Payment Gateway Setup - Stripe Integration

Connect your Stripe account to accept credit and debit card payments for BreezeDoc invoices. This guide covers Stripe Connect setup, connecting your account, testing the integration, disconnecting Stripe, and troubleshooting common connection issues.

Prerequisites

  • Plan: Pro ($19/month) or Agency ($49/month) plan required (API access needed)
  • Account: Active BreezeDoc account
  • Stripe Account: Active Stripe account (create at stripe.com if needed)
  • Access: Admin access to your Stripe account
  • Email Verified: Stripe account must have verified email address

What is Stripe Integration?

Stripe integration allows you to accept credit and debit card payments directly through BreezeDoc invoices. When you connect Stripe, your clients can pay invoices online using their cards, and funds are deposited directly to your Stripe account. Key features:

  • Credit/Debit Cards – Accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and more
  • Instant Payment Links – Clients click a link in the invoice email to pay immediately
  • Secure Processing – Stripe handles PCI compliance and card security
  • Global Currency Support – Accept payments in 135+ currencies
  • Automatic Payment Tracking – Payments automatically update invoice status in BreezeDoc
  • Stripe Dashboard Access – View all transactions in your Stripe account
  • OAuth Connection – Secure Stripe Connect integration without sharing passwords

Plan Requirement

Stripe integration requires Pro or Agency plan with API access:

  • Free Plan: ❌ Stripe integration NOT available
  • Pro Plan ($19/month): ✅ Stripe integration available
  • Agency Plan ($49/month): ✅ Stripe integration available

Note: You can create invoices on the Free plan, but online payment processing via Stripe requires upgrading to Pro or Agency.

What is Stripe Connect?

BreezeDoc uses Stripe Connect, Stripe's official OAuth integration for third-party platforms. This means:

  • No API Keys Required – You don't need to manually copy/paste Stripe API keys
  • Secure OAuth Flow – Authorize BreezeDoc via Stripe's secure login (never share your password)
  • Easy Revocation – Disconnect BreezeDoc access anytime from BreezeDoc or Stripe dashboard
  • Standard Rates – Stripe's standard payment processing fees apply (no additional BreezeDoc fees)
  • Direct Deposits – Payments go directly to your Stripe account, then to your bank

Connecting Your Stripe Account

Step-by-Step: Connect Stripe

  1. Ensure you have Pro or Agency plan active in BreezeDoc.
  2. Log in to your BreezeDoc account.
  3. Go to Account ➜ Payments.
  4. Scroll to the Stripe section.
  5. You'll see: "Connect with your Stripe account to accept payments with this method".
  6. Click the Connect with your Stripe account button.
  7. You're redirected to Stripe's authorization page (stripe.com).
  8. On Stripe's page:
    • If not logged in to Stripe, enter your Stripe account email and password.
    • If logged in, Stripe shows: "Authorize BreezeDoc to access your Stripe account".
  9. Review the permissions BreezeDoc is requesting:
    • Create and manage invoices
    • Process payments
    • View payment history
  10. Click Authorize access to this account (or similar) on Stripe's page.
  11. Stripe redirects you back to BreezeDoc.
  12. You'll see the success message: "Stripe account connected successfully."
  13. The button now shows Disconnect Stripe instead of "Connect".
  14. A checkmark or "Connected" badge appears next to the Stripe logo.

Verifying Connection

To verify Stripe is connected correctly:

  1. Go to Account ➜ Payments.
  2. Check the Stripe section:
    • ✅ Button says "Disconnect Stripe" (not "Connect")
    • ✅ Stripe logo appears at full opacity (not greyed out)
  3. Create a test invoice:
    • Go to Invoices ➜ + Create Invoice
    • Scroll to Payment Methods section
    • ✅ Stripe checkbox should be enabled (not greyed out)
    • Check the Stripe box and save the invoice
  4. If all steps succeed, Stripe is connected properly.

Using Stripe on Invoices

Enabling Stripe for an Invoice

  1. Go to Invoices ➜ + Create Invoice.
  2. Fill in customer information and line items.
  3. Scroll to the Payment Methods section.
  4. Check the Stripe checkbox.
  5. Optionally, check other payment methods (PayPal, Bank Transfer, etc.) to offer multiple options.
  6. Click Create and Send to send the invoice.
  7. The client receives an email with a "Pay with Stripe" button/link.

Client Payment Experience

When a client receives an invoice with Stripe enabled:

  1. Client opens the invoice email.
  2. Client clicks the payment link or Pay Now button.
  3. Client is taken to a Stripe-hosted payment page.
  4. Client enters credit/debit card information:
    • Card number
    • Expiration date
    • CVC/CVV security code
    • Billing address (if required)
  5. Client clicks Pay to submit payment.
  6. Stripe processes the payment securely.
  7. Client sees payment confirmation on screen.
  8. Client receives payment receipt via email from Stripe.
  9. You receive notification of payment and funds appear in your Stripe account.
  10. Invoice status in BreezeDoc automatically updates to "Paid".

Managing Stripe Payments

Viewing Payments in Stripe

All payments are processed through Stripe and appear in your Stripe dashboard:

  1. Log in to your Stripe account at stripe.com.
  2. Go to Payments in the Stripe dashboard.
  3. You'll see all transactions including:
    • BreezeDoc invoice payments
    • Payment amounts
    • Customer information
    • Payment dates
    • Processing fees
  4. Click any payment to see full details and issue refunds if needed.

