Set up payments

Connect online payments so families can pay by card or bank account and use autopay.

Billing and payments2 min read

Before FrontRow can charge a card or bank account, your studio needs a connected payment account. You do this once, and then autopay, online registration and the parent portal can all take payments.

Connect your payment account#

FrontRow uses Stripe, the payment company that processes cards and bank payments for your studio. Money from families goes into your own Stripe account and then to your bank.

  1. Open Studio settings with the gear icon in the top bar.
  2. Choose the Payments tab.
  3. In Card and bank payments, select Connect payments.
  4. Follow Stripe's steps to add your business and bank details. When you finish, you come back to FrontRow.

When it works, the card shows Connected and says autopay, online registration and the family portal can take payments.

Good to know: Only the studio owner can connect payments. Admins and front desk staff see the status but not the button.

Choose your payment settings#

The same Payments tab holds the rest of your payment rules. Owners and admins can change them; front desk staff can view them.

  • Failed payments: which days FrontRow tries a declined card again, how many tries before it stops, and who gets an email. See Failed payments.
  • When the studio closes for a day: for monthly, per-term and per-session plans, choose No credit or Credit the missed session. With credit on, families get a closure credit automatically when you close the studio.
  • Credit card surcharge: optionally pass card fees on to families who pay by credit card online. It's off by default and capped at 3%. Debit cards, prepaid cards and bank accounts are never surcharged, and autopay and front desk charges aren't either. In places where surcharges aren't allowed, this stays off.
  • Accounting: connect QuickBooks Online to send your daily totals to your books. See Connect QuickBooks.

When you change something, a save bar appears. Select Save changes to keep it.

Set your prices#

Next, set up what you charge. Open Billing, then choose Plans & pricing to add tuition plans, fees, discounts and promo codes. See How charges work.

What if payments aren't connected yet?#

You can still use billing. You can add charges and record cash or check payments at the desk. Families can see their balance in the portal, but they'll see a note that the studio doesn't take online payments yet.

Related articles