Why am I talking about Stripe instant payouts? As a Dubsado specialist and business owner who’s all about working smarter, not harder, I know firsthand how frustrating it can be to wait for your money to hit your account. (Talk to any bookkeeper, and they’ll tell you balancing cash flow is a big part of reducing stress as a business owner.) I’ve tested out a few different payment processors over the years, including PayPal, Square, and Stripe, and let me tell you—Stripe Instant Payouts has been a total game changer for getting paid faster in my business.
Let’s dive into why I love Stripe (especially for ACH payments), what made me ditch PayPal, and how to set up your Dubsado payment settings to make the most of Stripe’s features—so you can skip the waiting game and keep your cash flow flowing.
About Me (Quick Intro)
Hey, I’m Amy! I’m a certified Dubsado Specialist and HoneyBook Educator who helps creative entrepreneurs work less, make more, and wow clients with smart systems and automation. Whether I’m setting up seamless onboarding experiences or optimizing payment workflows, I’m all about making business feel easier—and Stripe instant payouts fit right into that mission.
Why I Love Stripe ACH Payments in Addition to Instant Payouts
Let’s start with the money-saving part: Stripe ACH payments only cost a flat $5.00 max per transaction—no matter the invoice amount. 🙌 That’s a massive win if you’re sending high-ticket invoices or booking multiple clients per month. Compared to the 2.9% + 30¢ fee on credit cards, those savings can really add up fast.
It’s secure, simple, and feels way more professional than sending someone a Venmo link or waiting around for a check. Plus, you can still offer credit card options if your clients prefer, while nudging them toward ACH for larger payments (because again—less fees = more profit).
Other Ways to Reduce Transaction Fee Costs in Dubsado
Dubsado has added credit card surcharging. This means you can pass up to 3% of credit card transaction fees along to clients. Not all states allow surcharging. Click HERE to see if your state allows surcharging and learn more about adding surcharging.
You Can Also Improve Cashflow and Increase Sales With Klarna
Dubsado has added Klarna as a purchasing option for eligible businesses. Klarna is a buy now, pay later option. While there are additional fees associated with this, it can help you close more sales, which will improve your overall cash flow, so it’s something to consider for your business.
Why I Switched from PayPal and Square to Stripe
I used to use PayPal and Square… until I realized it was holding back my business. It was confusing to have multiple payment processors. Payments would come through, and I’d be hunting through my payment processors to figure out where the payment was.
Not only that, but PayPal would freeze my funds without warning, and trying to find out why or when I’d get paid was a nightmare. It felt like jumping through hoops just to access money I had already earned. I needed a processor that was transparent, reliable, and built with business owners in mind.
I realized Stripe had ACH payments (with MUCH lower transaction fees) as well as debit and credit card payments. That’s when I made the switch to Stripe—and I haven’t looked back since.
About Stripe
Stripe is a popular payment processor used by platforms like Shopify, Amazon, and yes—Dubsado. It allows you to accept payments via credit card, debit card, and ACH transfers. It’s secure, trusted, and super developer-friendly, which is why so many CRMs and platforms integrate with it.
The best part for us service providers? Stripe offers Instant Payouts, meaning you don’t have to wait the usual 2–7 business days to get paid.
What Are Stripe Instant Payouts?
Stripe Instant Payouts lets you move your available balance to your debit card within minutes, 24/7—even on weekends and holidays. Once funds have cleared, you can move them in 30 minutes or less.
There is a small fee (typically around 1%) for Instant Payouts, but for many business owners, the convenience and speed are well worth it—especially when cash flow is tight or you want to pay yourself quickly after a big invoice clears. Note: New Stripe users aren’t eligible for instant payout and it’s currently only available to businesses in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the European Union, and Singapore. Not sure if you’re eligible? Check your dashboard in Stripe.
How to Set Up Stripe in Dubsado for Faster Payments and Save Money with ACH Transactions
Once you’ve confirmed you’re eligible for Instant Payouts, it’s time to make sure Stripe and Dubsado are working together to help you get paid faster and more efficiently.
Here’s how to set things up:
1. Connect Stripe to Dubsado
Head into your Dubsado account and go to Settings > Payments. Click “Connect with Stripe” and follow the prompts. If you already have a Stripe account, it’ll link up in just a few clicks.
2. Enable ACH Payments in Stripe (Not Required for Instant Payouts)
In your Stripe Dashboard, navigate to Settings > Payment methods and make sure ACH Direct Debit is turned on. Stripe may ask for additional business verification here—don’t skip it! Then go to Dubsado > Settings> Payments and Invoices, and toggle on “Accept ACH payments”.
3. Encourage ACH for High-Value Invoices
In your invoice email templates or proposals, consider adding a short note encouraging ACH payments:
“Save on processing fees and pay securely via bank transfer (ACH). It’s easy and safe!”
4. Set Up Smart Payment Reminders
Dubsado lets you automate invoice reminders. Use these to gently follow up with clients who haven’t paid yet—because the faster they pay, the faster you can request your Instant Payout. (This is also a great place to remind clients to pay by ACH to save on transaction fees.)
How to Request an Instant Payout in Stripe
You can initiate Instant Payouts either manually through the Stripe Dashboard or programmatically using the Stripe API. This is a more advanced technique. I recommend only doing this if you’re comfortable using API/code.
How to Request an Instant Payout Manually Through the Stripe Dashboard
- From the Home or Balances tab, click Pay out funds to check your available balance.
- If you’re eligible for Instant Payouts and have a positive balance, select a Standard or Instant manual payout.
- If you haven’t added an eligible Instant Payout method, you’re prompted to do so. You only need to add a method once.
- Select the amount you want to receive. You can enter up to the maximum amount available, subject to daily volume limits.
- Funds are paid out immediately and arrive at your payout destination within minutes.
That’s a Wrap
Getting paid shouldn’t be the hardest part of running your business.
By connecting Stripe with Dubsado and setting up Instant Payouts, you can dramatically reduce the wait time for your money—and save on fees while you’re at it (hello, $5 ACH cap 🎉).
If you’re done dealing with clunky processors or funds that vanish into a “pending” black hole, I can’t recommend Stripe enough—especially for service-based businesses that rely on smooth client experiences and steady cash flow.
Need help setting all of this up? I’d love to support you.
Book a free 15-minute discovery call and let’s create a system that works for you.
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