Setting Up Payment Processing
Connect your Stripe account to accept online payments directly through your WorkCentral invoices
What You'll Learn
- Understand how WorkCentral uses Stripe Connect
- Connect your Stripe account to WorkCentral
- Complete Stripe's verification process
- Understand platform fees by plan
- Know that Stripe is optional — invoices work without it
How Payments Work in WorkCentral
WorkCentral uses Stripe Connect to let you accept payments from clients directly on your invoices. This is completely optional — you can still create and send invoices without Stripe, and include your own payment instructions (bank transfer, check, etc.) in the invoice notes.
If you connect Stripe, clients get a "Pay Now" button on their invoices. WorkCentral charges a small platform fee per transaction that varies by plan.
Navigate to Payment Settings
Go to Settings → Payments in your WorkCentral dashboard. This is where you'll connect and manage your Stripe account.
What You'll See:
- A "Connect with Stripe" button if no account is linked
- Your Stripe connection status if already connected
- Option to disconnect if you need to change accounts
Owner only: Only the organization owner can set up payment processing. If you're a team member, ask your organization owner to connect Stripe.
Time estimate: Under 1 minute
Connect with Stripe
Click the "Connect with Stripe" button to begin the setup process. WorkCentral creates a Stripe Express Connected Account for you and redirects you to Stripe's official hosted onboarding.
What Happens:
- A Stripe Express account is created on your behalf
- You're redirected to Stripe's hosted onboarding page
- Card payments and bank transfer capabilities are requested
- This is Stripe's official process — WorkCentral never sees your banking details
Pro Tip: Have your business details, bank account info, and a government-issued ID ready. Stripe's verification requires these to enable payouts.
Time estimate: 5-10 minutes
Complete Stripe Verification
On Stripe's hosted onboarding page, you'll complete a series of verification steps. After finishing, you're automatically returned to WorkCentral.
Stripe Requires:
- Verify your identity (government-issued ID)
- Link your bank account for payouts
- Accept Stripe's Terms of Service
- Complete your business profile
Account Status Progression:
Need more verification? If Stripe needs additional information after you return to WorkCentral, you'll see a warning with a "Refresh" link. Click it to return to Stripe and complete the remaining verification steps.
Note: Stripe verification can take a few minutes to a few days. You'll see a "pending" status until Stripe fully verifies your account. Payments won't be available until verification is complete.
Time estimate: Varies (instant to a few days for full verification)
Understand Platform Fees
WorkCentral charges a small platform fee on each payment processed through Stripe. The fee depends on your subscription plan.
Platform Fees by Plan:
| Plan | Platform Fee | Example ($1,000 Invoice) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1.5% | $15.00 |
| Professional | 0.75% | $7.50 |
| Business | 0.25% | $2.50 |
These are WorkCentral's platform fees only. Standard Stripe processing fees (2.9% + 30¢) also apply and are paid by your connected account.
Save with a higher plan: Platform fees are the only revenue WorkCentral earns from your payment processing. The lower your plan's fee, the more you keep. Business plan users processing $10,000/month save over $125/month in platform fees versus the Free plan.
Time estimate: No action needed — just good to know
How Client Payments Work
Once Stripe is connected, here's what happens when you send an invoice to a client.
Payment Flow:
- 1. You send an invoice — a secure payment link is automatically generated (valid for 30 days)
- 2. Client clicks "Pay Now" and is taken to Stripe's hosted checkout page
- 3. Client enters card details on Stripe's secure page (WorkCentral never handles card data)
- 4. Payment is confirmed via webhook — you're notified when payment completes
Payment Link Requirements:
- Invoice status is "sent"
- Payment status is "unpaid", "pending", or "failed"
- Stripe Connect is active on your account
Pro Tip: Clients can also view your invoice without paying online. You can always include manual payment instructions in the invoice notes for clients who prefer bank transfers or checks.
Time estimate: Automatic — no extra setup needed per invoice
Ready to Accept Payments!
Your Stripe account is connected! The next time you send an invoice, clients will see a "Pay Now" button. No extra setup needed — payment links are generated automatically.
Disconnecting Stripe
You can disconnect your Stripe account from Settings → Payments at any time. Disconnecting removes the payment link from future invoices but doesn't delete your Stripe account — you keep full control of it.