1) Point-of-Sale
Occasion: Quick way to charge a client’s card if they hand it to you or simply tell you the card details over the phone.
Benefits: Fast! Also you can store the client’s card for future charging at will.
How: Tap the CHARGE button on your home screen of PocketSuite, enter client CC info, charge any $ amount.
Save on processing fees at 2.9% + 30ยข per payment, compared to Square or PayPal.
2) Invoicing
Occasion: Sending a traditional (and professional) invoice to clients for services.
Benefits: Allows clients to pay any invoice amount online (from their smartphone or computer) with convenience.
How: Tap the INVOICE button on your home screen of PocketSuite. Deliver any invoice via text or email, and clients will have the option to pay online.
3) Appointment Deposit Upfront
Occasion: If you want to collect payment on an appointment upfront when scheduling a client to your calendar.
Benefits: In one-fell swoop, confirm a client appointment on your calendar while receiving a full or partial $ deposit upfront.
How: When scheduling an appointment in PocketSuite, set a “$ Deposit” amount on the appointment and require your client to confirm said appointment with a credit card when you send it to them.
4) Payment once an Appointment/Job is Complete
Occasion: When you want to accept payment immediately after an appointment is complete.
Benefits: Uber-like experience to charge a client’s card that is linked to an appointment on your calendar.
How: Tap the CHARGE button on any appointment on your calendar that has been reserved with a client’s credit card. You can charge any $ amount and even hand the phone over to your client to add a tip (if desired).
5) Online Payments
Occasion: If you want to have clients book/pay you online – you can accept payment through your website, Facebook page and Instagram profile.
Benefits: Allows you to turn anyone visiting your website or social media pages into an instantly booking and paying client.
How: Enable ‘Online Booking’ in PocketSuite, and integrate your booking widget onto your website. Then paste your booking links on your social media profile.
6) Selling Packages
Occasion: If you want to sell upfront to a client a group or package of services/classes for future use.
Benefits: Collecting payment upfront, and then having a simple way to track all the sessions/credits used by each client.
How: Set up / save any standard package or program you sell, then send it off to your client (via text or email) to review and then purchase online. Credits are auto-added to the client’s account and you can start tracking those sessions!
7) Recurring Payments
Occasion: When you need to automatically charge clients each week, month, etc. – for ongoing memberships or recurring billing.
Benefits: Literally get paid while you sleep. No work on your end to have to invoice/charge clients, and no work on the client’s end to have to remember to pay an ongoing bill.
How: Enable ‘Subscriptions’ in PocketSuite, and send any type of subscription plan you’d like to a client (with a set $ amount and payment schedule). Your client confirms that plan just ONCE with a credit card only and voila!
8) Class Deposits
Occasion: When you want clients to sign up for a class and pay a drop-in fee ahead of a class.
Benefits: Double whammy: fills up your class roster allowing clients to sign up for a class ahead of time, and ensures you get PAID for the class ahead of time.
How: Enable ‘Classes’ in PocketSuite, then set up your class schedule (class name, $ drop-in, schedule, location, etc.). You can sign clients up yourself or post your class schedule online (see ‘Online Booking’ above) for clients to sign up & pay online.
9) via SMS Shortcode
Occasion: When you are requesting payment from a client via SMS text (i.e., sending an invoice via text, a package via text, requesting a job deposit via text, etc.), clients can literally just reply “1” to pay.
Benefits: Literally the easiest way around for a client to make a payment.
How: If you send any payment request to a client via text message, then your client will be given the option in the text thread to “Reply 1” to pay whatever is due (assuming your client already has entered a CC on file before).
10) Cancellation Fee
Occasion: If your client ever cancels an appointment falling inside your cancellation window.
Benefits: Gives you the ability to charge a cancellation fee — so you can be compensated for clients who fail to show up or cancel on you last minute.
How: When a client taps on their appointment link and hits the CANCEL button, they will be shown that by cancelling, their card (on file) will be charged your cancellation fee (as set by you under Settings > Business > Cancellations).
Bonus: GIVE YOUR CLIENTS THEIR OWN APP…
11) Client-side app
Occasion: If your client wants more control over sending you one-off payments not tied to any particular transaction.
Benefits: Gives your clients more flexibility and an organized record of all payments they send to you as the business.
How: Clients can download PocketSuite to their smartphones as well – they create a ‘client’ account instead of a ‘business’ account. They can add your business details under their PocketSuite contacts and send you payment at will via credit card, debit card and even ACH transfer.
12) Gift Certificates
Occasion: For holidays, special occasions, or just because…
Benefits: Gives you the ability to sell anyone an e-gift card that can be assigned to anyone as a gift and used to pay for any of your services. It’s a great way to pull your income forward during slow periods.
How: When a client taps on your booking link to buy any of your gift card items, they can purchase it for themselves or assign it before checking out of your booking site by entering the name, number, and a brief message to anyone.
13) Payment Button
Occasion: Whenever from whomever
Benefits: Gives you the ability to securely get paid any amount by anyone from your website or social media page (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).
How: Just like Venmo and PayPal. when a client taps on the payment button or link on your website or social media, they can enter the amount that they want to pay and a quick note and send. You’ll be notified of the funds immediately and you can cash out in minutes.
