Overview
The hardest part of closing a job shouldn’t be getting paid. Until now, a signed proposal still meant sending a separate invoice, waiting on a check, and following up until the deposit came in. That changes today.
With our new Stripe integration, your client can sign your proposal and pay the deposit in one step. The moment they sign, Clear Estimates shows them an invoice with a Pay button. This way your client can pay a deposit immediately on signing.
- Lock in the job. Collect the deposit while your client’s “yes” is still fresh.
- Stop chasing payments. Invoice created automatically, clients pay online in a few clicks.
- Keep more of every payment. Pass credit card processing fees on to your client (where available).
- Change orders are covered too. Get paid for added work the moment your client signs off on it.
Here’s how it works!
Three steps to get paid
Note: This article covers the setup in Clear Estimates. For questions about your Stripe account, like verification, payouts, fees or bank details, visit Stripe Support.
How to set it up
Connect Stripe
- Head to Tools > Options > Integrations.
- Scroll to the Stripe Integration section at the bottom of the page.
- Click Connect with Stripe.
You’ll be taken into Stripe to set up your account. Stripe walks you through each step, and Stripe Support can help with any questions along the way.
Once your account is set up, your invoices are payable online right away.
Add a payment schedule or invoice
To show your client an invoice after they sign, add one of these to the project before you send your proposal:
- A payment schedule with your deposit as the first item. When your client signs, Clear Estimates creates an invoice for that first payment.
- An invoice you’ve already created for the project. If no payment schedule is active, your client will see the first invoice in the list right after signing, with an option to pay online.
Turn on Invoice Automatically
- From your Projects page, click Send to Customer > Submit Proposal.
- In the Review & Submit window, turn on Invoice Automatically.
- For clients paying by credit card, choose if you want to include a processing fee (more on this below).
- Click Submit Proposal.
Pass credit card fees to your client
Turn on Charge Credit Card Processing Fee to add a surcharge when your client pays by credit card. Your client covers the processing fee instead of you.
The surcharge only applies to credit card payments, and the limit depends on your state:
| State | Credit card surcharge |
|---|---|
| CT, ME, MA | 🔴 Not allowed |
| CO, OK | 🟡 Up to 2% |
| All other states | 🟢 Up to 3% |
Where the percentage comes from:
Your default surcharge percentage is set under Tools > Options > Report Settings > Invoice. Every proposal starts with this default, and you can change it or turn it off in the Review & Submit window.
Once the proposal is submitted, all invoices on that project use the proposal’s setting. Invoices you create yourself show the percentage and where it comes from: Proposal Setting if the project has a submitted proposal, or Account Setting if it doesn’t. You can’t change the percentage on the invoice itself; to change your default, update it in the Invoice settings page.
Can’t turn it on? Make sure a valid state is entered under Company Info.
What your client sees
Right after signing, your client’s proposal page shows Next Steps with the amount due, the due date and a Pay button. Payment is processed through Stripe.
With Invoice Automatically turned on:
| If your project has... | After your client signs |
|---|---|
| A payment schedule and no invoice | ✅ An invoice for the first payment is created and shown |
| An existing invoice | ✅ Your first invoice is shown |
| No payment schedule or invoice | ⚠️ No invoice is shown |
Tip: Didn’t add a payment schedule? You can still create an invoice from Reports > Cost Status and send it to your client. With Stripe connected, it’s payable online.
Invoice change orders automatically
This works for change orders too. After the original proposal is signed:
- Create your change order.
- Submit it for signature the same way as a proposal, with Invoice Automatically turned on.
Once your client signs the change order, they’ll see an invoice for the change order total, ready to pay.
Invoice the rest of the job
Invoice Automatically handles the first invoice after your client signs a proposal (or change order). For payments after that (i.e. other payment schedule items or the remaining project balance), create and send the invoices yourself.
With Stripe connected, every invoice you send includes a Pay button, so your client pays online the same way they paid the deposit.
- Create an invoice for the next payment. You can do this within your project or from Reports > Cost Status.
- Send the invoice to your client in one of two ways:
- Email it to your client from Cost Status.
- Copy the live link and send it yourself by text or email.
Tip: Send each invoice when that stage of the job is ready to bill, so your payments keep pace with the work.
Your whole sales cycle, in one place
You already price jobs and get proposals signed in Clear Estimates. Now you can get paid there too. Fewer tools to juggle, fewer follow-ups, and the deposit paid before you order the first materials.
Continued Learning:
New: Send & E-Sign Proposals
Add a Payment Schedule to Your Estimate
How to Create an Invoice
Stripe Support