Recording a payment
When a client pays, you record it against the project. Surfacely supports five methods, and every payment is kept permanently — you can't quietly rewrite history, which is exactly what you want for your records.
Payment methods
- Stripe — automatic. When a client pays through the portal, Surfacely records the payment for you automatically.
- Bank transfer — manual. Record the date received, amount in $, and reference. The client can also report a bank transfer via the portal for your confirmation.
- Cash — manual. Include a note about receipt.
- Cheque — manual. Record cheque number for your records.
- Other — for anything that doesn't fit.
How it updates the project
Every confirmed payment adds to paidTotal and reduces outstandingTotal in the project's financial block. The Payments section of the project shows every payment in order, with method and reference.
Client-reported payments
For bank transfers, the client can self-report via the portal: "I paid 2,500 $ on 15 March, reference ABC123". This creates a pending payment record. You then confirm it when the funds land in your account — a two-step flow that keeps the truth with you while giving the client visibility.
Stripe Connect
If you've connected Stripe, the client sees a Pay button on every invoice in the portal. Stripe handles card and digital wallet payments and deposits directly to your account. Setup is a one-time task in Settings.
Why it matters: speed from invoice to paid is a direct reflection of how easy you make payment. Offering Stripe as an option typically shaves days off payment cycles — and days of cash flow add up fast on a business that runs tight.