> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.clarely.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Payment handling

> How clients pay through Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and how to record payments.

Most Clarely owners collect payment the way small service businesses already do — directly through apps like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle. If you'd rather let clients pay by card without leaving Clarely, see [Accept card payments](/invoices/accept-card-payments) for how that works.

## How client payment works

When a client receives an invoice, they open it via the link in the email. The invoice shows your total, balance due, and the payment options you've set up. The client pays you using whichever method works for them.

Once you've received the payment, you mark the invoice paid in Clarely — unless it was a card payment through the method described in [Accept card payments](/invoices/accept-card-payments), which records itself automatically.

## Setting up your payment handles

Go to **Settings → Invoicing** to add your payment details:

* **Venmo** — your Venmo username (without the @ symbol)
* **Cash App** — your Cash App cashtag (without the \$ symbol)
* **Zelle** — your Zelle-registered email or phone number

You can set up one, two, or all three. Clients see whichever handles you've configured and choose what works for them.

You can also add a **Payment notes** field — use this for any additional instructions, like bank transfer details or a note about your preferred method.

## What the client sees

The client opens the invoice link and sees:

* Your business name and logo
* The invoice total and balance due
* Your configured payment handles with tap-to-copy buttons
* A **Pay by card** option, if you've connected Stripe — see [Accept card payments](/invoices/accept-card-payments)
* Any payment notes you've added

## Recording payment

Once a client pays you directly (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, cash, check, or bank transfer), open the invoice in Clarely and tap **Mark as Paid**. Enter the amount, the date, and the method — card is one of the options here too, for a client who paid you by card some other way and you just need to record it. Clarely updates the balance and moves the invoice to **Paid** status when the balance reaches zero.

If a client pays in multiple installments, record each one separately. The invoice stays in **Sent** status until the full balance is cleared.

<Note>
  Recording a payment this way is for your records only — it doesn't move any money. The one exception is a payment made through the **Pay by card** button described in [Accept card payments](/invoices/accept-card-payments), which is a real charge and records itself.
</Note>

## Partial payments

Clarely tracks partial payments. If a client pays a deposit or partial amount, record it. The invoice will show the remaining balance due and stay in **Sent** status until fully paid.

## Stripe and your Clarely subscription

Stripe also handles your own Clarely subscription payment, completely separately from anything above. Your Clarely plan is billed to the card you have on file for your account — that's a different Stripe connection than the one you'd set up under [Accept card payments](/invoices/accept-card-payments) to let your clients pay you by card.