This guide shows you how to set up Programa Pay so you can accept online payments from clients directly through your invoices.
Programa Pay is powered by Stripe. Getting started requires a one-time identity and business verification process - all completed inside Programa, with no need to visit an external Stripe dashboard. Once verified, your clients can pay invoices by card or bank transfer, and payouts go directly to your nominated bank account.
Note: You can skip payments setup and return to it at any time from the Invoices page. Skipping does not stop you from creating and sending invoices manually.
Video Overview
Before you begin
Programa Pay is currently available in the United States and Australia only. We are rapidly expanding to more countries. If you are based outside of these regions, Programa Pay will not appear in your account - stay tuned for updates on availability in your country.
Have the following ready before you start - you will need it during the verification steps:
Business name and registered address
Australia: ABN (format: XX XXX XXX XXX) and ACN (format: XXX XXX XXX) if applicable
US: EIN or equivalent business registration number
Business phone number in the correct local format for your country
Website URL
Your date of birth and job title (for personal identity verification)
A photo ID - driver's licence or passport
Bank account details for receiving payouts (Australia: BSB + account number / US: routing + account number)
What Programa Pay supports
Accepted payment methods:
Credit and debit card - accepted globally. Programa Pay Fee: 3.5% per transaction
Includes:Mastercard
Visa
American Express
Discover
Diners Club
Bank transfer (direct debit) - BECS in Australia, ACH in the US. Fee: 1.0%, capped at $25
Link- Stripes one click chekout functionality
Step 1: Start the setup
Go to Invoices in the left navigation
Click Get Started on the Programa Pay banner at the top of the page
Click Get Started - you'll be taken directly into your Stripe account setup to begin the verification process
Step 2: Create your Stripe account
Enter your email address and click Continue
Create a secure password for your Stripe account and follow the prompts
You will be required to set up two-factor authentication (2FA) — this is mandatory
Setting up 2FA:
Download an authenticator app on your phone (e.g. Google Authenticator or Authy) if you don't already have one
On screen you will see a QR code - open your authenticator app and scan it
Your app will generate a 6-digit code - enter it into the field on screen
Click Continue
b Once 2FA is set up, you will use your authenticator app each time you log in to Programa Pay. Store your backup codes somewhere safe.
Step 3: Enter your business details
You will be asked to fill in your business information across several pages. Work through each page carefully:
Business name - enter exactly as registered
ABN - US: enter your EIN. Australia: XX XXX XXX XXX format.
ACN - if applicable (Australia)
Business address - use your registered address and enter it consistently across every page
Phone number - use the correct local format for your country
Website URL - required
Note: Keep your business address exactly the same across every step of the flow. Stripe cross-checks your details at multiple points - inconsistencies can cause errors and require you to re-enter information.
Step 4: Verify your identity
Stripe requires you to confirm you are an authorised representative of the business:
Enter your date of birth when prompted
Enter your job title
Enter your home address
When you reach the identity verification step, click Scan Photo ID
Follow the on-screen instructions to take a photo or upload an image of your driver's licence or passport
Click Submit Result to proceed
Step 5: Business ownership structure
Depending on your country, you may be asked to provide details about your business ownership structure. This is a standard part of the business verification process and is required by Stripe.
You can update your ownership details at any time from Account Management.
Step 6: Add your bank account for payouts
Click Add Account
Enter your bank details:
Australia: BSB number and account number
US: routing number and account number
Click Continue to save your bank account
Step 7: Stripe Tax preference
You will be asked whether you want to opt in to Stripe Tax. Select No.
Programa manages tax collection and calculation through your global tax settings and project settings - enabling Stripe Tax is not required and may cause conflicts.
Step 8: Review and submit
Review the summary page - any incomplete or missing fields will be flagged here
Common fields to double-check: website URL, job title, business address consistency
Complete any outstanding fields by clicking into each flagged section
Once everything is complete, click Submit
At any point during setup you can close the window and return later - your progress is saved automatically. Go back to Invoices and click the Programa Pay banner to pick up where you left off.
After submitting: waiting for verification
Once submitted, Stripe reviews your business details as part of their Know Your Customer (KYC) process:
A verification banner will remain visible at the top of your Invoices page while this is in progress
You can continue creating and preparing invoices in the meantime
Once your business is verified, the banner will disappear. This confirms that Programa Pay is fully active. All invoices you send from this point will automatically include a payment link for your clients.
If Stripe requests more information
If your verification needs attention or Stripe requires additional information, you will see a notification banner directly inside Programa on the Payments page. To access it, click the Stripe upcoming payouts card on your Invoices list page. The banner will show exactly what action is needed - for example, confirming your email address or updating your business information. Any items that are past due will be clearly flagged.
You can take action directly from the banner without leaving Programa. The experience mirrors what you would see in the Stripe dashboard, so everything you need to resolve is visible in one place.
If you are unsure what is being asked or need help resolving a verification issue, contact our support team via live chat.
Need more help setting up Programa Pay? Contact our support team via live chat for personalized assistance.