Questions about automatic payments (autopay)? You've come to the right place.
What is autopay?
Autopay is a payment setting in your invoices. It allows you to automatically charge clients on the due dates set in a payment schedule.
When setting up an invoice, 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.
What's the difference between autopay and recurring invoices?
Autopay is a setting for set payment schedules. First, create your payment schedule; then, toggle autopay ON so that once clients opt in to autopay, their payments will automatically process on the set due dates.
Recurring invoices are an invoice-wide setting. Use recurring invoices if you have a set payment amount that you'd like to charge on a recurring basis (weekly, monthly, etc.)—such as, for subscription fees.
📚 Tip
Learn more about creating and sharing recurring invoices here.
How do I set up autopay?
Autopay is a payment setting in your invoices. First, get started creating an invoice.
To turn autopay on or off:
1. From your invoice, either:
Click the outline of the invoice block > Set payment options
OR, navigate to the payment page > click the outline of the payment block
2. From the settings sidebar, locate the Client must use Autopay setting.
Toggle required autopay ON to 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
What's the client experience like opting in to autopay?
When making a payment, clients can simply check the box for autopay.
📣 Note
If autopay was toggled ON under the file’s payment settings, your client will be required to check the box for autopay before they’re able to submit payment.
What happens when my client makes their first payment on an invoice set to autopay?
When your client goes to make their first payment and opts in to autopay, the payment will process from their account immediately—even if the payment due date is set for the future. Then, all additional payments will automatically process on the dates as outlined in the payment schedule.
What time of day does autopay charge clients?
Autopay is a daily worker that starts at 11am Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) every day and may take a few hours to complete.
11:00 AM Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is 3:00 AM Pacific Time (PT).
11:00 AM Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is 5:00 AM Central Time (CT).
11:00 AM Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is 6:00 AM Eastern Time (ET).
Can my client make a payment on an invoice set to autopay early?
Autopay is intended to automatically charge clients on set due dates. If a client would like to make the next payment early, they'll need to first turn off automatic payments. Then, they can manually make the next scheduled payment (and opt back in to autopay if they'd like), which will process the payment from the client's account immediately.
How can my client change their card on file for autopay?
If a client ever needs to change the card on file for automatic payments, they'll need to first turn off automatic payments. Then, they can manually make the next scheduled payment with the appropriate card and opt back in to autopay at that time.
How do I turn off autopay?
You (the business) can turn off autopay, or your client can turn off autopay from their end. Here's how.
Why don't I see the option to toggle autopay on?
Check if you're working on a recurring invoice. Recurring invoices don't have the option to turn autopay on, as they already have that functionality built-in!
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!