Payment Methods

In this guide, you will learn

• What payment methods are available to payers
• How to set up default invoice payment options
• How to customize invoice payment options

Payment Methods Available to Payers

Payers can settle invoices either offline—using cash, check, or another method you specify—or online via ACH or card payments.

Offline Payment Methods

• Cash: Request that payers provide cash for your services.
• Check: Request a check, and include specific instructions, such as “Make payable to [Your School Name].”
• Other: Allow payers to use alternative methods, such as vouchers or scholarship funds. Be sure to provide clear instructions for using these methods.

Online Payment Methods

• ACH: Enable payers to transfer funds directly from their bank account to your school’s account.
• Card: Allow payers to use a credit or debit card to make payments.

Note: Online payment methods (ACH and card) require that you first set up online payments in your Spark account before they become available to payers.

Selecting Payment Method Options for Invoices

Default Payment Options

To select the payment methods available to your payers:

1. Navigate to the Billing → Settings.
2. Scroll down to Payment Method Options.
3. Check the payment methods you’d like to offer to your payers.
   • Offline options (e.g., cash, check, or other) include a field for instructions. Any instructions you add will appear on invoices.
   • Online payment options (e.g., ACH and card) require that you first set up online payments in Spark.

The payment methods selected in Settings will be the default for all invoices. However, you can customize payment methods for individual invoices as needed.

Customizing Payment Methods for an Invoice

Each invoice uses the default payment methods set in Settings by default. These are applied when the checkbox School Payment Option Defaults (found at the bottom of the invoice) is selected.

To customize payment options on an invoice:

• Open the invoice and scroll to the section showing the payment options.
• To customize, uncheck School Payment Option Defaults.
• Check Custom Payment Options to display all available payment methods.
• Select or deselect the methods you want to include for that specific invoice.