Issuing a refund in HoneyBook is fee-free. There are 2 ways to give a refund:
Some things to keep in mind:
A payment with the status "Processing" cannot be refunded. This is because the funds are still waiting to clear the client's bank. Sometimes, depending on the bank, the client can try calling their bank and canceling the payment. Otherwise, you'll need to wait for the payment to process, after which point you can issue a refund.
Always issue a refund before making any changes to the smart file’s services or payment schedule. Once the refund is given, HoneyBook will automatically adjust the payment schedule for you.
All refunds are done through bank transfers. If it's your first time issuing a refund through HoneyBook, you'll need to link a bank account for the refund. Refunds can't be processed using a credit card. If you're not able to add an account for any reason, contact Support for help with your refund.
Refunds are issued directly back to the client's original payment method within 7–14 business days, excluding weekends and bank holidays.
When you process a refund, you're charged only for the amount that was originally transferred to your bank account, which would equal the payment minus the transaction fees. The transaction fees are added back to the refunded amount, so your client can expect a full refund.
HoneyBook uses a third-party system called Plaid, which encrypts all your information to keep it secure. Learn more about how Plaid keeps your financial information safe.
Issue refund from project workspace
Find and open the file that holds the payment you want to refund
Look for the "Invoice" section in the file's Action Summary
Find the payment you want to refund, then select the three dot icon > Refund a custom amount
If the payment was processed outside of HoneyBook and you manually marked the payment as paid, you can select Mark as refunded instead to ensure your records are accurate
Enter the amount to be refunded
If you don't refund the entire payment now, you can come back later and refund the rest
Select Refund Now
If this is your first time giving a refund, select Connect Bank Account and follow the instructions. You can use the same bank account you use to receive payments, but it won't automatically appear here.
If you've given refunds before but want to use a different bank account, select Use a Different Bank Account
Your client should see the full refund (the entire amount they paid) back in their account within 7–14 business days. If needed, you can now edit the services or payment schedule in the file now that the refund has been initiated.
Issue a refund from the Payments page
You can also issue a refund while reviewing payments across all projects.
From the navigation menu, select Finance > Payments
Select the payment you want to refund
Under the payment's "Total," select Issue refund
Enter the amount to be refunded
If you don't refund the entire payment now, you can come back later and refund the rest
Select Refund Now
If this is your first time giving a refund, select Connect Bank Account and follow the instructions. You can use the same bank account you use to receive payments, but it won't automatically appear here
If you have given refunds before but want to use a different bank account, choose Use a Different Bank Account
Your client should see the full refund (the entire amount they paid) back in their account within 7–14 business days. If needed, you can now edit the services or payment schedule in the file now that the refund has been initiated.
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!