Win!/Payment Guides/How AutoPay Works

How AutoPay Works

AutoPay eliminates the most time-consuming part of running a service business: chasing payments. Invoice created → charge fires → books updated. No phone calls, no manual entries, no follow-up emails.

What AutoPay handles for you

Detects new invoices in QuickBooks Online or Xero automatically.
Charges the customer's saved payment method on the due date (or earlier).
Marks the invoice paid and syncs the payment back to your books — within seconds.
Sends a receipt to the customer and retries automatically on failure.

The AutoPay flow, step by step

01

Customer authorizes a payment method

When a customer pays their first invoice through Win!, they can choose to save their payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account) and enroll in AutoPay. The authorization is captured via Stripe's secure vault — Win! never stores raw card or bank data.

02

Invoice is created in QuickBooks Online or Xero

You create invoices the same way you always have — in QBO or Xero. Win! monitors your accounting platform in real time. When a new invoice is created for a customer enrolled in AutoPay, Win! detects it automatically within seconds.

03

Win! schedules the charge

Depending on your AutoPay settings, Win! will charge the customer on the invoice due date, on a specific day before due (e.g., 3 days early), or immediately upon invoice creation. You control the timing per customer or globally across your account.

04

Payment processes through Stripe

At the scheduled time, Win! initiates the charge through your Stripe account. For credit/debit cards, the authorization is immediate. For ACH bank transfers, the charge is submitted to the ACH network — funds arrive in 1–3 business days.

05

Invoice marked paid in QBO / Xero — within seconds

The moment Stripe confirms payment, Win! pushes the reconciliation back to your accounting platform. The invoice is marked paid, the payment is recorded against the correct account, and your books are up to date — automatically, with no manual entry.

06

Customer receives a receipt

Win! sends a payment receipt to the customer's email address on file. The receipt includes the invoice number, amount, last-4 digits of the payment method, and a link to their customer portal where they can view payment history or update their payment method.

What this means for your business

0 days

Average days to payment for AutoPay customers

Payment fires on the due date. No more waiting.

~$150

Saved per $5,000 invoice using ACH AutoPay vs. card

0.8% ACH fee vs. ~3% card fee at scale.

4–8 hrs

Monthly admin time saved per staff member

No manual follow-ups, no reconciliation entry.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if an AutoPay charge fails?

If a charge fails (insufficient funds, expired card, bank rejection), Win! retries the payment automatically on a defined schedule and sends the customer an email prompting them to update their payment method. You can also manually trigger a retry from the Win! dashboard.

Can customers opt out of AutoPay?

Yes. Customers can cancel AutoPay enrollment at any time through their self-serve customer portal — no need to call your office. You can also disable AutoPay for a specific customer from the Win! merchant dashboard.

Does AutoPay work for partial invoices or recurring contracts?

Win! charges the full invoice amount as invoiced in QBO or Xero. For recurring contracts, the typical workflow is to set up recurring invoices in your accounting platform — Win! then picks them up automatically as they're created.

Is AutoPay available for both ACH and credit card?

Yes. AutoPay supports both credit/debit cards and ACH bank transfers. Many businesses prefer ACH AutoPay for large invoices to reduce processing fees — a $5,000 invoice costs ~$4 via ACH vs. ~$150 via credit card.

Do I need NACHA authorization for ACH AutoPay?

Yes. NACHA rules require written or electronic authorization from the customer before initiating ACH debits. Win! captures and stores this authorization as part of the enrollment flow to help you meet NACHA authorization requirements. Merchants remain responsible for ensuring their ACH practices comply with applicable NACHA rules and processor agreements.

Set up AutoPay in under 10 minutes

Connect QuickBooks Online or Xero, link your Stripe account, and Win! handles the rest. 30-day free trial.

Related guides

Legal disclaimer: This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. NACHA Operating Rules and ACH processing terms are updated periodically and vary by processor. Merchants should consult their ACH processor or legal counsel for compliance guidance specific to their business.

Built on infrastructure you already trust

StripePayment infrastructure
XeroAccounting
QuickBooks OnlineAccounting
Your own Stripe account — funds settle directly to you
Works with Xero and QuickBooks Online
No platform percentage on payments
30-day free trial, no credit card required

What businesses say about Win!

"We switched from QBO Payments and saved more on ACH fees in the first month than Win! cost us. The autopay enrollment alone cut our AR follow-up by 80%."

— Owner, Commercial HVAC contractor

"My accountant was nervous at first. After seeing that Xero reconciliation happened in real time — not end of month — she was sold. Now she recommends it to other clients."

— Director, Managed IT / MSP

"The field tech app is what got us. Techs invoice on-site, customers pay before they leave. We used to wait 45 days for service calls. Now most pay the same day."

— Operations Manager, Electrical Contractor