HoneyBook allows you to offer several payment options to your clients, so you can decide what works best for your business.
📣 Note
Payment settings can be set on the template level, or adjusted on a file-by-file basis when sharing a smart file with a client.
You can: |
You cannot: |
✓ You can create any payment schedule (payment amounts and due dates) that works best for you and your business
✓ You can send a standard or recurring invoice
✓ You can allow clients to pay by credit card, ACH bank transfer, or both*
✓ You can allow clients to add gratuity to their payment, or not
✓ You can require clients to opt in to automatic payments, or just keep it as an option | X You cannot place a hold on a client's card for services, damages, or cancellations (instead, consider collecting a deposit and setting a reminder to refund following the event/services)
X You cannot allow clients to pay any amount on any date, which means clients cannot make partial payments (you'll need to create a set payment schedule. If clients would like to pay a different amount and/or on a different date, they'll need to reach out to you to edit the schedule) |
To edit the payment options on a smart file with an invoice:
1. From within the smart file you've created, either:
Navigate to the invoice page, then click the outline of the invoice block to open the settings sidebar > Set payment options
OR
Navigate to the payment page, then click the outline of the payment block to open the payment settings
2. Here, you can adjust:
Invoice type: Set the invoice type and payment cadence—standard or recurring (invoice page only)
Payment method: Set which payment methods you’ll accept (credit card, ACH bank transfer, or both)*
Client can add a tip: Allow your client the option to add gratuity/tip
Client must use Autopay: Automatically charge clients on the due dates set in the payment schedule. You can toggle required autopay on, which will require clients to opt in to autopay before they’re able to submit payment to you. If toggled off, clients won’t be required to opt in to automatic payments, but they’ll still have the option to
📣 Note
At the moment, we cannot process ACH bank transfers for Canada-based members—only credit card payments can be accepted for these accounts. We're hoping to expand this functionality in the future, though!
3. When your client receives the file and proceeds to the payment options, they'll now be able to make their payment using whatever settings you saved. Here's what the process looks like for them!
When a client enters their payment information and clicks Pay, the first payment in the payment schedule will process from their account immediately, even if this occurs before the payment due date.
This also applies if autopay is turned on (by you or the client); if the client enters their payment information before the first payment due date, the initial payment will process from their account immediately, and future payments set to autopay will automatically process on the set due dates. You'll receive the funds following standard payment processing times.
If a client makes a payment via ACH bank transfer, that payment will need to fully process (with the payment status moving from pending to paid in HoneyBook) before a subsequent payment can be made. This may take 7-8 business days, so be aware of this when creating your payment schedule.
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!