When a client pays a deposit or any amount through BookLive Pay (Stripe checkout), their card or bank account is saved to the performance automatically. From that point on, you can charge the saved payment method directly from within BookLive — no need to send the client a new invoice link or ask them to re-enter their payment details. This is the fastest way to collect a remaining balance once a gig is confirmed.
Before You Begin #
- BookLive Pay must be enabled for your act (Stripe account connected). You can verify this under your act’s Finances tab.
- The performance must have a client attached with a saved Stripe payment method on file. A payment method is saved automatically when the client pays via the online checkout link — it is not stored when a payment is manually logged by a leader.
- Credit card charging must not be disabled in your Finance Settings. If it is, the Charge Card button will not appear.
Step 1: Open the Performance Payments Tab #
- Log in at https://booklive.com/login.
- Navigate to the performance you want to collect payment for.
- Click the Payments tab inside the performance.
If the client has a saved card or bank account on file, you’ll see a Charge Card button in the bottom-right corner of the incoming payments section. If this button is not visible, the client has not yet paid through the online checkout and has no payment method saved.
Step 2: Choose the Charge Amount #
Clicking Charge Card opens the Charge Payment Method dialog. At the top, you’ll see two options:
- Remaining Balance — Pre-filled with the exact amount still owed on the invoice. This is the most common choice when collecting a final payment.
- Custom Amount — Enter any dollar amount between $1.00 and $10,000. Use this if you want to collect a partial payment or a specific installment.
Below the amount selector, BookLive shows a real-time fee breakdown:
- Amount — The base charge you’ve chosen.
- Processing Fee — Calculated automatically based on the payment method type (see below).
- Total to Charge — What will actually be charged to the client’s card or bank account.
Step 3: Select a Payment Method #
If the client has multiple payment methods saved (for example, a credit card and a bank account), they’ll all appear as radio button options. Select the one you want to charge.
The processing fee varies by type:
- Credit or debit card: 3% + $0.30
- ACH bank transfer: 0.9%, capped at $5.50
ACH transfers are significantly cheaper for large balances, but they take 3–5 business days to complete and will show a Pending status in your payments list until the funds clear.
Step 4: Confirm the Charge #
- For a credit or debit card: Click Charge Card. The payment is processed immediately and will appear in the Payments tab with a Completed status. You and the client will each receive an email notification.
- For a bank account (ACH): Click Initiate ACH Transfer. The payment enters a Pending state. You’ll receive a notification when it clears — typically within 3–5 business days.
Tips & Notes #
- You cannot charge more than the remaining balance on the invoice. BookLive enforces this server-side to prevent accidental overcharges.
- If an ACH payment is pending, its amount is already deducted from the remaining balance shown in the dialog, so you won’t accidentally double-charge.
- To refund a payment collected this way, use the Refund option in the three-dot menu next to the payment. See Refunding a Client Payment in BookLive for details.
- The client is charged but does not receive a separate “payment request” notification before the charge — they’re billed directly. Use this feature when you have the client’s permission to charge their card on file.
- If you need to disable credit card payments entirely for your group, go to Account Settings → Finance Settings → Payment Settings and toggle off credit card payments.
