How to Accept Stripe Payments on Invoices

Getting customers to pay an invoice is often more difficult than creating the invoice itself. If you send an invoice by email and ask customers to make a bank transfer, mail a check, or contact you for payment instructions, there are extra steps between sending the bill and getting paid.

Adding an online payment option to your invoices can shorten that process. Stripe allows businesses to accept card payments and other online payment methods, while an invoicing platform can put the payment option directly on the invoice.

For contractors, freelancers, and small businesses that regularly send invoices, this creates a simple path from invoice to online payment.

Why Accept Stripe Payments on Invoices?

An invoice tells a customer how much they owe and what the charge is for. A payment option gives them a way to settle that balance immediately.

Without an online payment option, the process might look like this:

Send invoice → Customer reads payment instructions → Customer opens their banking app → Customer makes a transfer → You confirm the payment → You mark the invoice as paid

With an online payment option, the process can be shorter:

Send invoice → Customer opens invoice → Customer clicks Pay Now → Customer completes payment → Payment is recorded

This is particularly useful for service businesses that send invoices remotely. A customer who receives an invoice after a plumbing repair, consulting project, design job, or other service can pay without arranging a separate payment method with the business.

Make It Easier for Customers to Pay

Customers may prefer different ways to pay. Some are comfortable entering card details, while others prefer a digital wallet or bank-based payment method.

Stripe can support multiple payment methods, allowing businesses to offer customers more than one way to complete an invoice payment.

Reduce Manual Payment Tracking

Online invoice payments can also reduce the amount of manual work involved in reconciling payments.

Instead of checking your bank account and manually matching every incoming payment to an invoice, an integrated payment system can connect the payment with the invoice record.

That makes it easier to see which invoices have been paid and which are still outstanding.

How Do Stripe Payments Work on an Invoice?

Stripe does not replace the invoice itself. The invoice tells the customer what they owe, while Stripe handles the online payment.

The basic process is:

1. Create an invoice
   You list the customer, services or products, amount due, and payment terms.
2. Add an online payment option
   The invoice includes a way for the customer to access the payment page.
3. Customer opens the invoice
   They can use the invoice link or, where supported, a Pay Now button in the PDF.
4. Customer completes payment
   The customer chooses an available payment method and submits the payment through the secure checkout.
5. Payment is recorded
   The invoicing system can update the invoice and record the payment.
6. Stripe sends the payout
   After the payment is processed, Stripe pays the funds out to the connected bank account according to the applicable payout schedule.

One important distinction is that customer payment and bank payout are not the same event. A customer can successfully pay an invoice even though the money has not yet appeared in your bank account.

How to Accept Stripe Payments on Invoices with InvoiceZip

If you use InvoiceZip to create and send invoices, you can connect Stripe directly through the online payment settings.

1. Go to Online Payments
   Sign in to InvoiceZip and navigate to:
   Settings → Online Payments
   Select Stripe from the available payment options.
2. Enable Stripe
   Turn on the Stripe switch.
   InvoiceZip will guide you through the secure connection process to link your Stripe account.
   If you do not already have a Stripe account, you can create one during the setup process rather than signing up separately first.
   It is helpful to have your business details and bank information ready before starting.
3. Connect Your Stripe Account
   Follow the instructions to complete the Stripe connection.
   Once the connection is complete, you can begin accepting online payments through your invoices. Payments are processed through Stripe and can be paid out to the bank account connected to your Stripe account.
4. Create and Send Your Invoice
   Create your invoice in InvoiceZip with the customer information, services or products, amount due, and other relevant details.
   When the customer receives the invoice, they can access the online payment page directly from the invoice.

InvoiceZip supports two ways for customers to reach the payment page:

• A direct payment link included with the online invoice
• A Pay Now button included in the PDF invoice, when enabled

Both routes take the customer to the secure Stripe checkout.

What Payment Methods Can Customers Use?

The payment methods available through Stripe depend on factors such as your Stripe account, location, and enabled payment methods.

Depending on the setup, customers can use options including:

• Credit and debit cards
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Link by Stripe
• ACH bank transfers for eligible customers
• SEPA Direct Debit for eligible European customers
• Other regional payment methods supported by Stripe

Customers do not need to have a Stripe account to pay your invoice.

Offering several payment methods can be useful when you work with customers who have different payment preferences, particularly for businesses serving customers remotely or internationally.

What Happens After a Customer Pays an Invoice?

Once the customer completes the payment, the payment information is passed back into the invoicing workflow.

With InvoiceZip, the invoice can automatically change from Unpaid or Sent to Paid. You can also review payment information such as the payment time, payment method, and transaction ID.

Payment notifications can help you know when money has been collected without manually checking every invoice.

This creates a more complete workflow:

Invoice sent → Customer pays → Invoice marked paid → Payment tracked → Stripe payout

For businesses that send a large number of invoices, keeping the invoice and payment records connected makes it easier to monitor outstanding balances and maintain accurate payment records.

How Long Does It Take to Receive a Stripe Payment?

There are two different timeframes to consider: how quickly the customer payment is processed and how quickly the money is paid out to your bank account.

The first happens when the customer completes checkout. The second depends on Stripe's payout schedule and factors such as your account, location, bank, and payment activity.

First-time payouts may take longer because Stripe may need to complete account verification and security checks. Subsequent payouts generally follow the payout schedule configured for the Stripe account.

You can check upcoming payouts in your Stripe Dashboard and payment activity through InvoiceZip.

How Much Does It Cost to Accept Stripe Payments on an Invoice?

Stripe charges payment processing fees, and the exact cost depends on factors such as your location, payment method, and transaction type.

Because Stripe pricing can change and varies by market, check the current Stripe pricing for the account and payment methods you use.

If you are considering passing payment processing fees on to customers, check the rules that apply to your location and payment method before adding a separate fee to an invoice.

For many small businesses, payment processing is treated as part of the cost of collecting payments and is reflected in overall pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do customers need a Stripe account to pay an invoice?

No. Customers can pay through the Stripe checkout available from your invoice without having their own Stripe account.

Can customers pay an invoice by credit card?

Yes. Credit and debit cards are among the payment methods available through the Stripe integration, subject to the payment methods enabled for your account.

Can customers pay directly from a PDF invoice?

Yes. When the PDF includes a Pay Now button, customers can click it to access the Stripe payment page.

How do I know when an invoice has been paid?

InvoiceZip can automatically update the invoice status after a successful payment. You can also review payment details and receive payment notifications.

Does Stripe send the payment directly to my bank account?

Stripe processes the customer payment and then sends payouts to the bank account connected to your Stripe account. The payout timing is separate from the customer's payment time.