Stripe Payments

Accept credit card payments securely through Stripe integration.

Note: In the event of any discrepancy between GetCost documentation and Stripe's documentation, Stripe's documentation takes precedence.

Overview

Stripe is known for its robust security measures, ensuring that every transaction is encrypted and securely processed. We do not handle payment transactions directly - these are processed by Stripe.

Key Features

  • Secure, encrypted transactions
  • Fraud detection and prevention
  • Direct deposit to your bank account

Setup

  1. Go to Settings | Payment

    Open your payment settings from the Settings menu.

  2. Select Stripe

    Tap the Stripe option to open the Stripe configuration screen.

  3. Link Your Stripe Account

    Click Link Stripe Account. You will be redirected to Stripe to sign in or create a new Stripe account. Follow the steps to complete the connection.

  4. Return to GetCost

    Once linked, you'll be redirected back to GetCost. Your clients can now pay by credit card on their invoices.

Tip: After linking, you can access your Stripe Dashboard directly from the settings screen to manage payouts, view transactions, and check your account status.

Payment Methods

Through Stripe, your clients can pay using several methods. Availability depends on your Stripe account capabilities and your client's device.

💳

Credit & Debit Cards

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and other major cards. On by default; you can turn them off in Settings | Payment (Credit card: Deny) to offer only your other payment methods.

🍎

Apple Pay

Clients with Apple devices can pay using their Apple Wallet.

📱

Google Pay

Clients with Android devices can pay using their Google Wallet.

📅

Affirm

Buy Now, Pay Later option, depending on your business category in Stripe. See Affirm below.

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ACH Bank Payments

US only: your client pays straight from their US bank account, for a lower fee than a card. See ACH Bank Payments below.

Note: Payment method availability is managed by Stripe. Some methods like Affirm and tap-to-pay may require additional setup in your Stripe Dashboard. Fees may vary depending on the payment method.

Affirm (Buy Now, Pay Later)

With Affirm, your client pays over time and you receive the full amount upfront, minus fees. Affirm is offered through your Stripe account, and Stripe decides whether your business can use it.

Rules

Rule Details
Amount Offered for payments between 50 and 30,000 (USD or CAD). Outside that range, your client doesn't see Affirm on the invoice.
Country Only for clients in the same country as your business (United States or Canada).
Business category Stripe allows Affirm based on the business category (MCC) set in your Stripe account. Some categories are not allowed. Most contractor trades are restricted: allowed, but Stripe may ask for more information or review your account.
Refunds and disputes Handled through your own Stripe account, like card payments.

Turn Affirm on

  1. Connect Stripe

    Affirm goes through your Stripe account, so connect Stripe first in Settings | Payment.

  2. Allow Affirm

    Open Settings | Payment → Stripe and click Allow next to Affirm. GetCost asks Stripe to turn Affirm on for your account - there is nothing to do in your Stripe Dashboard.

  3. Wait for Stripe if needed

    Stripe may review the request first. While it does, Settings shows that Stripe is reviewing Affirm, and your clients see it on invoices (within the amount range) as soon as Stripe activates it.

What the colors mean

Settings shows What it means
Affirm in red, Allow disabled Your business category is not allowed for Affirm by Stripe, so it can't be turned on.
Affirm in red while allowed Your business category is not allowed, but Affirm was turned on before. Turn it off: Stripe may refuse or review Affirm payments.
Red "restricted" note Your category is restricted. You can still turn Affirm on or off, but Stripe may ask you for more information or review your account.
Note: Your business category is the one you chose when you set up your Stripe account. GetCost does not set it. To change it, update your business details in your Stripe account settings.

ACH Bank Payments (US)

With ACH, your client pays an invoice directly from their US bank account. It goes through your Stripe account like a card payment, but the fee is lower, which makes it a good fit for large invoices.

Rules

Rule Details
Country US only: your Stripe account must be in the United States and charge in USD, and your client pays from a US bank account.
Fee 0.8% per transaction, up to $5.00. The fee is shown under ACH in Settings | Payment → Stripe. If you pass fees to your client (convenience fee), the client's fee stops at the same cap.
Delay A bank payment takes 1 to 5 business days to complete. Until then, the payment shows as processing.
Refunds and disputes Handled through your own Stripe account, like card payments.

