If you’ve ever looked at your payment processing bill and wondered why it costs money just to receive your customers’ money, you’re not alone. ACH is the cost-efficient alternative to cards, yet many businesses still absorb fees on inbound (pull) transactions—especially those collecting frequently, like lenders, MCA companies, subscription platforms, utilities, and B2B SaaS.
A growing number of providers now advertise “zero-cost” ACH receivables, but Liftoff is the best option for making it practical at scale. We pair true $0 inbound ACH (and optional debit pulls) with 24/7/365 RTP funding, bank-level compliance, and battle-tested risk controls—so you collect for free, fund instantly, and keep return rates low.
Quick refresher: how ACH collections work
ACH (Automated Clearing House) moves money between bank accounts using routing and account numbers. For collections (you are pulling from a customer), you originate an ACH debit with the proper authorization (SEC codes like WEB, TEL, PPD, CCD). Standard ACH typically settles T+1–T+3; Same-Day ACH offers faster posting windows. RTP is a push rail for instant disbursements—perfect for funding.
Historically, merchants paid a small per-item fee on every inbound ACH pull. With Liftoff’s zero-cost receivables, that line item goes to $0.
What “zero-cost receivables” really means
Zero-cost” here refers to inbound items: ACH debits you pull from customers and (optionally) debit-card pulls for on-file collection. You’re not charged for those collection events. Instead, costs are shifted to:
1. Outbound rails you choose (e.g., RTP for instant funding, ACH credits, optional Same -Day uplift).
2. A simple platform/SaaS plan (if you prefer predictable OPEX).
3. Pass-throughs for true exceptions (e.g., ACH return fees only when a return occurs).
Net result: you collect for free, pay modestly when you fund, and pay only if a return actually happens.
Why Liftoff is the best option
1) Real $0 inbound—no gimmicks.
We price inbound ACH pulls (and optional debit pulls) at $0, not “$0 up to tiny limits.” We size plans to your actual volume, so savings show up materially on day one.
2) 24/7/365 RTP funding—no cutoffs, weekends included.
Fund customers in minutes, even on holidays. Compete—and win—on speed while collections stay free.
3) Compliance done right.
We support correct SEC-code workflows (WEB/TEL/PPD/CCD), audit-ready authorization capture, KYC/KYB, OFAC, and bank-verification options (micro-deposits, IAV, balance/owner checks).
4) Lower returns with smarter risk.
Return-reason analytics, configurable dunning, and rules-based retries help keep NACHA thresholds healthy and cash flow predictable.
5) Developer-friendly & ops-ready.
Clean APIs, webhooks, sandbox, and a no-friction portal for finance teams. Use our ledgered reports or export to your BI.
6) Transparent, scalable pricing.
Choose pay-as-you-fund (RTP/ACH outbound) or a predictable platform plan. Either way, your effective blended cost trends down as volume grows.
Who benefits most?
· MCA & lenders: Daily/weekly collections at $0; fund deals instantly via RTP.
· Subscriptions: Replace card-on-file with bank-on-file; eliminate interchange and card churn.
· B2B invoicing: Pull for $0 on due dates; use ACH credit or RTP for payouts.
· Marketplaces & gig: Free inbound from sellers/providers; instant RTP payouts as a premium feature.
The pricing layouts you’ll see with Liftoff
A) Pay-as-you-fund
· $0 inbound ACH pulls
· RTP: flat per payment (24/7/365)
· ACH credits: low per item; Same-Day uplift only when used
· Optional platform fee: $0–$299 depending on toolset
B) Platform plan
· $0 inbound up to a high monthly threshold
· Fixed platform fee (portal, API, webhooks, analytics)
· Discounted RTP/ACH outbound rates
We’ll model both against your real volumes and recommend the lower effective blended cost.
ROI example (lender/MCA portfolio)
Assume 60,000 ACH pulls/month and 1,800 fundings/month.
Legacy inbound fees ($0.15 each):
60,000 × $0.15 = $9,000/mo to receive payments.
Liftoff (zero-cost inbound + RTP):
Inbound pulls: $0
RTP: 1,800 × $0.95 = $1,710
Same-Day ACH uplifts (150 uses): 150 × $0.20 = $30
Platform: $0–$299
Total: ~$1,740–$2,009 (vs. $9,000) → ~78% reduction on this slice.
Even if your RTP rate is higher or Same-Day usage spikes, removing inbound fees typically dwarfs any outbound cost.
Implementation checklist
1. Map flows: What % is collections vs. funding? Daily vs. weekly cadence?
2. Pick rails by job: $0 inbound ACH for receivables; RTP for real-time funding; Same-Day ACH as your speed fallback.
3. Lock compliance: Correct SEC code, audit-ready authorization artifacts, KYC/KYB + OFAC, bank verification.
4. Automate dunning: Reason-aware retries that respect NACHA rules.
5. Measure & iterate: Track returns, funding time, and net cost per $ collected.
What about debit card pulls at $0?
We can extend $0 pricing to debit card pulls (where use case and volume fit). If you mix ACH and debit collections, we’ll structure it so both pull methods stay zero-priced while you monetize funding speed with RTP.
FAQs
Where do the fees go if receivables are $0?
To outbound rails (RTP, ACH credits/Same-Day uplifts) and, optionally, a platform fee. You also pay pass-throughs only when returns occur.
Is zero-cost compliant?
Yes—pricing doesn’t change the rules. We enforce proper authorization (SEC codes), KYC/ KYB, OFAC, and bank verification.
Do I have to use RTP?
No—but RTP is where many clients see outsized business impact (instant funding, weekend/ holiday advantage). You can still use standard ACH credits and keep inbound free.
We’re “high risk.” Can we still qualify?
Often yes—with the right controls, return-rate history, and underwriting. Many merchants also use Liftoff as a backup ACH to diversify risk.
Will zero-cost apply to unlimited volume?
We size thresholds to your growth. The aim is to keep your core receivables at $0 and your effective blended cost trending down.
The bottom line
Zero-cost ACH receivables flip the script: you collect for free, pay modestly when you send money, and pay only on true exceptions. Combine that with Liftoff’s RTP for instant funding and you gain a competitive advantage—including weekends and holidays. Between our pricing, compliance posture, and developer ergonomics, Liftoff is the best option for businesses that collect frequently and fund fast.
Call to action: Ready to collect for $0 and fund in real time? Talk to a Liftoff Payments Specialist and we’ll model your ROI in minutes.