We offer a whole bunch of ways for you to accept credit cards to secure bookings!
In this guide:
Integrate with a Payment Processor⚓
To get started with accepting payments for services in Acuity you will have to integrate with one of the payment processors we integrate with. Learn more about those processors and the benefits of each here»
Each of these payment processors is a third party service, and as such you’ll need to create an account with the payment processor of your choice, including agreeing to their terms and conditions. Managing your account and relationship with the payment processor may be done through your payment processor’s online portal and/or mobile app.
Head over to Payment Settings to set up your connection to Stripe, Square, or PayPal. You can use any one of the three payment processors, or use PayPal in combination with Square or Stripe.
For each processor, you can connect only one account to Acuity.
To facilitate payment transactions and to allow you to manage those payments with the payment processor of your choice, we may send, on your behalf, these types of information to your payment processor (and any other data you provide permission to your payment processor to receive from Squarespace):
• Full name on payment card
• Expiry date of payment card
• Billing zip/postal code associated with the payment card
• Charges for the appointment
• Appointment date and time
Ways to Accept Payment⚓
Once connected with your payment processor choose the currency you will be taking your appointments in and choose how you will be accepting payments in the Payment terms dropdown.
- Require full payment: With this option, clients are required to pay in full when booking an appointment.
- Require a deposit amount ($): This allows clients to either pay the full price or a fixed price for a deposit.
- When this option is selected, you’ll also have the option to allow clients to pay the full price up front by turning on Clients can pay the full amount in advance. If this is off, clients will only be able to pay the deposit price when booking an appointment.
- Require a deposit percentage (%): This allows clients to either pay the full price or a percentage of the price as a deposit.
- When this option is selected, you’ll also have the option to allow clients to pay the full price up front by turning on Clients can pay the full amount in advance. If this is off, clients will only be able to pay the deposit price when booking an appointment.
- If the client selects add-ons that affect the cost of the appointment type, the deposit will be calculated based on the final total cost of the appointment, including the add-ons. So a 10 percent deposit on a $100 appointment with a $50 add-on would be $15, or 10 percent of $150.
- Require a valid credit card, but don't charge: This option is only available for Stripe and Square. But wow, is it useful! This way, clients will enter a credit card number, but not pay anything up front during the booking process. This will ensure that their credit card is valid and add it to their client profile in Acuity, as well as their Customer list (for Stripe users). You can then charge it later, if necessary.
- The client will see a $1 charge on their card (uncaptured). This charge is used for validation purposes, but will later be released (voided). Square will void the charge after six days. Stripe will do so after seven days.
- Like deposits, when selecting “Require a valid credit card, but don’t charge,” you’ll have the option of allowing clients to pay in full.
- If you pick a combination of payment processors that includes PayPal (such as the Square and PayPal option), this choice won't be available. If you have it enabled when you switch to a combination of payment processors that includes PayPal, it will be changed to require a $1 deposit from your clients.
- Allow in-person payment only: Payment will not be collected from the client during the booking process, but you can record payments on the admin end.
- Allow payment now or after booking: Clients can choose to either pay, or skip payment, during the booking process.
- Allow client to choose amount: Clients decide how much to add to their own bill. You can set a minimum price as a starting point.
- If you pick PayPal or a combination of payment processors that includes PayPal (such as the Square and PayPal option), this choice won't be available.
- Customize for each appointment type Select this if you want to set different payment requirements for each appointment type.
How to tell whether an appointment is paid
You can check the payment status of any appointment by going to to the Appointment Calendar and clicking on the appointment to bring up its details.
However, Acuity will also let you know at a glance which appointments have been paid for. When viewing appointments on your Appointment Calendar, Acuity will add an icon to the appointment, letting you know its payment status:
| dollar sign | paid in full |
| faded dollar sign | paid in part |
| credit card icon | card vaulted, but not charged |
| star | paid with coupon, gift certificate, package, or other code |
How does a client pay for the rest of their appointment if full payment is not required? ⚓
If you only require clients to pay a deposit or only require a valid credit card, but don't charge when they schedule, Acuity will not automatically charge clients for the remainder of their appointment. The remainder will have to be paid manually by the client, or charged manually as the admin.
- Clients pay the remainder of their appointment balance by:
- Selecting “Change/Cancel Appointment” in their confirmation or reminder emails, which will bring them to a confirmation page. This page has a "Pay" button that allows clients to pay the remainder.
- Admins can pay the remaining appointment balance by:
- Clicking on the particular client's appointment from your appointment calendar, scrolling down to the Payment section, then clicking the “Make a Payment” link. From there, you’ll be able to manually charge the client’s appointment balance by charging their card on file or adding a new card to charge.
When using PayPal as your processor any additional payments would need to take place outside of Acuity.
Only when using Stripe or Square will clients and admin be able to pay the remaining appointment balance.
Check out this short video to see how clients and admins can pay the appointment remainder here:
Want people to pay for a bundle of appointments all at once? ⚓
Appointment packages will be the way to go here! They can be set up within Packages & Gift Certificates.
Letting Clients Pay with Cash or Check in Person⚓
It’s also possible to allow clients to pay in person with cash or a check. You can read about the process in this article.
If you have integrated with a payment processor, you can give clients the option of paying with a card online or in person via cash or check. To do this, go to Business Settings > Payment Settings and select Payment is optional in the dropdown menu of payment options. With this option selected, clients will have the option to pay during booking, but they will not be required to do so.
Note: Acuity will only accept and record payments of up to 150 percent of the appointment cost.
- Payment Processors that Integrate with Acuity
- Outside the United States? Change your currency under Payments