Stripe Processing Fees

Stripe charges standard payment processing fees:

  • US Cards: 2.9% + $0.30 per successful transaction
  • International Cards: 3.9% + $0.30 per successful transaction
  • Currency Conversion: Additional 1% for currency conversion
  • BreezeDoc Fees: $0 – BreezeDoc does not charge additional fees on top of Stripe

Example: $100 invoice paid with US card = $97.10 deposited to your account ($2.90 Stripe fee)

Stripe Payouts to Your Bank

  • Payout Schedule: Typically 2 business days after payment (configurable in Stripe)
  • Bank Account: Set up your bank account in Stripe dashboard settings
  • Automatic Deposits: Stripe automatically transfers funds to your bank on schedule
  • Manual Payouts: Available in Stripe dashboard if needed

Disconnecting Stripe

When to Disconnect

  • Switching to a different payment processor
  • No longer accepting online payments
  • Security concern or account compromise
  • Switching to a different Stripe account

Step-by-Step: Disconnect Stripe

  1. Log in to BreezeDoc.
  2. Go to Account ➜ Payments.
  3. Scroll to the Stripe section.
  4. The button now says Disconnect Stripe (since you're connected).
  5. Click Disconnect Stripe.
  6. Confirm the disconnection if prompted.
  7. You'll see the success message: "Stripe account disconnected successfully."
  8. The button changes back to "Connect with your Stripe account".
  9. Stripe logo appears greyed out (disconnected state).

What Happens After Disconnecting?

  • Existing Invoices: Invoices with Stripe payment links remain functional until you delete them
  • New Invoices: Stripe checkbox becomes greyed out and cannot be selected
  • Stripe Account: Your Stripe account remains active; only the BreezeDoc connection is severed
  • Past Payments: All previous payments remain in your Stripe dashboard
  • Reconnection: You can reconnect the same or different Stripe account anytime

Troubleshooting

Issue: Cannot see Connect with your Stripe account button

Fix: Stripe integration requires Pro or Agency plan. Verify your plan in Account ➜ Billing. If on Free plan, you'll see an "Upgrade" prompt instead of the connect button. Upgrade to Pro ($19/month) or Agency ($49/month) to unlock Stripe integration. After upgrading, refresh the Payments page to see the connect button.

Issue: Redirected to Stripe but get "Authorization failed" error

Fix: This typically means you declined authorization or there was an error during OAuth flow. Return to Account ➜ Payments in BreezeDoc and click Connect with your Stripe account again. On Stripe's authorization page, ensure you click Authorize (not Cancel or back button). Verify you're logged into the correct Stripe account. If error persists, try using a different browser or clearing cookies.

Issue: Stripe checkbox is greyed out when creating invoice

Fix: This means Stripe is not connected to your BreezeDoc account. Go to Account ➜ Payments and verify the Stripe section shows "Disconnect Stripe" button (meaning connected). If it shows "Connect", you need to connect Stripe first. Complete the connection process, then return to invoice editor and refresh the page—Stripe checkbox should now be enabled.

Issue: Client says Stripe payment page won't load

Fix: Verify the invoice was sent with Stripe enabled (check the checkbox was selected before sending). Check that your Stripe account is active and in good standing—log in to stripe.com to verify. Ask the client to try a different browser or device. Ensure the client is clicking the correct payment link (sometimes emails have multiple links). If issue persists, disconnect and reconnect Stripe in BreezeDoc settings.

Issue: Payment was processed but invoice still shows "Sent" status (not "Paid")

Fix: Payment status updates may take a few minutes. Refresh the BreezeDoc Invoices page to see updated status. Check your Stripe dashboard at stripe.com to confirm payment was actually processed. If payment shows in Stripe but not BreezeDoc after 10+ minutes, there may be a webhook issue—contact BreezeDoc support. Manually update the invoice status in BreezeDoc if needed.

Issue: Want to connect a different Stripe account

Fix: First disconnect the current Stripe account: go to Account ➜ Payments and click Disconnect Stripe. Wait for the success message. Click Connect with your Stripe account again. On Stripe's authorization page, log out of the current Stripe account (or use incognito/private browsing mode). Log in with the different Stripe account credentials. Authorize BreezeDoc access. The new Stripe account is now connected.

Issue: Stripe says "This account is not eligible for Connect"

Fix: Your Stripe account may be incomplete or restricted. Log in to stripe.com and complete your account setup: verify email address, add business/personal information, confirm identity (may require ID upload), and add bank account for payouts. Restricted accounts (due to policy violations) cannot use Stripe Connect—contact Stripe support to resolve restrictions. Once account is fully activated, return to BreezeDoc and try connecting again.

FAQ

Q: Do I need a Stripe account before connecting?

A: Yes, you need an active Stripe account. If you don't have one, create a free account at stripe.com before connecting to BreezeDoc. Account creation takes 5-10 minutes and requires basic business/personal information.

Q: Does BreezeDoc charge fees for Stripe payments?

A: No, BreezeDoc does not charge any additional fees on top of Stripe's standard processing fees. You pay only Stripe's fees (2.9% + $0.30 for US cards). 100% of the invoice amount (minus Stripe fees) goes to your Stripe account.

Q: Can I use Stripe on the Free plan?

A: No, Stripe integration requires Pro or Agency plan because it depends on API access. Free plan users can create invoices but must use manual payment methods (bank transfer, cash, check).

Q: How long does it take for payments to reach my bank account?

A: Stripe typically deposits funds to your bank account 2 business days after the customer pays. This schedule is set in your Stripe dashboard and can be adjusted (instant payouts available with additional fees).

Q: Can clients pay without a Stripe account?

A: Yes, clients do not need a Stripe account. They simply enter their credit/debit card information on the Stripe payment page. No Stripe account signup required for paying invoices.

Q: What happens to old invoices if I disconnect Stripe?

A: Existing invoice payment links remain functional even after disconnecting. However, you won't be able to create new invoices with Stripe until you reconnect. Payments already processed are not affected.


Need more help? Contact our support team – we are here to help!

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