Payments Setup (Stripe Connect)
How to connect your Stripe account, accept online payments from customers, and manage your payment configuration.
Overview
autoGMS uses Stripe Connect to let you accept card payments directly from your customers. When a customer pays through a payment link on an invoice, the money flows through Stripe and into your bank account -- minus processing fees.
Before you can use payment links on invoices, you need to connect your garage to Stripe through the Payment Settings page. This is a one-time setup per garage.
Why it matters:
- Lets you send payment links on invoices so customers can pay online instantly
- Funds are deposited directly into your bank account via Stripe
- Stripe handles PCI compliance, fraud detection, and card processing -- you do not need to handle any of that
- Each garage has its own Stripe Connect account, so multi-garage operations keep finances separate
How to Access
- Log in to your autoGMS dashboard.
- Select your garage from the sidebar.
- Click Payments in the garage navigation.
- Click the Settings button in the top right corner of the Payments page.
You can also reach Payment Settings directly from the sidebar under your garage's menu.
Key Features at a Glance
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Stripe Connect onboarding | One-click setup that redirects you to Stripe to create or link an account |
| Connection status | Shows whether your garage can accept payments, is pending verification, or needs setup |
| Stripe Dashboard access | Opens your Stripe Express Dashboard to view payouts, disputes, and account details |
| Real-time status updates | Connection status updates automatically when Stripe verifies your account |
| Payment Dashboard | Overview of revenue, transactions, fees, and payment method breakdowns |
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Connect Your Stripe Account
If your garage has not been connected to Stripe yet, the Payment Settings page shows a setup card.
- Go to Payments then Settings.
- The page shows your current connection status. If not connected, you will see the setup prompt with Stripe and PCI DSS compliance information.
- Click Enable Payments.
- You are redirected to Stripe's onboarding flow. Stripe will ask for:
- Your business type (individual or company)
- Business details (name, address, tax ID)
- Bank account for payouts
- Identity verification (ID document upload)
- Complete all required fields on Stripe's side.
- After finishing, Stripe redirects you back to autoGMS.
What happens after redirect:
- If everything is complete, a success message appears and your status changes to Connected.
- If Stripe needs more information, your status shows as Pending Verification or Setup Incomplete.
Tip: Have your business registration documents and bank account details ready before starting. The Stripe onboarding takes 5-10 minutes if you have everything prepared.
2. Understand Connection Statuses
The Payment Settings page always shows your current Stripe connection status.
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Not Connected | No Stripe account linked to this garage | Click Enable Payments to start setup |
| Setup Incomplete | You started onboarding but did not finish all required steps | Click Continue Setup to pick up where you left off |
| Pending Verification | Stripe is reviewing your submitted information | Wait for Stripe to complete verification (usually 1-2 business days). Click Check Status to open your Stripe Dashboard for details |
| Connected | Your account is fully verified and can accept payments | You are ready to create payment links on invoices |
When your account is connected, the settings page also shows:
- Country -- The country your Stripe account is registered in
- Currency -- Your default payout currency
- Payouts -- Whether payouts to your bank account are enabled or still pending
3. Resume Incomplete Setup
If you left the Stripe onboarding partway through:
- Go to Payments then Settings.
- Your status shows Setup Incomplete.
- Click Continue Setup.
- You are redirected back to Stripe to complete the remaining steps.
- After finishing, you are redirected back to autoGMS.
You can resume setup as many times as needed. Stripe saves your progress.
4. Access Your Stripe Dashboard
Once connected, you can open your Stripe Express Dashboard directly from autoGMS.
- Go to Payments then Settings.
- Click Open Stripe Dashboard.
- A new tab opens with your Stripe Express Dashboard.
From the Stripe Dashboard you can:
- View payout history and upcoming payouts
- Check individual transaction details
- Respond to disputes
- Update your bank account or business information
- Download tax documents
5. Use the Payment Dashboard
The main Payments page (not Settings) shows your payment analytics once Stripe is connected.
