> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://harnesscalendar.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Stripe

> Set up online card payments so your invoices carry a pay link.

Connect Stripe once so the invoices you send can carry a card-payment link. Recipients pay online, and those payments record on their own.

## Before you start

* Online card payments are on the Professional plan. On the Hobby plan, the **Connect with Stripe** button is locked. See [Plans and limits](/docs/settings/plans-and-limits).
* You don't need Stripe to bill. Manual payments (cash, check, transfer) work on every plan. See [Record a payment](/docs/billing/record-a-payment).

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Stripe settings">
    Go to **Settings → Stripe**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect with Stripe">
    Click **Connect with Stripe**. This sends you to Stripe to set up the account that receives your payouts.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Finish Stripe's onboarding">
    Complete Stripe's steps: business details, bank account, identity. This happens on Stripe, not in Harness.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Return to Harness">
    When you come back, the status reads **Connected**. You can now take card payments.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connection states

The Stripe settings page shows where your connection stands and the next action.

| Status              | What it means                                                                                          | What to do                                              |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Not connected**   | You haven't set up Stripe yet.                                                                         | Click **Connect with Stripe**.                          |
| **Incomplete**      | You started Stripe's onboarding but didn't finish.                                                     | Click **Resume setup**.                                 |
| **Connected**       | Stripe is live. You can take card payments.                                                            | Nothing. Use **Manage in Stripe** to view your account. |
| **Needs attention** | Stripe paused payments, usually because it needs more information to verify your business or identity. | Click **Check status**, or **Go to Stripe** to fix it.  |
| **Disconnected**    | The connection ended.                                                                                  | Click **Reconnect** to resume payments.                 |

## What connecting unlocks

Once Stripe is connected:

* The **Accept online payments** toggle on an invoice becomes usable. See [Send an invoice](/docs/billing/send-an-invoice).
* A sent invoice carries a pay link, so recipients can pay by card from the email.
* Card payments record on their own. See [Record a payment](/docs/billing/record-a-payment).

## What your payer sees

Clicking the invoice's pay link opens Stripe Checkout directly. The payment methods offered are whatever your Stripe account enables: card, ACH bank debit, and possibly Cash App or Link.

An ACH bank payment takes 2 to 4 business days to settle. During that window the pay page shows the payment as processing, and the link can't be paid twice. When it settles, the payment records like a card payment. If the bank payment fails, the pay link reopens so the payer can retry, and you get an email.

A fully paid or credit-covered invoice shows **No Balance Due** instead of checkout, and a voided invoice shows that it's no longer active. Balances under \$0.50 can't be paid online.

## Disconnecting

You can disconnect Stripe from **Settings → Stripe**. When you do:

* Active pay links stop working.
* Unpaid invoices stay unpaid. Nothing is cancelled or settled.
* You collect what's owed manually: cash, check, or transfer.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Is there a fee?">
    Yes. Stripe charges **2.9% + \$0.30** per successful card payment, taken from each online payment and shown on your Stripe settings page. Manual payments you record yourself have no Harness or Stripe fee.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I still take cash without Stripe?">
    Yes. Recording cash, check, and transfer payments works on every plan. Stripe is only for taking card payments through an invoice's pay link. See [Record a payment](/docs/billing/record-a-payment).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>