Turn ACH on

  1. Connect Stripe

    ACH goes through your Stripe account, so connect Stripe first in Settings | Payment.

  2. Allow ACH bank payment

    Open Settings | Payment → Stripe and click Allow next to ACH bank payment. GetCost asks Stripe to turn it on for your account - there is nothing to do in your Stripe Dashboard. If your Stripe account is not a US account charging in USD, Settings says so and ACH can't be turned on.

  3. Wait for Stripe if needed

    Stripe may review the request first. Your clients see Bank account (ACH) on their invoices as soon as Stripe activates it.

How your client pays

  1. Choose Bank account (ACH)

    On the invoice, your client picks Bank account (ACH) and checks the account holder's name. The text above the Pay button is the authorization the bank requires to debit their account.

  2. Pick their bank

    Stripe opens a window where your client signs in to their bank and picks the account. If their bank can't be reached this way, Stripe verifies the account with two small deposits instead, which takes a few days longer.

  3. Payment processing

    Your client sees the payment as processing, and you are notified. Once the bank completes it, the invoice is marked as paid.

Note: A bank can refuse the payment after it was sent, for example for insufficient funds. The payment then goes from processing to failed, you are notified, and your client can pay again.

Dashboard Widget

Once Stripe is linked, a Stripe card appears on your home dashboard so you can see where your money is without leaving GetCost. It shows:

  • Amount processed this month, from the charges Stripe recorded on your account.
  • Next payout - how much Stripe is sending to your bank, and the day it should arrive.
  • Available balance, with anything still pending shown beside it.
  • A status chip: Active when everything works, or Action needed / Setup incomplete when Stripe is waiting on something from you. When that happens the card also names what Stripe is asking for and the deadline, and tapping it takes you straight to Settings | Payment | Stripe.
Who sees it: the business owner, admins, and the accountant. The card is hidden for everyone else, and it doesn't appear at all until a Stripe account is linked.
Note: the figures are refreshed every few minutes rather than live, so a payment taken seconds ago may not be counted yet. Your Stripe dashboard remains the authority.

Account status in Settings

The top of Settings | Payment | Stripe shows your account's status on its own - the same chip and, when Stripe is waiting on something, the full list of what it needs and the deadline. It ends with Open your Stripe dashboard, which takes you to Stripe itself.

That link points at this Stripe account by name. If you belong to more than one Stripe account, it opens the one connected to GetCost rather than whichever Stripe happened to have selected - so what you see there matches what GetCost is telling you.

The amounts stay on the dashboard card; this one is only about whether the account is healthy. You sign in to Stripe with your own Stripe credentials - GetCost cannot log you in on your behalf.

Important Points

First Payout Delay

For security reasons, there is a mandatory delay of one week before the first payout is processed. After that, payouts generally take 1-3 days.

Stripe's information on the first payout →

Chargebacks

In the event of a chargeback, you are responsible for the lost revenue. However, you have the right to contest a chargeback from Stripe's Dashboard by providing evidence that the transaction was legitimate.

Transaction Fees

Stripe charges a fee for each transaction. Details can be found on their website. Refunds will not refund the transaction fees.

Fraud Detection: Stripe's system may flag legitimate transactions for additional review. Prompt communication with Stripe's support team is crucial in such cases.

Troubleshooting

If your client can't pay by credit card, check the following:

  1. Stripe is Linked

    Go to Settings | Payment (Accounts & Tip) | Stripe. Ensure Stripe is linked to your account.

  2. Credit Card Payment is Allowed

    In the same settings screen, ensure Credit Card payment is enabled.

  3. Check Maximum Payment Amount

    Validate the maximum credit card payment amount allowed per transaction.

  4. Check Stripe Dashboard

    Log in to dashboard.stripe.com to verify your account status. Sometimes Stripe requires additional information.

Note: Stripe may disable payments and payouts if they require additional information that isn't provided within a certain timeframe.