Independent guidance: Sortivo is not affiliated with Stripe. Product features, fees and eligibility can change, so confirm the current details on Stripe’s official website before acting.
Giving customers a convenient way to pay can reduce friction after a job. Stripe is one option for accepting online and in-person card payments, but it is not the only one. Compare the costs, payout timing, support and accounting workflow with your existing provider before deciding.
1. Create and verify your account
Create the account using your real business and bank details. Stripe may request identity and business information before enabling live payments. Requirements and review times vary, so complete verification before you need to collect a time-sensitive deposit.
2. Pick the right way to take payment
You probably do not need every Stripe product:
- Payment Links create a hosted payment page that you can share without building a checkout.
- Stripe Invoicing lets you create and send invoices to a specific customer from the Dashboard, with no-code options available.
- Stripe Terminal supports compatible readers and Tap to Pay options for in-person payments.
A simple setup might use a reader for payment at the end of a visit and an invoice or payment link for deposits and remote payments. Choose the smallest workflow that your team will use consistently.
3. Take deposits before you start
For larger jobs, a deposit can confirm the booking before you order materials or reserve significant time. State the deposit, cancellation and refund terms clearly in writing, then match the payment to the customer and job in your records.
4. Send the final invoice promptly
Set a repeatable trigger for invoicing—for example, when the engineer marks the job complete. Check the customer details, describe the work clearly, include the due date and provide the agreed payment method.
If preparing invoices and following up consistently is the problem, see how Sortivo’s admin and invoicing support can keep the workflow moving without taking technical or accounting decisions away from you.
5. Check the current cost
Card type, payment method, currency conversion and the Stripe product you use can affect the total cost. Review the official Stripe UK pricing page immediately before making a decision rather than relying on an old fee quoted in an article.
Decide in advance how processing costs fit into your pricing. If you plan to add a surcharge or change customer-facing terms, obtain appropriate legal or accounting advice for your circumstances.
6. Reconcile payments against your books
Record the gross customer payment, processing fee, refund and net payout correctly rather than treating the bank deposit as the complete transaction. Use a consistent job or invoice reference and reconcile the account regularly. Ask your bookkeeper or accountant how the entries should be handled in your accounting system.
Software interfaces, features and fees change. Use Stripe’s current documentation for setup decisions and test the full journey—from payment request to reconciliation—before relying on it with customers.