Autopay is a powerful HoneyBook feature that allows clients to automatically be charged for their payments based on the schedule you set. It offers a seamless, hands-off way for both you and your clients to stay on top of payments.
This article explains how autopay works, how it differs from recurring invoices, and how clients can manage their payments.
What is autopay?
Autopay enables clients to authorize HoneyBook to automatically charge their selected payment method on the due dates listed in their invoice or proposal. Once they opt in, future payments will be processed automatically—no manual action needed.
You can choose whether autopay is mandatory or optional when setting up an invoice:
Mandatory autopay: Clients must opt in before completing their first payment
Optional autopay: Clients can choose whether or not to enable autopay during checkout
Autopay vs. recurring invoices
While both tools automate payments, they serve different purposes:
Feature | ||
Setup type | Per-payment schedule | Entire invoice |
Use case | Automate fixed due dates set in a schedule | Repeat the same charge, for example, monthly subscriptions |
Client opt-in | Required (mandatory or optional) | No opt-in, sent on schedule |
Customization | Specific payment dates and amounts | Same amount, billed at regular intervals |
Here’s an important distinction:
All recurring invoices include autopay by default
Not all invoices with autopay are recurring invoices
Use autopay when you want to charge clients based on a unique payment schedule. Use recurring invoices when you're billing the same amount on a repeating cycle, for example, every month or week.
When payments are processed
When a client opts into autopay during their first payment, that payment is processed immediately, even if the due date is in the future
All future payments are then charged automatically on the due dates set in the payment schedule
HoneyBook’s autopay system runs daily, starting at 11:00 am Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Here's when that is in common time zones:
3:00 am Pacific Time (PT)
5:00 am Central Time (CT)
6:00 am Eastern Time (ET)
Depending on volume, it might take a few hours to complete all scheduled payments.
Early payments and opting out
If a client wants to make a payment before the due date, they need to:
Turn off autopay using the link in their payment reminder or confirmation email
Manually submit the next payment through their invoice
Re-enable autopay if they’d like the remaining payments to continue automatically
📣 Note
Any time a client re-enables autopay, that payment will also be processed immediately.
Still have questions? Feel free to send us a message by clicking the Question Mark icon on any HoneyBook page. Our team is always happy to help!