Payments & Stripe

Accept prepayments and manage refunds via Stripe.
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Setting Up Stripe Connect

Reserve Labs uses Stripe Connect to process payments securely. Stripe is the industry-leading payment processor used by millions of businesses worldwide.

Initial Setup (5 minutes)
  1. Go to the Payments tab

    In your Reserve Labs admin dashboard (Note: This tab may be hidden until you need to set up payments)

  2. Click "Connect with Stripe"

    You'll be redirected to Stripe's secure onboarding

  3. Create or Log Into Stripe Account

    If you already have a Stripe account, log in. Otherwise, create a new one.

  4. Complete Business Information

    Stripe requires basic business info for compliance:

    • Business name and address

    • Tax ID (EIN or SSN for sole proprietors)

    • Bank account for payouts

    • Personal identification

  5. Authorize Reserve Labs

    Grant permission for Reserve Labs to process payments on your behalf

  6. Complete Setup

    You'll be redirected back to Reserve Labs, and your account is ready!

Stripe Requirements

To accept payments, Stripe requires:

  • ✅ Valid business or personal bank account

  • ✅ Proof of identity (government-issued ID)

  • ✅ Tax identification number (EIN or SSN)

  • ✅ Business address

  • ✅ Business must be located in a supported country


Requiring Prepayment

Once Stripe is connected, you can require prepayment for any service. This dramatically reduces no-shows and ensures guaranteed revenue.

Enabling Prepayment for a Service
  1. Go to the Services tab in the admin dashboard

  2. Click on a service to edit it

  3. Enter the service Price

  4. Toggle "Require Prepayment" ON

  5. Enter the Prepaid Amount (can be full price or partial deposit)

  6. Click "Save"

Client Payment Experience

When a client books a prepaid service:

  1. 1. Client selects service and time

  2. 2. Fills in contact information

  3. 3. Reviews booking summary with total cost

  4. 4. Enters credit card details (secure Stripe form)

  5. 5. Payment is processed instantly

  6. 6. Booking is confirmed, and client receives receipt

Prepayment Best Practices

💰 Full Prepayment vs. Deposit

Most businesses charge the full amount upfront. If you prefer, you can set a lower "deposit" amount and collect the balance in person.

📋 Clear Cancellation Policy

Display your cancellation and refund policy on your booking page so clients know what to expect.

⏰ Cancellation Window

Consider setting a cancellation deadline (e.g., "Cancel 24 hours in advance for full refund").

🎯 Selective Prepayment

You don't have to require prepayment for ALL services. Many businesses only require it for high-value services or new clients.


Processing Refunds

Refunds must be processed manually through your Stripe account. Reserve Labs does not automatically refund prepayments when appointments are canceled.

How to Issue a Refund
  1. Log into your Stripe Dashboard

  2. Go to Payments in the left sidebar

  3. Find the payment you want to refund (search by client name, email, or amount)

  4. Click on the payment to view details

  5. Click "Refund payment" button

  6. Choose your refund amount:

    • Full Refund: Return 100% to the client

    • Partial Refund: Enter a specific amount to return

  7. Add a refund reason in the description field (recommended for your records)

  8. Click "Refund" to process

Refund Policy Examples

🏥 Healthcare/Therapy (Strict)

  • 24+ hours notice: 100% refund

  • 12-24 hours: 50% refund

  • <12 hours: No refund

💇 Salon/Spa (Moderate)

  • 48+ hours notice: 100% refund

  • 24-48 hours: Store credit

  • <24 hours: No refund

🧘 Fitness/Coaching (Flexible)

  • Anytime before appointment: 100% refund

  • No-show: No refund


Tracking Payments

Payment Dashboard

View all payment activity in Settings → Payments:

  • 📊 Total Revenue: Lifetime and monthly revenue

  • 💳 Recent Transactions: List of all payments and refunds

  • Pending Payouts: Money waiting to be transferred to your bank

  • 🔄 Refund History: All refunds processed

  • 📈 Revenue Trends: Visual charts of payment activity

Appointment Payment Status

In the calendar, each appointment displays a status badge showing its current state. See the Appointments documentation for a full list of status types.

Payment-related statuses include:

Prepaid

Client has paid the required prepayment amount

Payment Pending

Prepayment is required but not yet completed

Prepaid & Confirmed

Client has paid and confirmed attendance


Fees & Payouts

Payment Processing Fees

Reserve Labs Fees:

  • 💳 Per Transaction: $0.19 flat fee (regardless of transaction size)

  • 📦 Platform Fee: Included in your subscription plan - no additional percentage fees

Stripe Fees:

In addition to Reserve Labs fees, Stripe charges their standard payment processing fees. These vary by country, card type, and payment method.

View current Stripe pricing for your region: stripe.com/pricing

Example: For a $100 appointment in the US (assuming Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 fee), you would receive approximately $96.51 after all fees ($100 - $2.90 - $0.30 - $0.19 = $96.61).

Payouts to Your Bank

Stripe automatically transfers funds to your bank account on a rolling basis:

  • Default Schedule: Daily automatic payouts

  • Timing: Funds are typically available 2 business days after payment

  • Customization: You can change payout schedule in your Stripe Dashboard

Related Documentation
Appointments & Calendar →

Learn how to create and manage appointments

Notifications & Reminders →

Set up payment confirmation and receipt emails

Should You Require Prepayment? →

Read our guide on prepayment strategies