want one consolidated platform
• You want your financing conversation and your paperwork to live in the same place (customer gets a quote, accepts it, applies for financing all in one workflow)
• You do $50,000 or more in financed volume per year, where the $300 difference between Starter and Pro is negligible against the savings you’re already generating

Who Should Look at Enterprise

Enterprise at $4,999/year is designed for contractors with multiple crews or locations running significant volume. If you’re doing over $500,000 in financed jobs per year, the volume pricing and dedicated support can recoup the higher annual cost. For most single-location small contractors, Enterprise is overkill.

The 0% APR Add-On

On Starter and Pro, the 0% APR option costs an additional ~$399 per year. This is the promotional financing option where the contractor subsidizes the interest (the lender charges the contractor a fee and passes a 0% rate to the homeowner). It is a powerful sales tool for specific jobs, particularly where energy savings or storm deductibles are in play. Whether it is worth the extra $399 depends on how often you use it. If you run 0% APR promotions more than once or twice a year, it pays for itself. If you have never used promotional financing, skip it at first and add it later.

ROI Comparison at Different Volume Levels

Assuming 7% blended dealer fees as the alternative:

Annual Financed Volume	Per-Job Fee Cost (7%)	Starter Cost	Pro Cost	Best Option
$20,000	$1,400	$1,499	$1,799	Per-job fee
$30,000	$2,100	$1,499	$1,799	Starter
$60,000	$4,200	$1,499	$1,799	Pro (if you need software)
$120,000	$8,400	$1,499	$1,799	Pro

Bottom Line Recommendation

Start with Pro if you do not already have a quoting and invoicing system. Start with Starter if you do. The $300 difference between them is not a meaningful decision for most contractors at the volume levels where Hearth pays off. The bigger question is whether the financing access itself is worth the annual fee at your current job volume. If you are doing more than $30,000 in financed projects per year (or plan to), the math works in your favor on either tier. If you’re brand new to offering financing, start with Wisetack’s free signup to validate the behavior first, then graduate to Hearth when your funded volume justifies the flat fee.

Every small contractor who looks at Hearth asks the same question before signing up: is it actually worth it? You’re looking at roughly $1,499 to $1,799 per year, and that’s a real check to write when you’re running a lean operation. This post does not sell you on anything. It gives you the honest math and the honest checklist so you can figure out whether Hearth fits your business or not.

The Break-Even Math

Hearth’s Pro plan runs around $1,799 per year as of 2026. That is your fixed cost. Competing platforms like GreenSky and Wisetack charge dealer fees on every funded loan, typically 6% to 12% depending on the loan terms. So the question is: at what financed volume does Hearth’s flat fee beat per-job fees?

At a 7% average dealer fee blended across your funded jobs, here is where the math breaks:

Annual Financed Volume	7% Dealer Fee Cost	Hearth Annual Cost	Savings with Hearth
$20,000	$1,400	$1,799	-$399
$30,000	$2,100	$1,799	+$301
$50,000	$3,500	$1,799	+$1,701
$100,000	$7,000	$1,799	+$5,201
$200,000	$14,000	$1,799	+$12,201

Hearth’s own break-even threshold is around $26,000 in financed volume per year. If you finance at least three average-ticket jobs through it, you’re already ahead. The math gets dramatically better as volume increases.

What “Using It Correctly” Actually Looks Like

This is where most contractors who sign up and get nothing out of it go wrong. Signing up is not using it. Hearth is a sales tool, not a background service. Using it correctly means:

• Introducing the financing option during the estimate, before you reveal the total price
• Having the homeowner pull up the pre-qual link on their phone while you’re sitting at their kitchen table
• Presenting the monthly payment alongside the project total in every written quote
• Training every person who runs estimates in your company to do the same

Contractors who sign up, file the welcome email, and never bring it up in the home get exactly zero out of Hearth. It is a conversion tool. It only works when it is part of the sales conversation.

5 Signs Hearth Will Work for You

1. Your average job is $5,000 or more. Financing conversations only make sense when the ticket size creates a real monthly payment contrast. A $1,200 window replacement does not need financing. A $12,000 bathroom does.
2. You run at least 3-5 estimates per week. More conversations mean more chances to use it. Volume matters.
3. You hear “I need to think about it” or “we can’t afford it right now” more than once a month. Those objections are almost always financing problems in disguise. Hearth is designed to convert them.
4. Your customer base includes buyers with FICO scores in the 550-650 range. This is where Hearth’s 18-lender network shines. Customers who get declined by a single-lender platform often get approved through Hearth.
5. You want to stop haggling on price. When you shift the conversation to monthly payment, you stop negotiating total. Customers compare $340/month to their cable bill, not $18,000 to their savings account.

3 Signs Hearth Probably Will Not Work for You

1. You only do a handful of jobs per year. If your total financed volume stays under $25,000 per year, the per-job fee model on Wisetack or GreenSky may be cheaper. Run the math on your actual numbers before committing.
2. You work exclusively in commercial. Hearth is built for residential homeowners. Commercial financing works differently, and Hearth’s product does not apply.
3. You run all your estimates by email or over the phone and never meet customers in person. Hearth’s highest-conversion use is the in-home pre-qual. If you never have that kitchen table moment, you lose the platform’s biggest advantage.

The Auto-Renewal Trap

Hearth auto-renews annually. If you sign up in March 2026 and forget to cancel, you’ll be billed again in March 2027. This catches contractors who had a slow year or stopped using the platform but never formally canceled. Set a calendar reminder 30 days before your renewal date to review your actual usage numbers. If you financed less than $25,000 through the platform in the past 12 months, do the break-even math again before renewing.

A Practical Decision Framework

Before signing up, answer these three questions:

1. How much did I finance through any platform in the last 12 months? If the answer is zero, start with a per-job platform like Wisetack to validate that financing closes jobs for your specific customer base before committing to an annual subscription.
2. What is my average ticket size on residential jobs? If it is under $5,000, financing may not move the needle for you yet. If it is over $8,000, financing almost certainly will.
3. Am I willing to change my sales process? If you are not going to introduce financing during every estimate, you’re paying for a tool you won’t use. Commitment to the process matters as much as the platform.

Bottom Line

Hearth is worth it for small contractors who run in-home estimates on jobs over $5,000 and are willing to make financing a standard part of every sales conversation. At $30,000 or more in annual financed volume, it pays for itself and keeps saving. Below that threshold, run the break-even math against what you’d pay per job on a competitor. If you are already using contractor financing and paying dealer fees, Hearth almost certainly saves you money at moderate volume. If you’ve never used financing at all, start there first and validate the behavior before locking in an annual subscription.