How to set up online payments

Setting up to accept online payments via credit and debit card through invoices and the portal from your customers.

Setting up these types of payments can save you a lot of admin time and promote faster payments from your customers.

To accept these credit/debit card payments, you will need to set up a Stripe account (our registered third party payment provider). Follow the steps below to complete your stripe set up with Class Manager:

1. Click < to the right of Billing and in the expanded menu click Settings, then Payment Methods
2. As this is your first time using Class Manager you will see a selection of payment options that are all disabled.  These are all options you can enable to give your customers options on how to pay you. 
   There are 2 types of payment methods.. 
   Manual - Payments that are not linked with your Class Manager account so will not automatically be added to your customers profile (e.g cash/cheque/bank transfer). 
   Automatic - Payments that are linked with your Class Manager account so will automatically be added to your customers profile (e.g direct debit/debit and credit card) 
   To start with we will only enable debit/credit card, but this can be changed at a later date.
   
3. Under the debit/credit card box click to select Enable.
   You will be forwarded to a page to log in or create your Stripe account. (From here, we will guide you how to create a new Stripe account but if you already have one you can skip to step 10). The full form must be completed with the below information in order to enable your online payments on Class Manager:
4. Create your free Stripe account - enter in the email address you would like linked with your Stripe account and create a secure password. Then click Continue
5. Secure your account with a mobile number - enter your phone number, followed by selecting send text. This will allow Stripe to use your phone number as a second form of authentication when logging in for your accounts protection. 
6. Enter the code from your device - Stripe will send you a text! Enter in the 6 digit code from the text, then select click ENTER on your keyboard to continue. 
7. Your account is secured 💪  - There is also an emergency backup code showing on the screen. This can be used to unlock your account if your device is ever lost or stolen (so it is definitely worth noting/copying/downloading this code and keeping it safe, just incase!) Once noted, select Next to head to the next steps.
8. Lets start with some basics - Enter in your business location and type of business from the dropdown menu's provided.
   Note: (Ensure this step is relevant to your current business as this will come in handy later!)
   Then select to Continue
9. Verify your personal details - Enter in your personal information to verify your identity and keep your account safe. This includes your name, date of birth, personal email address, home address and phone number. Once completed, select to Continue
10. Business details - Enter your details on how your business will earn money with Class manager. This includes VAT number (optional), industry description, website URL and product description. Once completed, select to Continue
11. Add your bank to receive payouts - Enter your account information so Stripe can forward funds to you. Once you have confirmed your currency, country of your bank account, sort code and account number, select to Continue
12. Add public details for customers - This is the information your customers will see on your invoices. Enter in your  statement descriptor (this is what your customers will see on their bank statements), shortened descriptor (this is what your customers will see on their online bank statements) and customer support phone number (your phone number you would like them to contact if querying the invoice) before selecting to  Continue
13. Review and finish up -  Almost there! 😎 This page will show you all information you have entered previously. Have a little check through to ensure it is all looking correct and up to your standard (you can edit anything here if you need to by clicking the small pencil icon in the top right hand corner of the information boxes).
    Once you are happy with everything, select Agree and submit to complete the process of setting up your Stripe account! This will then take you back to Class Managers payment methods page with the debit/credit card payment option now Active! You did it! 😍

Once activated, all invoices sent to customers will have a button attached to the email allowing them to pay the fees online. They will also have the ability to pay via the portal.

Once the customer pays by credit/debit card, that invoice will automatically register as 'Paid' or 'Part Paid' if an underpayment. The payment will automatically be added to your payments list.

You can log into your Stripe account at any time and have full visibility of all of these online transactions. Here you also have the option to issue a refund straight to a customer's card.

Handy Tip : This page now give you the option to Edit your credit/debit card settings. It's worth selecting this to see what settings there is/which ones you may want active! (eg wanting to give receipts or allow partial payments)