Are you thinking of accepting credit cards or switching providers? Akada’s Stripe integration makes it simple, with an easy setup, transparent pricing, and innovative tools to manage payments effectively.
Are credit cards right for your studio? Why Stripe?
Are credit cards right for your studio? Why Stripe?
Yes, it makes sense for even small businesses to accept credit cards in most cases.
Customers expect to pay by card, and offering it makes your business look professional and established.
Accepting credit card payments reduces late or missed payments and cuts down on manual deposit work.
Customers spend more, on average, when they have the option to pay with a card.
Why Stripe?
Why Stripe?
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees — 3.5% plus $0.30 per transaction on all card types.
Stripe is a global company that is available to our studios in the U.S. and Canada.
It works seamlessly with Akada for payments, recurring billing, and offers the convenience of Apple Pay or Google Pay to your parents through our mobile app.
How to Set Up Stripe
How to Set Up Stripe
Go to Settings → Credit Cards in the Akada menu on the left.
At the top of the page, you’ll find info about Stripe and the current rates.
Click “Get Started” to begin your Stripe application.
Once your application is approved, you’ll receive a pop-up alert on the Akada home screen.
Return to the Settings screen and click “Switch to Stripe” to complete the activation.
You'll now see Stripe is set as your processor, along with your account ID (shown above).
Choose your default currency.
If you've been processing, choose to either Process Only with Stripe or Allow users to process with Saved Cards.
If you have been an Akada user for a while, Stripe requires enabling modern Akada settings, accounts, and parent portal interfaces. These will be automatically enabled when you switch.
When applying, you will want to have your SSN and/or your EIN handy.
Choosing "Process only with Stripe" disables any saved cards in your database.
Switching Processors?
Switching Processors?
Switching processors no longer means losing all of your saved cards.
You may now continue using your previous processor while transitioning to Stripe. As your customers update their cards, they will be converted to Stripe's platform.
Send and track card update requests—From the credit card setup screen, you can email your clients a request to update their cards. This email will send them a link that allows them to update the card with one click. You can also track who has and has not updated their cards, as shown in the next section of this article.
Card Update Request
Card Update Request
Here, you can send a custom request email to parents to update their cards.
Parents will receive a link to update their card with one click.
You can also track who has and has not updated their credit cards.
Use the filters to change the view by account status, processor, or card request status.
Additional Options
Additional Options
Here you can enter and update your studio's return policy.
The return policy is found at the bottom of your receipts.
Cash Discount or Credit Card Fee
Cash Discount or Credit Card Fee
Choose between a cash discount and a credit card fee.
If you’re charging a fee, click the blue Processing Fee button to enable it.
Set the Status, Type, and Amount for either option to finalize your setup.
Important Note
Please check your processing contract and local laws when considering a credit card fee.