This article explains what happens after your client pays an invoice - from the moment the payment is initiated to when the money lands in your bank account. We use Stripe to securely process all payments.
Step 1: Your client pays an invoice
When your client pays an invoice, the payment is processed through Stripe.
- If your client pays by credit or debit card, the payment is typically processed quickly.
- If your clients pays via SEPA Direct Debit, the bank needs to process the payment, which can take up to 6 business days.
During this time, the invoice will show as Processing on your dashboard. You can learn more about SEPA processing times here.
Step 2: Funds arrive in your Stripe balance
Once the payment is successful, the funds are added to your Stripe account balance. You can view your balance at any time on your It's Complicated invoicing dashboard.
Stripe holds funds from transactions for three business days before making them available to be paid out to your bank account. This delay helps prevent fraud and allows your refunds or chargebacks if needed.
Step 3: Stripe pays out to your bank account
Once you are ready to pay out your invoicing account balance, you simply have to request a payout or in the case of automated payouts, let us know when we should schedule your payouts in the invoice settings area of your dashboard here.
If you want to manually request payouts, you will need to click the ‘Request payout’ CTA at the top of your invoicing section to transfer funds. If you transfer funds automatically, the amount that is available to be paid out on your Stripe account will be automatically sent to the bank account you’ve provided in your Stripe settings once the payment is initiated. Payouts can take 1-2 business days to appear in your bank account after Stripe sends them.
Please note that it can take up to 7-14 days for funds to be visible on your bank account after the payout has been initiated. The first payout usually takes longer than subsequent payouts. This delay is meant to mitigate some of the risks inherent in providing credit services and to comply with local regulations. More background is provided on Stripe’s payout documentation here.
Common questions
💬 Why is my invoice marked “Processing”?
This usually means your client has paid, but the bank is still processing the transaction (common with SEPA).
💬 When will I get paid?
In most cases, when you begin using Stripe to process live payments from your customers, you’ll receive your first payout 7–14 days after accepting your first customer payment. This first payout usually takes a bit longer than subsequent payouts.
💬 Where can I see my payouts?
In your invoicing dashboard under “Payouts” tab in It's Complicated invoicing dashboard.