The Client Payment Experience

When you send a payment request, your client receives an email with a link to a secure payment page. Here is what that experience looks like from their side, so you know what to expect when clients have questions.

The Payment Email

Your client receives an email with the payment amount, a brief description of what the payment is for (deposit or balance), and a button to pay. Like document links, this does not require your client to create an account. They click the link and land on the payment page.

What the Payment Page Shows

The payment page is clean and straightforward. Your client sees:

• Your business name at the top
• The payment amount — this is your fee, the amount you quoted
• Payment method options — card or ACH bank transfer
• The processing fee — itemized separately so there are no surprises
• The total — your fee plus the processing fee

The fee breakdown updates in real time as your client switches between card and ACH, so they can see the difference before committing.

Card Payments

Your client enters their card number, expiration date, and CVC. Standard card processing fees apply: 2.9% + $0.30. For a $2,000 deposit, the processing fee is $58.30, making the total $2,058.30.

Card payments are processed immediately. Your client sees a confirmation screen as soon as the payment goes through.

ACH Bank Transfer

Your client enters their bank account and routing number. ACH fees are 0.8%, capped at $5.00 — significantly cheaper than card, especially on larger payments.

For a $2,000 deposit, the ACH fee is $5.00 (the cap), making the total $2,005.00. For a $5,000 balance payment, the fee is still just $5.00.

ACH payments take a few business days to clear, so your client will see a note that the payment is being processed. You will receive the funds once the transfer completes.

After Payment

Once the payment is processed, your client sees a confirmation screen with:

• A summary of what they paid
• The payment method used
• A confirmation that the payment was received

On your end, the event workflow advances automatically — to Deposit Paid or Paid in Full depending on the payment. The activity timeline on the event detail page logs the payment with the amount, method, and timestamp.

Common Client Questions

"Why is there a processing fee?" Stripe charges a processing fee on every transaction. The fee is passed through so you receive the full amount you quoted. Paying by bank transfer keeps the fee under $5.

"Can I pay by bank transfer?" Yes. On the payment page, your client can choose between card and ACH bank transfer. ACH is almost always cheaper.

"When will the money come out?" Card payments are charged immediately. ACH transfers take 3-5 business days to process.

"I paid but did not get a confirmation email." The confirmation is shown on the payment page itself. If they navigated away, they can check with you — you will see the payment recorded on the event detail page.

Talking to Clients About Payment

Many planners mention the payment process during the contract review call. A quick heads-up like "After you sign, I will send a payment link for the deposit — you can pay by card or bank transfer, and the bank transfer option keeps fees really low" goes a long way toward a smooth experience.