BookLive supports ACH bank transfer as a payment method, giving your clients the option to pay directly from their bank account. ACH payments carry a lower processing fee than credit cards — 0.9% capped at $5.50 — making them an attractive option for larger bookings. This article explains how ACH payments work, what the client experience looks like, how to handle microdeposit verification, and how to control whether ACH is available for your group.
How ACH Payments Work #
When a client chooses to pay by bank transfer, BookLive initiates an ACH debit through Stripe. Unlike credit cards, which settle instantly, ACH payments take several business days to clear. During this window the payment appears as Pending in BookLive rather than Completed.
The general flow is:
- You send the client a payment request or invoice from the performance record.
- The client opens their unique payment link and selects Bank Transfer (ACH) at checkout.
- The client enters their bank account and routing numbers (or links their bank account instantly via Plaid, when available).
- BookLive notifies you that a pending ACH payment has been submitted.
- The payment clears within 3–5 business days and the status updates to Completed.
Microdeposit Verification #
Some ACH payments require an extra verification step before the funds can be collected. When this happens, Stripe sends two small test deposits (each under $1.00) to the client’s bank account. The client must confirm the exact amounts to prove ownership of the account.
What the Client Receives #
If microdeposit verification is required, your client will automatically receive an email with the subject line Action Required: Verify Your Bank Payment. The email includes:
- A summary of the payment amount and performance details.
- Instructions to check their bank account for two small deposits.
- A Verify Payment button linking to Stripe’s secure hosted verification page.
- A note that verification must be completed within 10 days, or the payment will be canceled.
Resending the Verification Link #
If a client says they never received the verification email or the link has expired:
- Open the performance in BookLive.
- Go to the Payments tab.
- Find the pending ACH payment and click Resend Verification Email.
- BookLive will send a fresh verification link to the client.
Tracking ACH Payment Status #
You can monitor the status of ACH payments directly from the performance record:
- Open the performance in BookLive.
- Click the Payments tab.
- ACH payments that have not yet cleared will show a status of Pending. Once funds are confirmed by Stripe, the status automatically updates to Completed.
Pending payments are included in the performance’s outstanding balance calculations so you always have an accurate picture of expected income.
Enabling or Disabling ACH for Your Group #
ACH bank transfers are enabled by default. If you prefer to accept only credit card payments, you can turn off ACH in your group’s payment settings:
- Log in to BookLive at https://booklive.com/login.
- Click your avatar in the top-right corner and go to Account Settings.
- Navigate to Payment Settings.
- Toggle Disable ACH / Bank Transfer to turn off the option for clients.
- Click Save.
When ACH is disabled, clients will only see the credit card option at checkout. You can re-enable it at any time using the same steps.
Tips & Notes #
- Lower fees, longer wait: ACH costs 0.9% capped at $5.50 per transaction, significantly less than standard card fees on large payments — but funds take several business days to arrive.
- 10-day verification deadline: If a client does not complete microdeposit verification within 10 days, the payment is automatically canceled. You will need to request a new payment from the client.
- Stripe Connect required: ACH payouts go through your connected Stripe account. If you haven’t set up Stripe Connect yet, see Setting Up Stripe Connect for Payouts.
- No double payment: Pending ACH amounts count toward the performance balance, so clients cannot accidentally pay twice.
