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Accepting Payments - How Payments Work

5 min read Beginner For Owner, Manager Updated about 2 months ago
Quick Answer
RecSystems uses Stripe to process payments. Customers pay by credit card at checkout, funds go directly to your connected bank account, and you can manage refunds and additional charges from your dashboard.

Accepting Payments

RecSystems makes it easy to accept payments from customers. Whether they book online or you create a reservation over the phone, getting paid is seamless and secure.

How Payments Work

The payment flow:

  1. Customer books — Selects rental and checkout
  2. Payment collected — Card charged through Stripe
  3. Funds transferred — Money goes to your bank account
  4. You get paid — Automatic payouts from Stripe

Payment Options

What Customers Can Pay With

  • Credit cards — Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover
  • Debit cards — Any card accepted by Stripe
  • Digital wallets — Apple Pay, Google Pay
  • Gift cards — Your RecSystems gift cards

Payment Timing

Full payment: Customer pays total at checkout

Deposit + Balance:

  • Deposit collected at booking
  • Balance due before or at pickup

Powered by Stripe

RecSystems partners with Stripe for payment processing:

Why Stripe?

  • Secure — PCI-compliant, industry leader
  • Reliable — 99.99%+ uptime
  • Fast — Quick payouts to your bank
  • Trusted — Used by millions of businesses

Your Stripe Account

You'll connect your own Stripe account:

  • Money goes directly to you
  • You control your account
  • Standard Stripe fees apply

Getting Started

1. Connect Stripe

Go to Account Info → Accept Payments and click Connect Stripe.

You'll be guided through:

  • Creating or connecting a Stripe account
  • Verifying your business
  • Linking your bank account

2. Test Mode

After connecting, test mode is enabled:

  • Use test card numbers
  • No real charges
  • Verify everything works

3. Go Live

When ready, switch to live mode:

  • Real payments processed
  • Real money received
  • You're in business!

See Setting Up Payments for detailed steps.

Payment Scenarios

Online Booking

Customer completes checkout on your booking site:

  1. Enters card information
  2. Payment processed immediately
  3. Confirmation sent
  4. Funds deposited to your account

Phone/Manual Booking

Staff creates reservation and collects payment:

  1. Enter customer's card details
  2. Process payment from dashboard
  3. Or send payment link to customer

Balance Collection

When deposit was collected earlier:

  1. Customer has balance due
  2. Collect at check-in
  3. Use card on file or new card

Additional Charges

After rental (damage, fuel, etc.):

  1. Calculate charges
  2. Add to booking
  3. Charge card on file

Security

PCI Compliance

  • Card data never touches your servers
  • Stripe handles all sensitive data
  • Fully PCI-compliant processing

Card on File

Cards can be saved securely:

  • For balance payments
  • For additional charges
  • Customer must authorize

Fraud Protection

Stripe provides:

  • Fraud detection
  • 3D Secure when needed
  • Dispute handling support

Fees

Processing Fees

Standard Stripe processing fees apply:

  • Typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
  • Rates may vary based on your Stripe account

Platform Fee

RecSystems charges a platform fee:

  • Percentage of booking value
  • You control how it's split
  • Can absorb or pass to customer

See Understanding Pricing for details.

What You Can Do

From your dashboard:

  • Process payments — Charge cards for bookings
  • Issue refunds — Full or partial refunds
  • View history — See all transactions
  • Export reports — For accounting and taxes
  • Send receipts — Email receipts to customers

Deposits

Collect partial payment at booking, balance later.

Advance Payment Deposits →

Refunds

Issue full or partial refunds easily.

Processing Refunds →

Payouts

Understand when and how you receive funds.

Understanding Payouts →

Invoices & Receipts

Generate professional receipts.

Invoices & Receipts →

Related Articles:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I accept payments?
Connect your Stripe account in Account Info → Accept Payments. Once connected, customers can pay by credit card on your booking site, and you can process payments from the dashboard.
When do I receive my money?
Stripe sends payouts to your bank account automatically, typically within 2-7 days after payment. The exact timing depends on your Stripe account settings.
What payment methods are accepted?
RecSystems accepts major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Are payments secure?
Yes, all payments are processed securely through Stripe, which is PCI-compliant. Card details are never stored on RecSystems servers.