=== PaySlate Invoicing and Payment Requests for WordPress with Stripe and Square ===
Contributors: payslate
Tags: invoice, invoicing, payment requests, stripe, square
Requires at least: 6.4
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 26.08.07.11
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Accept card payments on your WordPress invoices with Stripe or Square. Deposits, partial payments, overdue reminders. No WooCommerce.

== Description ==

**PaySlate takes card payments on your own WordPress site.** Send a client an invoice, they [click and pay](https://payslate.app/how-it-works) with a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the invoice marks itself paid by webhook. No third-party portal, no account for them to create, and no WooCommerce store to set up first.

[PaySlate](https://payslate.app) is a WordPress [invoice plugin](https://payslate.app/best-wordpress-invoice-plugins) for [client invoicing](https://payslate.app/how-to-create-an-invoice-in-wordpress) and payment requests. Send an invoice, a payment request for a fixed amount, or ask for a [deposit](https://payslate.app/features) before you start work. Whichever you send, the client opens a link on your site and pays by card.

= Send an invoice and get paid =

* Invoice clients with [line items, tax, discounts, due dates and notes](https://payslate.app/features).
* Get paid by card through [Stripe](https://payslate.app/integrations/stripe) or [Square](https://payslate.app/integrations/square), on your own site.
* [Apple Pay and Google Pay](https://payslate.app/integrations/stripe) appear automatically on supported devices through Stripe Checkout.
* Your client [opens a link and pays](https://payslate.app/how-it-works). They never create an account.

= What your clients can pay with =

Card, wallet and pay-later methods reach your invoice through the gateway you connect, so you get a wide set without wiring up anything yourself. The [payments overview](https://payslate.app/payments) explains which gateway carries which.

* **Card networks:** Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB, UnionPay, Maestro.
* **Digital wallets:** Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App Pay, Amazon Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay.
* **Pay later:** Klarna, Afterpay.

Cards work the moment you connect a gateway. Wallets and pay-later options follow whatever your own gateway account, country and currency support, so treat the list as what is reachable rather than a promise that every method is on for every store.

= Take a deposit, or let them pay part of it =

Service work runs on money up front. Ask for a [deposit](https://payslate.app/features) before you start, let a client pay the full balance, or accept a [custom amount](https://payslate.app/features). PaySlate tracks the remaining balance for you, so a part-paid invoice never turns into guesswork.

= Know what you are owed =

Every invoice carries a [status](https://payslate.app/features) you can see at a glance: sent, viewed, partial, paid or overdue. [Receipts](https://payslate.app/features) send themselves when payment clears. [Overdue reminders](https://payslate.app/features) go out on their own, so chasing an unpaid invoice is not a task you have to remember.

= No WooCommerce required =

Most [WordPress invoicing tools](https://payslate.app/best-wordpress-invoice-plugins) are add-ons that produce a PDF for an order a store already took. That is a different job. PaySlate is for invoicing a named client for an agreed amount, and it runs on its own. If you have been looking for [invoicing without WooCommerce](https://payslate.app/self-hosted-invoicing), this is it. If you do have WooCommerce, PaySlate [coexists with it](https://payslate.app/integrations/woocommerce) and can reuse a Stripe configuration you already have.

= Who it is for =

[Freelancers](https://payslate.app/for/freelancers), [consultants](https://payslate.app/for/consultants) and [agencies](https://payslate.app/for/agencies) who bill clients directly and would rather send them to their own website than to someone else's invoicing portal. If client invoicing is how you get paid, this is built for you.

