Payment methods

Choose the payment methods clients can use for a purchase, then decide how deposits and unpaid balances will be collected. Configure the underlying Stripe or Interac service first; the choices offered on a form, booking package or store depend on those settings.

Available Payment Methods

Offline Payment

Allows the client to reserve online without immediate payment.
An invoice is generated and sent, and the registration is recorded as unpaid.
Payment tracking must be done manually.

Credit Card

Users can pay online with a credit card.
Option to request an initial deposit instead of the total amount.

Gift Card

If you sell gift cards, users can pay with them.

Interac Transfer

Users can make payments via Interac transfer.
Refer to our specific guide to simplify and account for these transfers.

Bank Transfer

Convenient for larger transactions or regular monthly payments.
Useful for annual registrations or subscriptions.

Other Payment Methods

You can set up a custom payment method, such as by check.
Add specific instructions for this payment method.

Scheduled Payments

Allows dividing an amount into multiple monthly payments.
Configure the number of payments and amounts; scheduled attempts follow the configured dates and payment method. A scheduled attempt can fail and is not a payment guarantee.
Choose the first payment date and whether the installment option appears before or after payment in full.
At checkout, clients can review the amount and upcoming payment dates. You can review their scheduled payments on the invoice.
After a schedule has been set on an invoice, use Adjust scheduled payments to edit the amounts of the scheduled payments already listed and, where available, choose their payment method. This adjustment does not let you change the number of installments. Do not rely on this dialog to delete future payments.

Configuration of Instructions and Restrictions

You can modify the instructions by adjusting the button text and personalizing the guidelines on the form. It is also possible to restrict payment options, such as prohibiting the use of gift cards for certain programs.

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Paying by credit card via Stripe

Connect Stripe in your organization settings before offering card payments. A successful payment updates the invoice; bank payouts follow Stripe’s payout schedule. Review failed-payment notifications and follow up on any unpaid balance.

Credit card convenience fee

You can charge your client a credit card convenience fee to cover credit card charges. Toggle the option "Credit card convenience fee" to use that option. You label the fee as it will appear on the invoice. You must set a percentage to apply on the total amount. For example 3%.

The credit card convenience fee will get added to the client invoice when they choose to pay online with their credit card. You can apply sales taxes on that fee and assign it a ledger code to properly recognize it in your accounting system.

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The credit card convenience fee is added on the total before exclusive sales taxes are applied. If you ask for a deposit, the fee will be added to the amount you demand.

Credit card surcharges or convenience fees may not be legal in your jurisdiction. In Canada for example, credit card convenience fees have become allowed as of October 2022 in every province except for Québec.

Interac e-Transfer

In Canada you can ask your clients to pay via an Interac e-Transfer. Activity Messenger can handle settling the payment against the invoice. Jump to the help page Interac e-Transfer to find out more.

Deposit (first payment by credit card or Interac e-Transfer)

You can ask your client to pay a first part of the invoice with the Deposit option. The balance can be paid later online or offline.

To activate this option specify the minimum amount that will be taken for the first payment (deposit). You can also specify a percentage of the total invoice. Activity Messenger will ask the client to pay the largest of either values. Note that if you have enabled the credit card convenience fee, it will also need to be paid in addition to the deposit amount.

Your client can always choose to pay the full amount instead of the deposit. They can do so by clicking on the link "Pay the full amount now".

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Other (by check, by electronic funds transfer (EFT), by PayPal, etc...)

You can ask your clients to pay via PayPal, by check or by any other means by selecting the Other option. Configure the label and description appropriately. For example, here we allow paying by check.

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Paying the balance of an invoice online

For unpaid or partially paid invoices, the available online balance-payment methods depend on the invoice and organization settings. From an invoice, click on the link "Client pay balance page". You will be redirected to a page where they can pay with their credit card or, if you allow it, via an Interac e-Transfer.

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You can also send your client the invoice by email or by SMS. They will receive a link to that page.

The balance can be paid by anyone who has the link to that page. For example, a grandparent could pay for junior's summer camp or hockey season. They can type in their name and email to receive the payment receipt by email.

Add a credit card convenience fee to invoice balances

To charge a credit card convenience fee on balance payments, you must first toggle on that option in the Stripe configuration page.

Open your organization settings and choose Stripe. Scroll to the bottom and turn on the global setting "Credit card convenience fee". From then on, a credit card convenience fee will get added to the balance of an invoice when the client pays online by credit card.

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