Setting up Stripe as your Checkfront payment provider

Learn more about Stripe, including checking the service status, understanding what features are supported, setting up Stripe in Checkfront, enabling additional payment methods, managing Stripe Terminal, requiring billing information for fraud prevention and address verification, using Stripe in sandbox mode, using test card numbers, and going live with Stripe. You can also find solutions to common issues and answers to frequently asked questions.

Accessing the features mentioned in this article

Where can I find this feature using the top menu?

• Manage > Ecommerce Setup > Payment
   

What more do I need to use this feature?

• Admin permissions are required to manage Payment Providers.
• Connect an existing Stripe account or create one during activation.

Stripe is a very popular payment processor, highly recommended by Checkfront for use with your business. It allows your Customers to make partial or full payments at the time of booking and fully integrates into the Checkfront backend app.

Stripe can store and rebill a Customer's credit card as needed. For instance, if you currently charge a deposit in Checkfront, you can collect it at the time of booking and then charge the final balance later without needing to re-enter the credit card details.

Checkfront currently integrates with Stripe via its direct payment method. This method provides a seamless checkout for your Customers and fully integrates into the Checkfront backend.

Check the status of Stripe services at any time here: https://status.stripe.com/

The following is a list of standard Payment Provider features. Those available with the Stripe and Checkfront integration are marked as supported (✓).

To enable the Stripe extension, log into your Checkfront account and navigate to your Payment Provider settings (Manage > E-Commerce > Payment). The system displays your list of available payment provider options.

You should see Stripe listed; go ahead and click the Setup button. This button launches the Setup modal.

Do you already have a Stripe account? Select the I have an existing Stripe Account option. You can skip that step if you don't have a Stripe account yet.

Alternatively, you can start with Stripe in test mode. See the Sandbox (Test) Mode section below for more information.

Next, click the Connect with Stripe button to get started. 

2. Connecting your account

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Once you click the Connect to Stripe button, the system displays the Get started with Stripe page. Enter your Email address here and click Continue to go to the next step.

After you complete the connection process, the system returns to your Checkfront account with Stripe integration activated.

Once successfully connected, the modal refreshes, and the system displays the following settings.

If the payment method meets your business needs and account requirements, choose to offer AliPay, iDEAL, Apple Pay, and/or Google Pay.

Learn more For a detailed look at enabling additional payment methods, check out the following article: Offering additional payments methods

Base currency and locale must match Ensure that your Base Currency and Locale (Manage > Setup > Base Currency/Locale) match those supported by the payment method and Stripe.

This setting is visible to those with Stripe Terminal enabled within their account.

Available with Staff-side, in-personal payments Stripe Terminal is available with Checkfront for Staff-side, in-person payments for US and Canadian accounts. For detailed information and instructions on setting up Stripe Terminal to work with Checkfront, please see the following article. Using Stripe Terminal with Stripe or Checkfront Payments

Operators can require certain fields in Stripe (and Checkfront) to help prevent fraud.

Learn more about the best practices to prevent fraud here: Preventing disputes and fraud

Billing address and postal / zip code are captured and sent to Stripe, where Address Verification (AVS) checks can be applied to help protect against disputes and fraud.

Address verification works with Customer-facing (Payment page) and Staff-side (add payment form) payments.

Address and postal/zip code fields are required Ensure that your Booking Form (Manage > Layout > Booking Form tab) includes the Address and Postal/Zip code fields, and that these fields are marked as required. The Billing Address and Postal / Zip code fields on the Payment page are pre-filled with the values entered in the corresponding Booking fields. The Staff-side Add Payment form includes these fields by default. You do not need to do any additional configuration.

We highly recommend running an end-to-end test of your checkout process before launching your site live.

Start by opening the Stripe Add-on Setup modal from the payment provider list (Manage > Ecommerce Setup > Payment > Stripe).

1. Toggle on the option I want to use Stripe in Sandbox Mode.
2. Click the Connect with Stripe button to connect the test Stripe account to Checkfront.
3. Stripe recognizes that you are in test mode. From the Get Started with Stripe page, choose to Skip this form. You are then returned to the Setup modal in Checkfront, with Stripe turned on in Sandbox (test) Mode with additional options displayed.
4. You can then create a booking and payment transaction as a Customer. If you don't have a website to test on, use the hosted booking page (e.g., https://yourcompany.checkfront.com/reserve/) to test.
5. Check that the transaction appears in your Checkfront account as paid or as a deposit. 

Testing the Payment Request Button Testing Google Pay or browser saved card (Microsoft Pay, Chrome)? You can use Stripe sandbox mode, so the system does not charge for the payment. Apple Pay requires a valid credit card and a live Stripe account. The system charges your credit card for any payment you make.

To test the system, you must use test credit card credentials when processing a payment in Checkfront. Use one of the test credit card numbers provided with any future expiry date and any 3-digit CVC number to process test payments.
 

You can find a list of credentials available in Stripe's online documentation. To get there directly, click here.

After testing, you need to switch from Sandbox mode and choose to go live with your account (Setup >Sandbox Mode > Click here to go live).

Once you have completed the steps to connect your live Stripe account, click Update to save your changes. You are now live!

Listed here are common errors or situations you may come across when using Stripe:
 

This account cannot currently make live charges. If you are a customer trying to make a purchase, please contact the owner. This error typically occurs if your Stripe account is under review and Stripe needs further information. We suggest you contact Stripe support to resolve the issue with your account so that you can accept payments again.

• Do tips processed on Stripe Terminal show in Checkfront invoices or reports? 
  
  Tips processed on Stripe Terminal do not appear on booking invoices or in reports. Instead, you must track these transactions from within your Stripe account. Learn more about Stripe reporting here.