> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://breederbuddy.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Payments & Payouts > Fix Stripe setup problems, a buyer's card or bank payment that failed or is stuck processing, payouts not showing up in your bank, recording cash, Zelle, or Venmo payments, puppy deposits, and refunds in BreederBuddy. # Payments & Payouts Money questions need clear answers. This page covers the most common payment snags: getting Stripe connected, a buyer payment that failed, when your payout arrives, logging payments made outside the app, and handling refunds. For the full setup guide, see [Payments Setup](https://breederbuddy.com/docs/features/buyer-sales-management/payments-setup.md). *** ## How Money Flows Buyers pay online through Stripe, the payment company behind BreederBuddy's invoices and deposits. The money goes into **your own Stripe account**, and Stripe sends it to your bank. BreederBuddy never holds your funds. Payouts, refunds, and disputes all happen in your Stripe account. You don't have to use Stripe at all. If buyers pay you in cash, by check, Zelle, or Venmo, just log those payments on the invoice. *** ## I Can't Get Stripe Connected 1. Click your kennel name in the **top right** corner, then **Settings**. 2. Under **Payment Processing**, open the **Stripe** tab ([direct link](https://app.breederbuddy.com/settings?tab=stripe)). 3. Click **Connect Stripe Account**. 4. Stripe opens. Sign in to an existing Stripe account or create a new one, and fill in everything Stripe asks for (name, address, bank details). 5. When you finish, Stripe sends you back to BreederBuddy. You'll see "Stripe account connected successfully!" and the message "Your Stripe account is linked." **What to check if it didn't work:** * **You closed Stripe partway through.** Go back to the **Stripe** tab and click **Connect Stripe Account** again. * **You see neither the Connect button nor Go To Your Stripe Dashboard.** Your Stripe account is connected but Stripe still needs more information before it lets you take payments or send payouts. Sign in to your Stripe account at stripe.com and finish any items Stripe lists as needed. If you're stuck, message us in the chat. * **"Only the account owner can open the Stripe dashboard."** Team members (secondary users) can't open Stripe. Ask the account owner to do it. * **"Something went wrong!"** Refresh the page and try again. If it keeps happening, message us in the chat. *** ## A Buyer's Payment Failed When an online payment fails, the buyer gets a **Payment failed notice** email with a **View & Retry Payment** button, and you get a **Payment failed alert**. Nothing was charged. 1. Ask the buyer to open that email and click **View & Retry Payment**, or to open their buyer portal and pay again. 2. They can try the same card or choose a different payment method. 3. If they keep having trouble, it's usually their bank declining the charge. Ask them to call their bank, or try another card. Need to take the card yourself? Open the invoice and click **Take card payment** to run it in person. *** ## A Payment Says "Processing" Bank transfers (ACH) and some other methods take a few business days to clear. While that happens, the invoice shows **Processing**, and the buyer gets a **Payment processing notice** telling them there's nothing more to do. * Don't charge them again. **Take card payment** is turned off while a payment is processing. * When it clears, the invoice switches to **Paid** and the buyer gets their receipt automatically. * If it fails instead, you'll both get the failed-payment emails above. *** ## When Will My Payout Arrive? Stripe sends payouts to your bank on its own schedule, not BreederBuddy's. To see when a payout is coming: 1. Go to **Settings → Stripe** ([direct link](https://app.breederbuddy.com/settings?tab=stripe)). 2. Click **Go To Your Stripe Dashboard**. 3. Look at your balance and payouts in Stripe. It shows each payout's expected arrival date and lets you change your payout schedule or bank account. Bank payments (ACH) have to clear before their money can go out, so they take longer than card payments. **Why is my payout less than the invoice?** Stripe's processing fees come out of each payment. Cards cost 2.9% + 30¢, plus BreederBuddy's 0.1% platform fee. If you'd rather the buyer cover it, turn on **Pass Processing Fees to Customer** on the **Stripe** tab. **A buyer paid by Zelle (or Venmo, cash, check) and the invoice still shows the processing fee owing.** It doesn't any more: the fee is charged only on an online payment, so a payment you log with **Log Manual Payment** settles the invoice once it covers everything but the fee, and the fee drops off the receipt and the printed invoice. If an older invoice still shows a few dollars owing, open the manual payment, click **Save**, and it settles. *** ## Recording a Cash, Check, Zelle, or Venmo Payment 1. Go to [**Invoices**](https://app.breederbuddy.com/invoices) in the left menu and open the invoice. 