Can I use invoicing without setting up Programa Pay?
Yes. You can create and send invoices without Programa Pay enabled. Clients will receive the invoice but won't have an online payment link - you'll need to manage payment collection manually and mark invoices as paid in Programa once payment is received.
Setting up Programa Pay is optional but recommended if you want clients to pay directly from their invoice email.
Do I need an existing Stripe account to get started?
No. Programa guides you through creating a new Stripe account as part of the Programa Pay setup flow. Everything is completed inside Programa — you won't need to visit Stripe's website separately.
If you already have an existing Stripe account, you'll still need to create a new, separate account through Programa Pay setup
Does my client need a Programa account to pay?
No. Clients receive a payment link in their invoice email and pay through a hosted Programa page. No login or account of any kind is required.
What countries is Programa Pay available in?
Programa Pay is available in the USA and AUS at the moment. Bank transfer (direct debit) payments are currently supported in Australia (BECS) and the United States (ACH). Credit and debit card payments are accepted globally.
If Programa Pay is not yet available in your region, you can still create and send invoices - you'll just need to manage payment collection outside of Programa for now.
When will I receive my money after a client pays?
Your first payout may take 7–14 days while your account is being established with Stripe. After that, payouts follow a regular schedule:
Australia: 2 business days (card and BECS bank transfer)
United States: 2 business days (card), 4 business days (ACH)
New Zealand: 4 business days
United Kingdom: 2–3 business days
Canada: 2–3 business days
Most European countries: 2–3 business days
See [How to manage payments, payouts and disputes in Programa Pay] for more detail.
Can clients pay a split payment instalment before its due date?
Yes, clients can elect to pay the next due split payment amount, or the entire outstanding amount. This can be at any point, even if it is overdue. Paying early just means the client will then see the next amount to make payment against.
Can I issue a partial refund?
Yes, you can issue a partial refund. This is managed through the Payments page and clicking on a payment within the ‘Payments’ tab, and following the prompts. Please note, the status of the invoice is NOT synced after it has been finalised (e.g., paid), and this will need to be managed by your book keeper or from within your accounting platform.
What payment methods can my clients use?
Clients can pay by bank transfer (direct debit), credit card, debit card, or Link (if they have previously saved their details with Stripe).
What does Programa Pay not currently support?
Apple Pay or Google Pay (however, clients with Stripe Link can use saved payment details for a faster checkout experience)
Instant payouts — standard Stripe processing times apply (typically 2 business days after your account is established)
Multi-currency invoicing — invoices are issued in a single currency per invoice
Automatic tax calculation — tax rates are not calculated automatically based on location; you set them manually in your project or global tax settings
Recurring or subscription payments — invoices are created and sent individually each time
Accounts payable or expense management — Programa Pay handles incoming client payments only, not outgoing payments to suppliers or vendors
Can I preview the invoice before sending it?
Yes. In the invoice edit view, click Preview PDF in the footer bar. You'll see the complete invoice, logo, product images, all line items, totals, notes, and footer before anything reaches your client.
Drafts can be previewed and downloaded as a PDF at any time, even if you're not ready to send.
Who Can set up Programa Pay?
Only the company Owner can set up and manage Programa Pay. Admins can view the Payments dashboard once it's set up.
How do I prevent accidentally invoicing the same items twice?
Turn on invoice automations in Settings > Invoices. When enabled:
Items added to a sent invoice are automatically marked 'Invoiced'.
Once the invoice is paid, they update to 'Paid'.
Items with either status can't be added to a new invoice.
This also gives you a live view of exactly what's been billed and what's outstanding across your schedules.
When do invoices sync to Xero or QuickBooks?
As soon as an invoice is created in Programa including drafts. You don't need to send the invoice first. If you connect your accounting software after already creating invoices, those earlier invoices won't back-sync.
Connect Xero or QuickBooks before you create your first invoice to capture everything from the start.