Payments & Stripe
Accept payments, collect deposits, and manage your earnings with QuoteLab and Stripe Connect.
Setting Up Stripe Connect
QuoteLab uses Stripe Connect Express to process payments. When you are ready to start accepting real payments, go to Dashboard → Settings → Payments and click Connect with Stripe. You will be redirected to Stripe to complete their onboarding process, which includes verifying your identity and adding a bank account for payouts.
You do not need to connect Stripe immediately. You can explore the full dashboard, set up your services and pricing, and even receive test bookings before connecting. We recommend getting familiar with the platform first, then connecting Stripe when you are ready to go live.
Once connected, a green badge appears in your settings confirming that charges and payouts are enabled. Stripe handles all PCI compliance, so your customers' card data never touches our servers.
Deposits vs Full Payment
You control how much customers pay upfront when they book. In Settings → Booking Policies, set your deposit percentage. For example, a 25% deposit on a $200 booking means the customer pays $50 at the time of booking and owes $150 after the service is completed.
You can also allow customers to pay in full at checkout by enabling the Allow full payment toggle. When enabled, customers see both options in the widget and can choose. Setting the deposit to 100% effectively requires full payment upfront, which works well for lower-priced services.
Collecting the Remaining Balance
After you complete a service, there are several ways to collect the remaining balance:
Payment Link (Recommended)
When you mark a booking as completed, the system automatically sends the customer an SMS and email with a branded payment link. The customer taps the link, sees a summary of the service including any before and after photos, and pays the remaining balance. A reminder is sent after 24 hours if unpaid, then again at 72 hours.
Auto-Charge
If enabled in your settings, the system automatically charges the customer's saved payment method when you mark the booking as completed. The customer receives a receipt via email. This works best for recurring customers who have an established relationship with your business.
Cash or Other
If the customer pays cash on site or through another method, click Mark as Paid Externally on the booking detail page. You can add a note about the payment method. The balance is tracked as collected but no Stripe charge is created.
Tips
When tips are enabled in your booking policies, customers can add a tip during the initial payment step in the widget or after the service is completed via the payment link. Tips go 100% to your business with no platform fee applied. Tip amounts are tracked on each booking and included in your revenue analytics and payout reports.
No-Show Fees
If a customer does not show up for their appointment, you can mark the booking as a no-show from the booking detail page. The system charges a no-show fee based on the percentage you configure in your booking policies (default is 50% of the total). The fee is charged to the customer's saved payment method from the original deposit. If the charge fails, you are notified and the customer is flagged in your CRM for future reference.
Refunds & Cancellations
Cancellation and refund behavior depends on your booking policies:
| Scenario | Default Behavior |
|---|---|
| Customer cancels more than 24 hours before | Full deposit refund |
| Customer cancels less than 24 hours before | Deposit retained (configurable) |
| Business cancels the booking | Full refund always issued |
| Dispute resolution | Partial refunds supported from the booking detail page |
The cancellation window (default 24 hours) is configurable in Settings → Booking Policies. All refunds are processed through Stripe and appear in your payout reports with reverse revenue events for accurate accounting.
Payout Schedule
Stripe pays out your earnings on a rolling basis, typically every two business days after a successful charge. You can view your current available balance, pending payouts, and payout history in Dashboard → Payments. Each payout shows a breakdown of which bookings contributed to that amount.
On eligible Stripe Express accounts, instant payouts are available for a small Stripe fee. This sends funds to your debit card within minutes instead of waiting for the standard payout cycle.
Platform Fees
QuoteLab charges a small platform fee on each transaction processed through Stripe. This fee is automatically deducted before funds reach your account. You can see the exact fee amount on each booking in your revenue breakdown. Tips are never subject to platform fees. Standard Stripe processing fees (2.9% + 30 cents for US cards) also apply and are separate from the platform fee.
Need more help? Contact our support team or email [email protected].