2. Click **Log Manual Payment** at the top. 3. Fill in **Amount Paid**, **Payment Method**, and **Payment Date**. 4. Leave **Email a receipt to the customer** checked if you want the buyer to get a receipt. 5. Click **Save**. The invoice balance goes down, and once it's fully covered the invoice shows **Paid**. Logged the wrong amount? On the invoice, scroll to **Manual Payments & Receipts** and click the pencil icon (**Edit this payment**) to fix it, or the trash icon (**Remove manual payment**) to delete it. Want buyers to see your Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, or Zelle details? Add them in **Settings → Other Payment Methods** ([direct link](https://app.breederbuddy.com/settings?tab=other%20payment%20methods)). *** ## Deposits * **Waitlist deposits** are requested and tracked from the waitlist. See [Waitlists](https://breederbuddy.com/docs/features/buyer-sales-management/waitlists.md). * **Other deposits** are invoices for part of the price. See [Invoices](https://breederbuddy.com/docs/features/buyer-sales-management/invoices.md). If a deposit was paid outside the app, log it on the invoice with **Log Manual Payment** (above). *** ## Refunds **Card or bank payments made through Stripe:** refund them in Stripe. 1. Go to **Settings → Stripe** and click **Go To Your Stripe Dashboard**. 2. Find the payment in Stripe and refund it there. BreederBuddy doesn't update the invoice on its own when you refund in Stripe, so record the refund in BreederBuddy too (next steps) to keep your reports right. **Recording a refund in BreederBuddy** (works for any refund, including cash or check): 1. Open the invoice. The invoice has to be **Paid** first. 2. Click **Log Manual Payment**. 3. In the **Refunds** section, click **Manage refunds**. 4. Fill in **Refund Amount (Total)**, **Refund Method**, and **Refund Date**, then click **Save**. You'll see "Refund recorded" and the invoice shows a **Refunded** badge. 5. If a puppy is linked to the invoice and is coming back to you, check **Unlink dog from this invoice** so it no longer counts as sold. **Deleting an invoice does not refund the buyer.** If money was collected through Stripe, refund it in Stripe first. *** ## Common Questions > **Why can't my buyer pay online, or why does the pay button say Payment Unavailable?** > > Check these: your Stripe account is connected (**Settings → Stripe** says "Your Stripe account is linked"), and the invoice isn't already paid or processing. Also check **Default Online Payments for Invoices** on the **Stripe** tab. If it's off, new invoices don't offer online payment unless you turn it on for that invoice. If all three look right, message us in the chat. > **How do I know a buyer paid online?** > > You get a payment received email (or a deposit received email for a waitlist deposit), and the invoice switches to **Paid** on its own. Bank transfers show **Processing** first. To see the money itself, open **Settings → Stripe** and click **Go To Your Stripe Dashboard**. > **A buyer paid, but I don't see it in Stripe. Where is it?** > > Open Stripe from **Settings → Stripe → Go To Your Stripe Dashboard** rather than signing in at stripe.com. That button always opens the Stripe account that's linked to BreederBuddy, which matters if you have more than one Stripe account. Bank transfers (ACH) take a few business days to clear before they're paid out, so they won't be in your bank yet. > **Can I refund a deposit?** > > Yes. If it was paid online, refund it in your Stripe dashboard. Then record it in BreederBuddy: open the deposit invoice, click **Log Manual Payment**, and use **Manage refunds**. For a cash or Zelle deposit, just record the refund. See **Refunds** above. > **Why don't I see Klarna, Afterpay, or another payment method?** > > Turn it on under **Accepted Payment Methods** on the **Stripe** tab. If it says **Not available yet**, activate it in your Stripe dashboard first. Pay-later options are also hidden on very large invoices because of their purchase limits. > **How do I send a buyer their receipt again?** > > Open the invoice and click **Email Receipt**. You can send it as many times as needed. > **A buyer disputed a charge. What do I do?** > > Disputes are handled in your Stripe dashboard. Open it from **Settings → Stripe → Go To Your Stripe Dashboard** and respond there. *** ## Still Have Questions? We're here to help. If something isn't working the way you expect, or you'd like to have a discussion around a certain topic, please reach out to us anytime through the chat in the bottom right corner of your screen. Thank you. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.