Summary
OpenSolar CashFlow integrates with Stripe to provide a fast, secure way to collect customer payments directly through your OpenSolar proposals. With Stripe, you can accept credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and supported bank-to-bank payment methods while managing payouts, refunds, and transaction activity from within OpenSolar.
This article explains the benefits of using Stripe with CashFlow, how processing fees work, what happens to your existing payment history when you transition, and answers common questions about configuring and managing Stripe payments.
Table of contents:
- What is Stripe for CashFlow?
- Key Benefits of Upgrading to Stripe
- How Stripe Pricing Works
- FAQs
- Related Articles & Next Steps
Quick Link: To activate or review your Stripe settings directly in OpenSolar, navigate to Control > CashFlow > Stripe Payment Settings or click below:
What is Stripe for CashFlow?
OpenSolar CashFlow uses Stripe Connect as its primary integrated payment processor. Upgrading your checkout engine to Stripe allows your business to collect homeowner deposits and milestone payments directly from your online proposals with high authorization rates, built-in mobile wallets, and real-time payout tracking.
Key Benefits of Upgrading to Stripe
- 2-Minute Onboarding: Link an existing corporate Stripe account in seconds or complete onboarding in under two minutes without manual document delays.
- Instant & Fast Bank Transfers: Leverage modern account-to-account bank payment options across key markets, such as PayTo in Australia, Pay by Bank in the UK, and Instant Bank Payments in the US, allowing homeowners to pay directly from their bank account with fast settlement.
- Mobile-First Digital Wallets: Accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major credit/debit cards directly within your interactive proposals.
- In-App Payout & Refund Controls: Track payout schedules, monitor active balances, and issue full or partial refunds directly inside OpenSolar without switching to external portals.
- Historical Data Continuity: Migrating from our legacy gateway? Our data bridge automatically maps your past transaction history into OpenSolar with zero bookkeeping gaps.
How Stripe Pricing Works
OpenSolar maintains transparent, straightforward pricing for online payment processing:
- Card Payments (Simple Standard Pricing): OpenSolar does not set or mark up credit and debit card processing fees. You get simple, standard merchant pricing with no hidden charges or unexpected fee spikes.
- Account-to-Account Payments (Flat Platform Fee): For account-to-account (bank-to-bank) processing, OpenSolar charges a modest flat platform fee per transaction: $5 AUD in Australia, £5 in the UK, and $10 USD in the US.
- Bring Your Own Pricing: If your organization already has custom, negotiated pricing rates directly with Stripe, those rates will carry over seamlessly to your OpenSolar CashFlow instance.
- Direct Merchant Agreement: Card processing rates and terms are established directly between your organization and Stripe.
- Automatic Handling: Processing fees are handled per transaction by Stripe and automatically reflected in your bank payout summaries.
Official Regional Stripe Pricing Reference
Frequently Asked Questions & Troubleshooting
Does OpenSolar charge additional fees on top of Stripe?
For card transactions (credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay), OpenSolar adds zero platform markup—you pay standard, transparent Stripe processing rates. For account-to-account (bank-to-bank) payments, OpenSolar applies a modest flat transaction fee ($5 AUD in Australia, £5 in the UK, and $10 USD in the US). Furthermore, if you have custom negotiated pricing with Stripe, those terms carry over to OpenSolar.
Why are we transitioning to Stripe?
Stripe Connect provides expanded technical capabilities, higher uptime, and advanced checkout features like single-tap digital wallets (Apple Pay/Google Pay) and instant account-to-account bank rails. Transitioning to Stripe allows us to bring state-of-the-art payment technology directly into OpenSolar proposals while ensuring long-term fee stability and protecting our installers from upcoming cost increases on our legacy processing infrastructure.
What if we invoice through an external CRM (like QuickBooks, Xero, or a custom tool)?
You can still leverage OpenSolar for your payment requests. CashFlow payment requests are accessible via API, allowing you to trigger and track OpenSolar checkout flows seamlessly even if your invoices are generated or managed in an external CRM post-sale. Alternatively, CashFlow can be set to No Invoice mode with automated customer emails toggled off under Communication settings.
Can we use CashFlow if we only accept bank transfers/wires?
Yes. You have two options:
- Direct Payment (Offline Instructions): You can continue using our Direct Payment option to display your standard bank wire/transfer text instructions to customers at checkout.
- Instant Bank-to-Bank via Stripe: By connecting Stripe, you can unlock modern, instant account-to-account payments (like PayTo in AU, Pay by Bank in the UK, or Instant Bank Payments in the US). This gives homeowners a fast, secure bank checkout experience directly from the proposal without waiting days for manual wire verification.
What happens to our historical processing records when we switch?
All historical data remains intact. Our backend data bridge maps your previous transaction history into your OpenSolar workspace as soon as Stripe is connected.
How do I restrict who can edit our CashFlow payment settings?
Go to Control > Roles & Permissions. From there, you can remove Cashflow Onboarding and Cashflow Configuration permissions from standard sales roles and restrict access exclusively to admins or finance team members.
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