Indiegraf

Businesses are increasingly thriving online, and most payment transactions now happen electronically. For publishers, this shift has streamlined the process of receiving support from readers through subscriptions, donations, or purchases. 

Even in this age of digital convenience, there are moments when a reader may wish to offer their support through a more traditional method: a physical check. While less common, these instances still occur, and it’s essential to be prepared to handle them effectively.

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Steps to processing a reader's check donation

Unfortunately, Stripe doesn't natively support check processing since this platform was designed primarily for electronic payments (e.g. credit cards, ACH, and wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay).

However, you can handle check payments in Stripe indirectly by following these steps: 

1. Login to your Stripe account
2. Click on the Create button &gt; Invoice 
    
   
    

1. Find or add the customer (reader)
2. Select the type of currency
3. Add an item (type of donation and/or membership they signed up for)
 Note: 
 When choosing a membership item, the reader will automatically be added as a new member to its corresponding membership list!

1. Add a zero amount ($0.00). 
 Note: 
 The amount must be zero. This is because Stripe doesn't process physical checks and adding an amount would result in the creation of an additional charge, in the form of an electronic invoice.
 
 
 
2. Click Save or Save and Add Another

1. Choose the Request Payment option (instead of the Autocharge)
2. The Due Date can be any since the reader technically has already given you a check

1. Choose the Email invoice to customer option from the drop-down menu
2. Uncheck the checkbox to Include link to online payment page

1. Click the checkbox to add a written Memo
2. Add notes to the Memo
 Note: 
 The information you add to the Memo will appear in the invoice. This is the best way for you to keep a written record of this reader's payment, so the more information you add the better! A few key details to add would be: 
 1. Who the reader is
 2. How much was the check for
 3. What is the purpose of their donation
 
 
 
3. Finish this invoice by clicking on the purple Send Invoice button located at the top right corner of the page.

1. Create a New Invoice
 1. Login to your Stripe account
 2. Click on the Create button &gt; Invoice 
 
 
 
2. Customer, Currency and Items
 1. Find or add the customer (reader)
 2. Select the type of currency
 3. Add an item (type of donation and/or membership they signed up for)
 Note: 
 When choosing a membership item, the reader will automatically be added as a new member to its corresponding membership list!
3. Item Details
 1. Add a zero amount ($0.00). 
 Note: 
 The amount must be zero. This is because Stripe doesn't process physical checks and adding an amount would result in the creation of an additional charge, in the form of an electronic invoice.
 
 
 
 2. Click Save or Save and Add Another
4. Payment Collection
 1. Choose the Request Payment option (instead of the Autocharge)
 2. The Due Date can be any since the reader technically has already given you a check
5. Delivery
 1. Choose the Email invoice to customer option from the drop-down menu
 2. Uncheck the checkbox to Include link to online payment page 
6. Branding
 Skip this step
7. Additional Options and Send Invoice
 1. Click the checkbox to add a written Memo
 2. Add notes to the Memo
 Note: 
 The information you add to the Memo will appear in the invoice. This is the best way for you to keep a written record of this reader's payment, so the more information you add the better! A few key details to add would be: 
 1. Who the reader is
 2. How much was the check for
 3. What is the purpose of their donation
 
 
 
 3. Finish this invoice by clicking on the purple Send Invoice button located at the top right corner of the page.

Learn how to process a physical check via Stripe while also registering the donor as a new member.