Overview
SquadTrip's Payments & Settings page is the central hub for managing how travelers pay for your trip. You can toggle payment methods on or off, configure auto-billing behavior, and set up installment plans -- all from one page. Stripe is the primary payment gateway. Square is offered as an alternative gateway. Card payments are always enabled -- there is no toggle for them.
Getting to Payments & Settings
Log in to your organizer dashboard
Open your trip from your dashboard, then choose Trip Actions > Edit Trip Settings
Click "Payments" in the left sidebar (under Main Flow)
The page has two expandable sections, Payment Options and Payment Settings, and the Payment Plans table sits inside Payment Options:
Payment Options -- toggle payment methods on or off
Payment Settings -- configure auto-billing and retry behavior
Payment Plans -- set up deposits, installments, and pricing
Toggle Payment Methods On or Off
Expand the "Payment Options" section to see all available payment methods. Each method has a toggle that saves automatically when clicked.
Method | Type | Availability | Notes |
Card Payments | Credit/debit cards | Always on | Cannot be disabled |
Apple Pay | Digital wallet | Stripe only | Toggle to enable |
Klarna | Buy Now, Pay Later | Stripe only | 4% traveler fee. Supports USD, GBP |
Afterpay | Buy Now, Pay Later | Stripe only | 4% traveler fee. Supports USD, GBP |
Affirm | Buy Now, Pay Later | Stripe only | 4% traveler fee. USD only |
BNPL is a third checkout option outside of Pay in Full and Installments. Travelers who select BNPL owe $0 today if approved by the provider.
Configure Auto-Billing Settings
Expand the "Payment Settings" section to control how payments are collected. Auto-charge and retry are ON by default (retries run every 2 days, up to 4 times, and only while the retry toggle is on), and travelers can always update their payment method. "Let travelers reschedule payments" is OFF by default -- switch it on if you want travelers to move their own due dates. Toggles save automatically.
Setting | What It Does |
Auto-Charge Travelers on Due Dates | Automatically processes scheduled installment payments |
Retry Failed Payments Every 2 Days | Retries unsuccessful transactions every 2 days, up to 4 times, when Auto-Charge is on (the toggle is disabled otherwise) |
Let Travelers Reschedule Payments | Gives travelers flexibility to move payment dates before the deadline |
Travelers Can Update Their Payment Method (always on -- no toggle) | Lets travelers change their saved card anytime |
Set Up Payment Plans
In the "Payment Plans" section, click Edit Payment Plans, select a package card, then choose Pay in Full, Pay in Installments, or both.
When enabling installments, configure:
Minimum Deposit -- at least
$35requiredFirst installment date will be -- when monthly installments begin after the deposit
Collect all payments by -- the deadline for the last installment; SquadTrip works out the number of installments and the amounts
Installment Fee (Optional) -- extra charge for travelers who choose installments
Use "Apply to Packages" (tick the packages, or "Select all") to apply the same plan to several packages at once. Click "Save Changes" to save your payment plan configuration.
Payment Gateway Setup
Gateway | How to Connect | What It Supports |
Stripe (default) | Recommended. Click "Link To Stripe Connect" when prompted | Cards, Apple Pay, Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm |
Square (alternative) | Offered to every organizer | Cards only |
You connect one gateway at a time -- either Stripe or Square. Square is offered as an alternative. Square supports card payments only -- no BNPL, and although Apple Pay can be switched on for a Square account, today's checkout only offers Apple Pay through Stripe.
Important Notes
All payment options and settings are free for organizers -- no additional cost to enable
Toggles in Payment Options and Payment Settings save automatically -- no Save button needed
Payment Plans require clicking "Save Changes" after editing
BNPL charges a 4% convenience fee to the traveler, not the organizer
Package pricing must be above
$99to offer installment plans (a package priced at exactly$99stays pay-in-full); minimum deposit is$35SquadTrip sends automated payment reminders 5 days before each installment due date by default -- the lead time is a setting on the Payment Reminder email template
Troubleshooting
Problem | Solution |
"Pay in Installments" not showing for a package | Package must be priced above $99. There is no minimum notice period — installments are blocked only when the trip starts within 2 days AND the package is under $100. |
Can't set the desired number of installments | The number of installments is the number of months between the first installment date and the "Collect all payments by" date -- move either date to change it. The date pickers cap both dates at the trip's start date. |
BNPL options not appearing | BNPL requires a connected Stripe account (not Square). Check that your Stripe account has BNPL capabilities enabled. |
Toggle reverts after clicking | The save was refused. The red message names the reason: no payment account is connected, the provider is not active on your Stripe account, or the trip currency does not support it. Fix that, then toggle it again. |
Travelers not being auto-charged | Verify "Auto-Charge Travelers on Due Dates" is toggled ON in Payment Settings. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are all payment options and settings free for organizers? A: Yes. Publishing trips and collecting payments are completely free. All payment method toggles, auto-billing settings, and installment plan features are included at no cost. The SquadTrip fee is a flat 6% per transaction, and you choose whether you or the traveler pays it. Separately, Stripe deducts its own fees from your payout in some situations — an international card fee (+1.5%), a currency conversion fee (+1%), and a dispute fee ($15) if a traveler charges back. Those are Stripe’s charges rather than SquadTrip’s, they are never shown to travelers, and Stripe can change them. See Understanding Processing Fees.
Q: Can I use Square instead of Stripe? A: Yes, but you connect one gateway at a time -- not both simultaneously. Square is offered as an alternative. Square supports card payments only. BNPL requires Stripe, and today's checkout offers Apple Pay through Stripe only.
Q: Do Buy Now, Pay Later options have additional fees? A: Yes. BNPL providers charge a 4% convenience fee added to the traveler's total at checkout. The organizer receives 100% of their listed trip price. Additional interest or fees may apply depending on the provider and repayment plan selected by the traveler.
Q: Can I offer both Pay in Full and installments for the same package? A: Yes. In the Payment Plans section, check both "Pay in Full" and "Pay in Installments" for any package. Most organizers enable both to give travelers flexibility. Packages must be priced above $99 to offer installments — a package at exactly $99 stays pay-in-full.
Q: How does auto-billing work with installment plans? A: When auto-billing is enabled, SquadTrip automatically charges travelers on their scheduled installment dates. Reminder emails are sent 5 days before each due date by default (the lead time is a setting on the Payment Reminder email template). Failed payments are retried every 2 days, up to 4 times, if that setting is also enabled (it can only be on while Auto-Charge is on). After the 4th failed attempt the payment is marked failed and must be resolved manually. If the card has expired or was lost or stolen, retrying will not help -- the traveler needs to update their payment method.
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