Create and Track a Payment Plan

A payment plan divides a booking total into one or more installments and gives you one place to track what is due.

Create a payment plan

1. Open the booking.
2. Open its payment section.
3. Turn on payments for the booking.
4. Add installments and amounts.
5. Choose due dates.
6. Confirm that the installment total matches the booking total.
7. Save the plan.

An active booking payment plan with price, retainer, paid and outstanding totals, installments, and recording actions.View full size

Use clear installment names such as “Retainer,” “Second payment,” and “Final balance.”

Choose online or manual collection

Online card collection requires a ready Stripe payment account.

Manual records are useful for cash, check, bank transfer, or a payment received outside Vignette. Recording a manual payment does not move money; it updates the booking record.

Record a manual payment

1. Open the correct installment.
2. Choose the manual recording action.
3. Enter the amount received.
4. Choose the payment method.
5. Add an optional note when it will help you identify the payment later.
6. Select Record, then review the updated paid and outstanding totals.

The Record payment form with the amount, payment method, optional note, and Record button.View full size

The available methods include cash, check, Venmo, card, ACH, and other. These choices describe money collected outside Vignette; choosing a method here does not charge the client or move money.

Enter only money you have actually received. If a payment is partial, record the received amount rather than marking the whole installment paid. Review carefully before selecting Record, because the entry changes the booking’s paid and outstanding totals.

Send a reminder

Use Send reminder from the applicable installment. Confirm the client email, amount, and due date before sending.

Automatic reminder settings are available under account notifications. A manual reminder does not necessarily replace a future scheduled reminder.

Change a plan carefully

Due dates may be editable while a plan is active. Changes to amounts can require replacing or recreating part of the plan so payment history remains understandable.

When a booking is canceled, review the payment plan and any refunds separately. Canceling the booking does not by itself explain how money already collected should be handled.

Good to know: Payment history should match your bank and Stripe records. Investigate a mismatch instead of entering a second manual payment to force the totals to agree.