Overview tab:
| Card | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | Gross payment volume for the current period |
| Net Revenue | Revenue after all fees are deducted |
| Transactions | Number of successful payments |
| Avg Transaction | Average payment amount |
Below the summary cards:
- Revenue Trend -- Line chart showing daily payment volume over the last 14 days
- Payment Methods -- Bar chart showing revenue breakdown by card brand (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
- Recent Transactions -- Table of the 5 most recent payments with customer, service, and amount
Transactions tab:
Full paginated table of all transactions with columns for date, customer, invoice number, payment method, gross amount, fees, net amount, and status.
Fees tab:
- Gross revenue, total fees, and net revenue summary cards
- Detailed fee breakdown showing platform fees and Stripe processing fees separately
- Total deductions line
Fee Structure
When a customer pays through a Stripe payment link, two types of fees are deducted:
| Fee type | Description |
|---|---|
| Stripe processing fee | Stripe's standard card processing fee (varies by region and card type) |
| Platform fee | autoGMS platform fee on each transaction |
Both fees are deducted before the remaining amount (net revenue) is paid out to your bank account. You can see the exact breakdown for each transaction in the Fees tab of the Payment Dashboard.
Tip: The platform fee details are shown on the setup page before you connect. Review them before enabling payments so there are no surprises.
Using Payment Links on Invoices
Once your Stripe account is connected, payment link options become available on your invoices. See the Invoicing & Payments guide for full details. In summary:
- Open an unpaid invoice's more menu (three-dot dropdown).
- Click Create Payment Link to generate a Stripe payment link.
- The link is copied to your clipboard automatically.
- Send the link to your customer via the Send Invoice dialog (email or WhatsApp), or paste it manually.
- When the customer pays, the invoice status updates automatically.
You can also Copy, Open, or Cancel existing payment links from the same menu.
Disconnecting or Changing Accounts
autoGMS does not currently offer a self-service disconnect option in the dashboard. If you need to:
- Change your bank account -- Use the Stripe Dashboard (Open Stripe Dashboard button) to update your payout bank account directly.
- Disconnect your Stripe account -- Contact support at support@myautogms.com.
- Switch to a different Stripe account -- Contact support. The existing account must be disconnected before a new one can be linked.
Best Practices
- Complete onboarding in one sitting. Having all your documents ready makes the process smoother.
- Check your payout schedule. In your Stripe Dashboard, review when payouts are scheduled (daily, weekly, etc.) and adjust if needed.
- Monitor the Fees tab regularly. Understanding your effective fee rate helps with pricing decisions.
- Use payment links on all invoices. Customers who can pay online tend to pay faster than those waiting for bank transfers.
- Keep your Stripe account information current. If your business details change (address, bank account, legal name), update them in the Stripe Dashboard promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
I completed onboarding but my status still shows Pending Verification.
Stripe's verification can take 1-2 business days. You will receive a real-time notification in autoGMS when verification completes. You can also click Check Status to open your Stripe Dashboard for more detail on what Stripe is waiting for.
Can I accept payments without Stripe Connect?
You can still record manual payments (cash, card, cheque) using the Mark Paid button on invoices. Stripe Connect is only required for online payment links where customers pay directly through a hosted Stripe page.
Do I need a separate Stripe account for each garage?
Yes. Each garage in autoGMS has its own Stripe Connect account. This keeps revenue, payouts, and fee tracking separate per location. If you operate multiple garages, you will go through the onboarding process once per garage.
What currencies are supported?
The currency is determined by the country you register your Stripe account in. Stripe supports 135+ currencies. Your payout currency is set during onboarding and matches your bank account's currency.
I see "Setup Incomplete" but I thought I finished everything.
Stripe may require additional verification steps that were not visible during your initial onboarding (for example, additional identity documents for certain countries). Click Continue Setup to see what is still needed.
How long until I receive my first payout?
After your first successful payment, Stripe typically holds funds for 7 days before your first payout (this varies by country). After that, payouts follow your configured schedule. Check your Stripe Dashboard for your specific payout timeline.
Can customers pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay?
If enabled on your Stripe account, customers can use Apple Pay and Google Pay through payment links. Stripe handles this automatically -- no extra configuration is needed in autoGMS.
Where do I see individual transaction details?
In the Transactions tab of the Payment Dashboard, each row shows the gross amount, fees, and net amount. For deeper details (card type, last 4 digits, dispute status), click Open Stripe Dashboard and find the transaction there.