Availability and rollout

Where is StudioPlus Payments available?
StudioPlus Payments is currently available in myStratus wherever Stripe is available. Stripe account approval is still required during setup, and some features may depend on your location or approval status.

Am I automatically approved once I sign up?
Not necessarily. Setup does still require Stripe account approval. However, they are usually pretty quick with this process if you have all your details ready to go!

Will Spectra have StudioPlus Payments?
Yes. StudioPlus Payments functionality is planned for a future Spectra release. Because Spectra is a local solution and myStratus is cloud-based, the Spectra version will not include the full myStratus feature set.

Do I have to switch to StudioPlus Payments?
No. StudioPlus Payments is an optional add-on. Existing legacy processors will remain available, and their current functionality will continue.

Transitioning from a legacy provider

What changes should I expect transitioning from an old payment provider to StudioPlus Payments?
When you switch to StudioPlus Payments, the biggest software changes are operational:

• New payments created after the switch will process through StudioPlus Payments.
• Existing payment plans can continue on the legacy provider during the transition if the legacy plan setting is enabled.
• Saved payment methods from your previous provider will no longer appear in myStratus after the switch.
• Deleting a payment record on the same day will no longer void a card transaction.
• Credit card payments will post to accounting under one Stripe payment method instead of separate card-brand methods.

Will accounting setups change when moving to StudioPlus Payments?
Possibly. Legacy setups could separate Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and other card brands. With StudioPlus Payments, credit card payments use one Stripe payment method, so general ledger mappings may need to be reviewed.

What happens to saved payment methods when we go live?
Saved payment methods from your previous provider will no longer be visible after the switch. For legacy payment plans already in progress, those methods are still retained behind the scenes so those plans can continue processing if legacy plan processing is enabled.

If you have many saved payment methods on file, you may want to ask clients to add a new card online after the switch.

Can non-credit-card payment methods still be stored for future use?
No. After the switch, only credit cards can be stored as saved payment methods for future use. Because older saved payment methods will no longer be visible, make sure you collect any needed information from the Saved Payment Methods screen before the final switch.

Surcharging

What is surcharging?
Surcharging adds a fee to eligible card payments to help offset processing costs. StudioPlus Payments supports credit card surcharging where permitted. Local laws and card-network rules still apply.

What should I set my credit card surcharge to?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Your surcharge should reflect the actual, permitted cost of accepting credit cards and follow local laws and card-network rules. It should not be used to generate profit. Be sure to review the laws that apply in your area.

Why did surcharging get removed from a specific card transaction?
Surcharging may be removed automatically if the card used is not eligible for surcharging, most commonly a debit card.

Why is surcharging only available with StudioPlus Payments?
Surcharging is one of the newer payment capabilities available with StudioPlus Payments. It relies on functionality supported through our integration with Stripe, which allows surcharge handling to be built directly into Stratus.

Payment links, tips, and payouts

Can payment links still be sent by text or email?
Yes. Online Client and Invoice links can still be sent by email or text. In addition, payment links can be shared quickly by email, SMS, QR code, or by copying the link. SMS delivery requires the SMS add-on.

Can clients add a tip? Will tips be surcharged?
At this time, tip prompts are available on terminal checkout only. Because the tip is added after the payment starts, surcharge is not added to tip totals.
myStratus is integrated with Stripes S700 & S710 Card Readers.

Should I be using the Manage Payouts tool?
If you currently use any of Stratus' accounting tools like the Accounting Link, Make A Deposit, or End of Day Wizard, then we highly recommend adding the Manage Payouts tool to your routine. If you don't track accounting in Stratus, the Manage Payouts tool is still a great way to keep your records and totals in sync.

What should I expect with payouts?
Stripe controls payout timing. According to Stripe, the first payout is usually about seven business days after your first payment. Later payouts are generally about two business days. StudioPlus does not guarantee actual deposit timing. Manage Payouts helps reconcile Stripe payouts with the transactions recorded in myStratus so you can review everything in one place.

What happens if a payment is taken directly in Stripe instead of myStratus?
Manage Payouts can flag it as a transaction found in Stripe but missing in myStratus. For cleaner reconciliation and accounting exports, record payments through myStratus whenever possible.

Refunds and reversals

Do my processing fees get refunded when I give my client a refund?
No. Stripe does not refund the original processing fee when you refund a card payment. The StudioPlus application fee is refunded, and that refund appears in Manage Payouts.

Can refunds be partial?
Yes. You can issue a full or partial refund by entering the refund amount before selecting the original card transaction.

I used to be able to just delete a payment same-day and my old provider would void the transaction. Can I still do that?
No. With StudioPlus Payments, deleting the payment record does not reverse the card transaction. If you need to reverse a processed card payment, create a refund instead. Completed card transactions also cannot be edited.

Buy Now, Pay Later and Payment Plans

What’s the difference between “Buy Now, Pay Later” and Payment Plans?
Both give clients a way to pay over time, but they work differently.

Payment Plans are created and managed inside myStratus as scheduled payments on an invoice. You set the terms, and you are responsible for collecting the payments over time.

Buy Now, Pay Later is a Stripe checkout option that may offer installment or delayed-payment options, depending on the provider, country, and eligibility. It has a higher processing fee, but you receive the full payment up front from the payment partner, and they are responsible for collecting funds from the client.