= PaySlate Pro =

The free plugin above is complete and stays free. [Pro](https://payslate.app/pricing) is available separately for people who need more:

* **Four more payment gateways:** [PayPal](https://payslate.app/integrations/paypal), Checkout.com, [Paddle](https://payslate.app/integrations/paddle) and [Lemon Squeezy](https://payslate.app/integrations/lemon-squeezy). All six are compared on the [payments overview](https://payslate.app/payments).
* **[Merchant of record](https://payslate.app/merchant-of-record-wordpress) support.** [Paddle](https://payslate.app/integrations/paddle) and [Lemon Squeezy](https://payslate.app/integrations/lemon-squeezy) become the seller on the transaction, which means they handle the [EU VAT and US sales tax](https://payslate.app/merchant-of-record-wordpress) registration, filing and remittance instead of you. That is the answer if you sell across borders and do not want to track tax thresholds in every market you happen to sell into.
* **[Recurring invoices](https://payslate.app/pricing)** with billing schedules and automatic retries on a failed charge.
* **[Automatic late fees](https://payslate.app/pricing)** applied by your own policy.
* **[Accounting export](https://payslate.app/features)** to QuickBooks and Xero.

Full [feature list](https://payslate.app/features), [pricing](https://payslate.app/pricing), and [documentation](https://payslate.app/docs).

== Installation ==

1. Install PaySlate from the WordPress plugin directory, or [download it](https://payslate.app/download) and upload the `payslate` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`.
2. Activate it and open **PaySlate > Settings**.
3. Enter your company details and invoice defaults.
4. Choose [Stripe](https://payslate.app/integrations/stripe) or [Square](https://payslate.app/integrations/square) and connect your account.
5. Send yourself a test invoice before you send one to a client.

Step by step with screenshots: [how PaySlate works](https://payslate.app/how-it-works). Stuck on something? [Support is here](https://payslate.app/support).

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Do I need WooCommerce? =

No. PaySlate is [standalone invoicing](https://payslate.app/self-hosted-invoicing) and does not need a store. If you already run WooCommerce the two [coexist](https://payslate.app/integrations/woocommerce), and PaySlate can reuse a Stripe configuration you have set up there.

= What do I need to get started? =

A [Stripe](https://payslate.app/integrations/stripe) or [Square](https://payslate.app/integrations/square) account, existing or new. Enter that provider's details in PaySlate > Settings and you can [send invoices and take payment](https://payslate.app/how-it-works).

= Does my client need an account? =

No. They [open the invoice link and pay](https://payslate.app/how-it-works). Nothing to sign up for and no portal to log into.

= Can I ask for a deposit? =

Yes, in the free plugin. Request a [deposit](https://payslate.app/features) up front, or let the client pay the full balance or a custom amount. The remaining balance is tracked for you. Here is a [guide to creating an invoice in WordPress](https://payslate.app/how-to-create-an-invoice-in-wordpress).

= Can I send a payment request instead of a full invoice? =

Yes. A payment request is just an invoice for an agreed amount, so send one the same way: enter the amount, send the link, and the client pays by card. Useful for a deposit, a milestone or a one-off charge where a full itemised invoice would be overkill.

= Can clients pay part of an invoice? =

Yes. [Partial payments](https://payslate.app/features) are supported and the outstanding balance updates automatically.

= Does PaySlate chase overdue invoices for me? =

Yes. [Overdue reminders](https://payslate.app/features) send automatically, and receipts go out on their own when a payment clears.

= Does PaySlate charge a fee on my payments? =

No. You pay your payment provider's normal processing rate and PaySlate adds nothing on top. You connect your own [Stripe](https://payslate.app/integrations/stripe) or [Square](https://payslate.app/integrations/square) account, so the relationship and the rate are yours. See [pricing](https://payslate.app/pricing).

= Can clients pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay? =

Yes, through [Stripe Checkout](https://payslate.app/integrations/stripe), where they appear automatically on supported devices.

= Which payment methods can my clients use? =

Cards from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB, UnionPay and Maestro. Wallets including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App Pay, Amazon Pay, Alipay and WeChat Pay. Pay-later through Klarna and Afterpay. Which of those actually appear depends on the gateway you connect and on your country and currency, and the [payments overview](https://payslate.app/payments) sets out which gateway carries which.

