Why trainers offer payment plans
A behaviour program is a big number to see at the end of a consult. Many owners want the help but ask whether they can pay in parts. Saying yes usually means a note in your phone, a reminder to send invoice two, a text when it is late, and checking the bank to see if it arrived. Multiply that by every client on a plan and it becomes an evening a week.
A payment plan in PackOffice is set up once, at the moment the client says yes, and then the invoices, pay links and overdue reminders run on their own.
How it works
- Open the client's program or package and choose Payment plan.
- Choose how many instalments (up to 12), when the first is due, and how many days apart the rest fall. Every two weeks is the default.
- Add an admin fee for each instalment after the first if you charge one, or leave it at zero.
- Check the preview: every instalment, its due date and amount, and the total with any fees.
- Save. PackOffice creates one tax invoice per instalment, labelled "instalment 2 of 3", each with its own pay link, all tied to the program.
Clients see every instalment in their client portal and can pay by card from the link, or by bank transfer using the invoice number as the reference. When you upload your bank statement, bank matching finds that transfer and marks the instalment paid.
An example
A six-session behaviour program at a typical A$120 a session is A$720. Here is how it looks split three ways with a A$10 admin fee on the second and third instalments:
| Instalment | Due | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 of 3 | Today, at the consult | A$240.00 |
| 2 of 3 | In two weeks | A$250.00 |
| 3 of 3 | In four weeks | A$250.00 |
| Total | A$740.00 |
The admin fee prints as its own line on each invoice, so the client sees exactly what it is. If the total does not divide evenly, the odd cents go on the first instalment, so later ones are never strange numbers.
When an instalment is late
Once an instalment passes its due date, PackOffice emails the client a friendly reminder with the pay link, once a week until it is paid. You can switch these overdue emails off in settings if you prefer to call. Every invoice in the plan shows a summary of the whole plan, such as "A$490 of A$740 paid", so you can see where a client stands before their next session.
What happens to the sessions if a client stops paying is your call. Your program terms print on every instalment invoice, so the rules you agreed are in front of the client each time.
Your rules, not ours
- Any total, any number of instalments up to 12, any gap between them
- An admin fee per instalment, or none. Tell clients about it before they agree
- Works for programs, packages and any one-off amount you want to split
- Card payments go into your own Stripe account at 2.5% + 30c, the same as any other payment. Bank transfers cost nothing
- No buy now pay later provider in the middle, so the arrangement stays between you and your client
Coming soon: AutoPay
With card on file Soon, a client will be able to save a card from the first pay link and have each instalment charged on its due date. Until then, each instalment is paid from its own link or by transfer.
Questions trainers ask
How many instalments can a payment plan have?
Up to 12. You choose the number, the first due date and how many days apart the rest are.
Can I charge a fee for paying in instalments?
Yes, if you want to. You set an admin fee that is added to each instalment after the first, and it shows as its own line on the invoice. Leave it at zero to charge nothing extra.
What happens if a client misses an instalment?
Once it is overdue, PackOffice emails them a friendly reminder with the pay link each week until it is paid. You see the unpaid instalment in your invoices and decide what happens with their sessions.
Can clients pay an instalment by bank transfer?
Yes. They use the invoice number as the reference, and bank matching marks it paid when you upload your statement. Bank transfers cost you nothing.
Are payment plans on the Solo plan?
Yes. Payment plans are included in Solo and Studio.
Stop chasing instalments by hand
Payment plans are included in Solo at A$59 a month. Apply to be one of five founding trainers and we will set up your programs and payment plans with you on a two-hour call.
Apply for founding accessTake the tour