Taking and Recording Payments on an Invoice
An invoice can be paid in three ways from its page: you send the customer a payment link, you take a card yourself while the customer is with you, or you record a payment that was made outside ServiceVisit. This guide covers all three, starting from the invoice page under Money, then Invoices.
Before you start
- The link and the card options need an active, ready payment account. If none is connected, the card page tells you to connect a processor and offers Set up payments.
- The link and card options also need permission to process payments. Recording a payment needs permission to record manual payments.
- Recording a payment is offered only while the invoice workflow allows collecting payment, which means the invoice has been sent.
- To send the invoice first, use Send Invoice on a draft.
Steps: send a payment link
- Open the invoice and find Request Payment by Link.
- Select Create payment link. The page confirms that the link was created.
- The new link appears under New payment link. Select Copy to copy it, or open the list below.
- Each link in the list shows its amount and a status label such as Sent or Paid, and the last time it was sent. Select Email to customer to email it. Paid links no longer offer this button.
- The customer pays on their own device. Card details go directly to the processor.
Steps: take a card payment yourself
- In Request Payment by Link, select Take card payment.
- Enter the customer's card in the secure Card details form. The card number is typed into the processor's form and never reaches ServiceVisit.
- Read out the authorization text shown and have the customer sign in the Customer signature box. Use Clear to start the signature again.
- Tick Save this card on file for future charges only if the customer agrees. It is unticked by default.
- Optionally enter an address under Email a receipt to the customer.
- Select the green Charge button, which shows the amount. Cancel returns you to the invoice.
Steps: record a payment made outside ServiceVisit
- On a sent invoice, select Mark as Paid. The dialog is titled Record Payment.
- Choose Payment Method: Cash, Check, Card (External), ACH (External), Wire Transfer, Financing (paid by a lender), or Other.
- Enter Amount Paid and Payment Date.
- Enter the reference. The field is labeled to match the method, for example Check Number. It is required for every method except Cash.
- For Financing, enter the Lender and Fee the lender kept. Keep Amount Paid as the invoiced amount; the page shows what your bank should receive.
- Add Notes (Optional) and select Record Payment.
- A success message says the payment was recorded and a receipt was sent to the customer.
Tips
- If the customer wants to spread the cost, Set Up Installment Plan is offered on the invoice while it can still collect payment. See the installment plans guides.
- Deposits and credits a customer already holds are applied from the invoice, not recorded as new payments. See the guide on refunds and credits.
- After any payment, check Payment History on the invoice for its number and status.
If something goes wrong
- Payment amount must be greater than zero. Enter a positive amount.
- A reference number is required for the method. Fill in the reference field.
- Enter which lender remitted this payment. Financing needs a lender name.
- Failed to record payment. Check the details and try again. If it keeps failing, contact support.
- Unable to create a payment link. Check payment setup and try again. Open the payment setup guide and confirm your account is ready.
- If Request Payment by Link is missing, your role lacks permission to process payments.
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