= Do I need WooCommerce to take card payments? =

No, and this is the main thing that separates PaySlate from invoicing plugins that only print your bank details on a PDF. PaySlate takes the card itself through [Stripe](https://payslate.app/integrations/stripe) or [Square](https://payslate.app/integrations/square) on a hosted checkout, and marks the invoice paid by webhook. Your client clicks and pays rather than reading an account number and going to their banking app.

= Does it handle recurring invoices? =

[Recurring billing](https://payslate.app/pricing) is a Pro feature, with billing schedules and automatic retries when a charge fails.

= Can PaySlate handle VAT or sales tax for me? =

Through Pro. [Paddle](https://payslate.app/integrations/paddle) and [Lemon Squeezy](https://payslate.app/integrations/lemon-squeezy) act as [merchant of record](https://payslate.app/merchant-of-record-wordpress), becoming the seller on the transaction and taking on the tax registration, filing and remittance. The free plugin lets you put your own tax line on an invoice, which is the right choice if you already handle your own filing.

= Which gateways are supported? =

[Stripe](https://payslate.app/integrations/stripe) and [Square](https://payslate.app/integrations/square) in the free plugin. Pro adds [PayPal](https://payslate.app/integrations/paypal), Checkout.com, [Paddle](https://payslate.app/integrations/paddle) and [Lemon Squeezy](https://payslate.app/integrations/lemon-squeezy). All six are compared on the [payments page](https://payslate.app/payments). One gateway is active at a time, and every invoice you have already sent keeps the gateway it was created with, so switching never breaks an invoice a client is about to pay.

= Does it work with QuickBooks or Xero? =

Pro [exports to both](https://payslate.app/features).

= How does PaySlate compare to other invoicing tools? =

We keep an honest comparison for each, with the other side's strengths stated plainly:
[PaySlate vs Sliced Invoices](https://payslate.app/payslate-vs-sliced-invoices),
[vs Sprout Invoices](https://payslate.app/payslate-vs-sprout-invoices),
[vs WP-Invoice](https://payslate.app/payslate-vs-wp-invoice),
[vs Easy Invoice](https://payslate.app/payslate-vs-easy-invoice),
[vs Flexible Invoices](https://payslate.app/payslate-vs-flexible-invoices),
[vs Invoice Ninja](https://payslate.app/payslate-vs-invoice-ninja),
[vs WP Simple Pay](https://payslate.app/payslate-vs-wp-simple-pay),
[vs FreshBooks](https://payslate.app/payslate-vs-freshbooks),
and alternatives to [QuickBooks](https://payslate.app/quickbooks-alternative-for-wordpress) and [Wave](https://payslate.app/wave-alternative-for-wordpress).

= Where do I get help? =

Start with the [documentation](https://payslate.app/docs), then [support](https://payslate.app/support).

== External services ==

Privacy: [Stripe](https://stripe.com/privacy) and [Square](https://squareup.com/us/en/legal/general/privacy).

Learn more at [payslate.app](https://payslate.app).

== Disclaimer ==

PaySlate is an independently developed plugin and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Stripe, Square, or WordPress.

[Merchant of record](https://payslate.app/merchant-of-record-wordpress) providers change who is responsible for tax on a sale. PaySlate does not give tax advice, and your own registration obligations remain yours to understand.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 26.08.07.11 =
Adds a Help Us Improve setting that shares anonymous usage data to guide product improvements. It is on by default and can be turned off in PaySlate > Settings. Also adds Settings and Docs links on the Plugins screen.

= 26.07.31.01 =
Improves Stripe and Square payment reliability and webhook handling, and fixes copied invoice links so clients can still pay if an email fails to deliver. Recommended for everyone.

== Changelog ==

For the full changelog with details, see [Release History](https://payslate.app/changelog).

= 26.08.07.11 =

[Version 26.08.07.11 release notes](https://payslate.app/changelog#26.08.07.11)

= 26.07.31.01 =

[Version 26.07.31.01 release notes](https://payslate.app/changelog#26.07.31.01)

= 26.07.30.10 =

[Version 26.07.30.10 release notes](https://payslate.app/changelog#26.07.30.10)
