Overview

Stripe is how BlueClerk processes credit card payments. Connecting your Stripe account lets you accept payments directly through invoices - customers can pay online with just a few clicks, and the money goes straight to your bank account.

Why Use Stripe?

Get paid faster - Customers can pay invoices instantly online
Professional experience - Branded checkout pages with your company info
Automatic tracking - Payments sync automatically to your invoices
Secure - Bank-level encryption protects all transactions
Flexible payouts - Choose how often you receive funds

Step-by-Step Setup

Starting the Connection

Log in to your BlueClerk account
Go to Settings > Payment Settings
Click "Connect Stripe"

Creating or Linking Your Stripe Account

If you're new to Stripe:

You'll be redirected to Stripe's signup flow
Enter your email and create a password
Provide your business details:
- Business type (Sole proprietor, LLC, etc.)
- Business name and address
- Industry category
Verify your identity:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Last 4 digits of SSN (in the US)
- Government ID may be required

If you already have a Stripe account:

Click "Sign in" when prompted
Enter your Stripe credentials
Authorize BlueClerk to connect to your account

Adding Your Bank Account

Enter your bank details:
- Bank name
- Routing number
- Account number
Verify your bank - Stripe may make small deposits to verify
Confirm the amounts when they appear (usually within 2 business days)

Completing Verification

Stripe requires identity verification to comply with financial regulations. You may need to:

Upload a photo of your government-issued ID
Provide additional business documentation
Answer questions about your business

After Connection

Once connected, your dashboard will show:

Charges Enabled - You can accept payments
Payouts Enabled - Money can be deposited to your bank
Account Status - Any pending requirements

Setting Up Payouts

Go to your Stripe Dashboard (link available in BlueClerk settings)
Navigate to Settings > Payouts
Choose your payout schedule:
- Daily (fastest, may have small fees)
- Weekly
- Monthly

Tips

Complete Stripe verification promptly - your ability to accept payments may be limited until verified
Keep your Stripe account information up to date
Monitor your Stripe dashboard for any action items
Consider setting up automatic payouts to reduce manual work

Common Questions

Q: What fees does Stripe charge? A: Stripe typically charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for card payments. You can pass these fees to customers or absorb them - check your invoice settings.

Q: How long until I receive my money? A: Most payouts arrive in 2 business days. New accounts may have a 7-day hold initially.

Q: Can I disconnect Stripe later? A: Yes, you can disconnect Stripe in Settings > Payment Settings. However, you won't be able to accept card payments until you reconnect.

Q: Is my banking information safe? A: Yes. All sensitive financial data is stored directly with Stripe, not in BlueClerk. Stripe uses bank-level encryption and is PCI compliant.

Q: Can I use a different payment processor? A: Currently, BlueClerk only supports Stripe for payment processing.

Troubleshooting

"Stripe connection failed"

Make sure you're using a supported browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
Clear your browser cache and try again
Disable any ad blockers temporarily

"Verification required"

Check your email for messages from Stripe
Log into your Stripe dashboard to see what's needed
Common requests: ID verification, business documentation

"Payouts on hold"

This usually means Stripe needs more information
Check your Stripe dashboard for required actions
Contact Stripe support if the issue persists

Connecting Stripe for Payments