Setting Up Stripe

Accept payments from your customers by connecting your Stripe account to SeroBook. This guide covers everything from initial setup to going live with real transactions.

Connecting Your Stripe Account

To start accepting payments, you need to connect a Stripe account to SeroBook. If you don't already have one, you can create it during the connection process.

1. Navigate to Settings → Payments in your dashboard
2. Click Connect with Stripe
3. You'll be redirected to Stripe's secure onboarding flow
4. If you already have a Stripe account, log in. Otherwise, create a new one
5. Fill in your business details, bank account information, and identity verification
6. Once complete, you'll be redirected back to SeroBook with a confirmation message

Stripe Dashboard Overview

After connecting, you have access to both the SeroBook payment dashboard and the full Stripe dashboard. Here's what each one offers:

SeroBook Payments Dashboard

• Recent Transactions – View payments received through bookings
• Payment Status – Track paid, pending, and failed payments
• Revenue Overview – See daily, weekly, and monthly revenue totals
• Refund Management – Process full or partial refunds directly

Stripe Dashboard (External)

• Detailed Analytics – In-depth reporting and charts
• Payout History – Track when funds arrive in your bank
• Dispute Management – Handle chargebacks and disputes
• Tax Reports – Download tax-ready financial reports

Access the full Stripe dashboard anytime by clicking Open Stripe Dashboard on your SeroBook payments page.

Accepting Payments

Once Stripe is connected, payments can be collected at several points in the booking flow:

• At Booking – Customers pay when they complete a booking on your public page
• Deposit Required – Collect a partial payment upfront and the remainder later
• Invoice After Service – Send an invoice after the appointment is complete
• Manual Charge – Process a payment from the booking details page in your dashboard

Configure your default payment collection method under Settings → Payments → Collection Preferences.

Supported Payment Methods

SeroBook supports a variety of payment methods through Stripe. Here's what your customers can use:

Card Payments

• Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
• Debit and credit cards accepted
• 3D Secure authentication for added fraud protection
• Saved cards for returning customers (with their consent)

Digital Wallets

• Apple Pay – Available on Safari and iOS devices
• Google Pay – Available on Chrome and Android devices
• Customers can pay with a single tap or click
• No additional setup required on your end – these are enabled automatically

Test Mode vs Live Mode

Stripe provides two modes so you can safely test your payment setup before going live:

Test Mode

• No real money is charged
• Use Stripe's test card numbers (e.g., 4242 4242 4242 4242)
• Perfect for verifying your booking flow end-to-end
• Test webhooks and email notifications without real transactions

Live Mode

• Real payments are processed and real money is transferred
• Requires completed Stripe verification
• All payment methods are active
• Payouts are sent to your connected bank account

Toggle between modes in Settings → Payments → Mode. SeroBook clearly labels test transactions in your dashboard so they are easy to distinguish.

Payout Schedule

Payouts are how Stripe transfers collected funds to your bank account. Here's how the schedule works:

• Standard Payout – Funds arrive in your bank account within 2–7 business days, depending on your country
• Automatic Payouts – By default, Stripe sends payouts daily once funds are available
• Custom Schedule – Configure weekly or monthly payouts in your Stripe dashboard
• Minimum Payout – You can set a minimum balance threshold before a payout is triggered

New Stripe accounts may have a longer initial payout delay (typically 7–14 days) while Stripe verifies your account. This is a one-time delay.

Fees Explained

Understanding the fees associated with accepting payments helps you price your services accurately:

Stripe Processing Fees

• Standard Cards – 2.9% + $0.30 per successful transaction (US rates)
• International Cards – Additional 1.5% for cross-border payments
• Currency Conversion – Additional 1% if currency conversion is required

SeroBook Fees

• Free Plan – 3% SeroBook platform fee per transaction
• Starter Plan – 1% SeroBook platform fee per transaction
• Pro Plan – 0% SeroBook platform fee (Stripe fees still apply)
• Enterprise Plan – 0% SeroBook platform fee with volume discounts available

Refunds and Disputes

Handling refunds and disputes is straightforward in SeroBook:

• Full Refund – Refund the entire payment amount from the booking details page
• Partial Refund – Refund a specific amount (e.g., for a shortened appointment)
• Processing Time – Refunds typically take 5–10 business days to appear on the customer's statement
• Disputes – If a customer files a chargeback, you'll be notified via email and can respond through the Stripe dashboard

Troubleshooting

Common issues and how to resolve them:

• Connection Failed – Ensure third-party cookies are enabled in your browser and try again
• Verification Pending – Stripe may require additional identity documents. Check your Stripe email for instructions
• Payments Not Appearing – Confirm you are viewing the correct mode (test vs live) in your dashboard
• Customer Payment Declined – The customer should contact their bank. Declined payments are not charged any fees
• Webhook Errors – If booking statuses are not updating after payment, check Settings → Payments → Webhook Status

Next Steps

Now that Stripe is connected, explore these related topics:

• Set up invoicing – Send professional invoices to your customers
• Explore subscription plans – Understand SeroBook's pricing tiers and features
• Usage limits and quotas – Learn about plan limits and how they work
• Create your first paid booking – Walk through creating a booking with payment