Connect Stripe
Link your own Stripe account so clients can pay invoices by card, with money going straight to you.
Connecting Stripe lets clients pay your invoices by card, with the money going directly into your own Stripe account. Hoursmith uses Stripe Connect (Standard accounts, direct charges) and never holds or routes your funds.
- Plan
- Studio
- Role
- OwnerAdmin
Online payments must be enabled on your Hoursmith instance, and you need a Studio or Agency plan. Only an Owner or Admin can connect or disconnect Stripe.
Before you start
If Settings → Payments shows a "Coming soon" state, online payments haven't been enabled on your Hoursmith instance yet. Once they are — and you're on Studio or Agency — the connect controls appear.
Connect your account
Open payment settings
Go to Settings → Payments (/settings/payments).
Start the connection
Click Connect with Stripe. You'll go to Stripe to either:
- sign in and pick an existing Stripe business (an OAuth flow), or
- create a new Stripe account (an account-setup flow).
Finish on Stripe
Complete any details Stripe asks for. If Stripe still needs information when you return, use Finish setup on Stripe to pick up where you left off.
Confirm you're ready
Back in Settings → Payments, check the status reads Connected and Charges enabled: Yes. That's when card payments start working.
Connection statuses
Settings → Payments shows your current connection state:
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Not connected | No Stripe account is linked yet. |
| Pending setup | Stripe still needs more information before you can take payments. |
| Connected | Your Stripe account is linked. |
| Restricted | Stripe has limited the account; some details may be required. |
| Disconnected | The connection was reset. |
Alongside the status you'll see Charges enabled: Yes / No. Card payments only work once Charges enabled reads Yes — even a Connected account can't take cards until Stripe turns charges on.
Managing the connection
These buttons appear in Settings → Payments depending on your state:
- Finish setup on Stripe — return to Stripe to provide any remaining details.
- Reconnect — re-establish a connection that dropped.
- Refresh status — pull the latest status and Charges-enabled value from Stripe.
- Disconnect & reset — remove the current connection so a different company can connect instead. Your payment history is preserved.
Disconnect & reset is the way to move from one Stripe account to another — for example, if your business changes its Stripe entity. Past payments stay on their invoices.
Troubleshooting
- Status is Connected but the Pay button is missing. Check Charges enabled is Yes, then click Refresh status. See Stripe not connected.
- A client can't complete payment. See Client can't pay and Payments troubleshooting.
What's next
Accept card payments
How clients pay online once Stripe is live.
Payment methods
Offer card, bank transfer, or both per invoice.