Enable Additional Stripe Payment Methods (ACH, Debit, Apple Pay, and More)

Enable additional payment methods like ACH bank transfers, debit cards, buy now pay later, and more for your TidyCal paid bookings by configuring your Stripe dashboard settings.

Overview

TidyCal uses Stripe to process payments for paid bookings and subscriptions. By default, Stripe accepts credit and debit cards. You can enable additional payment methods -- such as ACH direct debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, Afterpay, and more -- directly in your Stripe dashboard. TidyCal automatically supports any payment method you enable in Stripe.

Important: This is configured entirely in your Stripe account. No changes are needed inside TidyCal.

Prerequisites

• Stripe account connected to TidyCal (go to Payments in the sidebar to connect)
• At least one paid booking type with Stripe selected as the payment platform
• Access to your Stripe dashboard at dashboard.stripe.com

How to Enable Additional Payment Methods

1. Go to dashboard.stripe.com and log in to your Stripe account.
2. Click the Settings gear icon in the upper right corner.
3. Under Product settings, click Payments.
4. Click the Payment methods tab.
5. Find your TidyCal account configuration (look for your TidyCal-connected account).
6. Click on any payment method you want to enable (e.g., ACH direct debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna).
7. Toggle the payment method on and follow any additional setup steps Stripe requires.

Changes take effect immediately -- your bookers will see the new payment options the next time they book a paid appointment.

Available Payment Methods

The payment methods available depend on your Stripe account settings, your country, and your customers' locations. Common options include:

• Cards -- Credit and debit cards (enabled by default)
• ACH direct debit -- US bank account transfers (lower fees, longer processing)
• Apple Pay / Google Pay -- Mobile wallet payments
• Klarna / Afterpay -- Buy now, pay later options
• SEPA Direct Debit -- European bank transfers
• iDEAL -- Netherlands bank payments
• Bancontact -- Belgian bank payments
• Link -- Stripe's one-click checkout

See Stripe's payment methods documentation for the full list of supported methods in your region.

How It Works with TidyCal

• TidyCal uses Stripe's automatic payment methods feature, which means any payment method you enable in your Stripe dashboard is automatically available to your bookers.
• Your bookers will see the available payment options when they confirm a paid booking.
• All payments are processed through your connected Stripe account with zero TidyCal platform fees.
• Payment methods apply to all paid booking types that use Stripe as the payment platform.

Troubleshooting

Payment method not showing for bookers

• Verify the payment method is enabled and fully set up in your Stripe dashboard.
• Some payment methods are region-specific -- they only appear for customers in supported countries.
• Certain payment methods have minimum or maximum transaction amounts. Check Stripe's requirements for the method you enabled.
• Make sure your Stripe account is fully verified and in good standing.

ACH payments take longer to process

• ACH bank transfers typically take 3-5 business days to process, unlike instant card payments.
• The booking is confirmed immediately, but the payment settles later.
• Failed ACH payments (insufficient funds, closed account) will be flagged in your Stripe dashboard.

Fees vary by payment method

• Different payment methods have different Stripe processing fees. For example, ACH is typically cheaper than credit cards.
• Check Stripe's pricing page for current fees per payment method.
• TidyCal does not add any additional fees on top of Stripe's processing fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change anything in TidyCal?

No. TidyCal automatically supports any payment method you enable in your Stripe dashboard. No configuration changes are needed inside TidyCal.

Does this work with PayPal bookings?

No. Additional payment methods are only available for booking types that use Stripe as the payment platform. PayPal booking types use PayPal's own payment options.

Can I enable payment methods for specific booking types only?

Payment methods are configured at the Stripe account level, not per booking type. Any enabled payment method applies to all Stripe-powered paid bookings.

Do additional payment methods work with subscriptions?

Yes. If you offer subscription-based booking types, your subscribers can use any payment method you have enabled in Stripe, including ACH for recurring payments.

How do refunds work with non-card payment methods?

Refund processing depends on the payment method used. Card refunds are typically fastest (5-10 business days). ACH refunds may take longer. Check your Stripe dashboard for refund status.

Need more help? Contact us at support@tidycal.com.