TL;DR:

Exoserva uses Stripe for payment processing — credit cards and ACH bank transfers both supported
Connection uses Stripe OAuth (Connect), so you link your existing Stripe account or create one during setup
Webhook handling captures payment events automatically — no manual checking of Stripe dashboard
Connected accounts support property managers and landlords who pay on behalf of tenants
Payment Intents (Stripe's modern API) means 3D Secure and strong authentication are handled automatically

Why Stripe for Field Service?

Field service contractors deal with payment complexity that most retail businesses don't: jobs invoiced before all materials are known, same-day payments collected in the field, recurring billing for maintenance contracts, and third-party payers like property managers who pay for work at tenant properties they own.

Stripe handles this complexity well. The Payment Intents API manages authentication requirements automatically — if a card requires 3D Secure verification, Stripe handles it without you writing custom authentication code. ACH is available for larger invoices where card processing fees would be significant. Connected accounts let you structure payment flows for property management relationships cleanly.

How the Integration Works

OAuth Connected Accounts

Exoserva uses Stripe Connect (OAuth) to link your Stripe account. This means:

You use your own Stripe account — you control payouts, dispute management, and settings
Exoserva never holds your funds
You can use an existing Stripe account you already have set up
Stripe's dashboard shows your transactions directly

The OAuth flow takes about 2 minutes. Exoserva redirects you to Stripe, you authorize the connection, and you return to Exoserva with the integration active.

Payment Types Supported

Credit and debit cards — the standard for field service. Customers can pay invoices with any major card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover). Payment is processed immediately.

ACH bank transfers — for larger invoices where a 2-3% card processing fee would be meaningful. ACH costs significantly less per transaction but takes 3-5 business days to settle. Suitable for commercial clients and large residential projects.

Exoserva uses Stripe's Payment Intents API for both types. Payment Intents handle the full lifecycle of a payment attempt, including authentication requirements, retries, and status tracking.

Webhook Handling

Stripe communicates payment events to Exoserva via webhooks. When a payment succeeds, fails, requires action, or is disputed, Stripe sends a webhook event and Exoserva processes it automatically.

Events Exoserva handles include:

payment_intent.succeeded — payment confirmed, invoice marked paid
payment_intent.payment_failed — payment failed, customer notified
payment_intent.requires_action — 3D Secure authentication needed
Dispute and chargeback notifications

You don't need to monitor the Stripe dashboard for payment statuses — Exoserva updates invoice records automatically when events arrive.

Customer Sync

Customers in Exoserva are mirrored as Stripe Customer objects. This enables:

Saved payment methods (customers can pay future invoices without re-entering card details)
Consistent customer records across your Exoserva and Stripe dashboards
Proper attribution of payments to the correct customer in Stripe's reporting

Connected Accounts for Property Managers

If your business works with property managers or landlords who pay for work at tenant properties, Stripe Connected Accounts provide a clean structure for these relationships.

A property manager can be set up as a connected account in Stripe, with payment flows routed correctly for work performed at their properties. This is particularly useful for:

Property management companies that manage multiple units and need centralized billing
Landlords who pay for plumbing, HVAC, or electrical work on behalf of tenants
Commercial property managers with recurring maintenance contracts

The connected account structure keeps billing clean and auditable — each payer has a clear relationship to the jobs they're paying for.

Setting Up Stripe Integration

Step 1: Connect Your Stripe Account

In Exoserva, go to Settings → Integrations → Stripe. Click Connect with Stripe.

You'll be redirected to Stripe's OAuth authorization page. If you have an existing Stripe account, sign in and authorize the connection. If you don't have a Stripe account, you can create one during this flow.

After authorization, you'll return to Exoserva with Stripe showing as connected.

Step 2: Verify Webhook Configuration

Exoserva automatically registers a webhook endpoint with Stripe during the OAuth connection. To verify:

Log into your Stripe dashboard
Go to Developers → Webhooks
Confirm an Exoserva endpoint is listed and active

If the webhook isn't showing, you can re-register it from the Exoserva integration settings page.

Step 3: Test a Payment

Before processing real customer payments, run a test transaction:

In Stripe dashboard, switch to Test Mode
In Exoserva, create a test invoice
Use Stripe's test card number (4242 4242 4242 4242) to process a payment
Verify the invoice updates to "Paid" in Exoserva

Once confirmed, switch back to live mode.

Step 4: Configure ACH (Optional)

ACH bank transfers require customers to provide bank account details and complete a micro-deposit verification (two small deposits confirmed by the customer). To enable ACH as a payment option, ensure your Stripe account has ACH enabled in Stripe's dashboard settings and that your Exoserva invoice settings include ACH as a payment option.

Processing Fees

Stripe's standard pricing applies. You can verify current rates at stripe.com/pricing. Common rates at time of writing:

Cards: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
ACH: 0.8% per transaction (capped)

For high-volume businesses, Stripe offers custom pricing. Contact Stripe's sales team directly to negotiate rates based on your volume.

Exoserva does not add markup to Stripe's processing fees.

FAQ

Can I use Exoserva with a different payment processor? The current payment integration is built on Stripe. Stripe supports a wide range of use cases for field service businesses. If you have specific requirements that Stripe doesn't meet, contact Exoserva support to discuss your situation.

What happens if a payment disputes? Stripe's standard dispute process applies. You'll receive a notification in both Stripe's dashboard and via Exoserva's webhook handling. You can submit dispute evidence directly through your Stripe dashboard. Exoserva will reflect the disputed status on the invoice.

Can customers save payment methods for future invoices? Yes. When a customer pays an invoice, their card can be saved as a Stripe Customer payment method. On future invoices, they can select the saved card rather than re-entering details. This is particularly useful for recurring maintenance contract customers.

Related Guides

Ready to Take Payments Through Exoserva?

Connecting Stripe takes less than 5 minutes and enables credit card and ACH payments directly from your Exoserva invoices. No manual reconciliation, no checking Stripe separately — payments update your invoices automatically.

Book a demo to see payment processing in action →

Stripe Payment Processing for Field Service: Setup Guide