Checkout Links
Generate shareable payment links so customers can pay you instantly -- no invoice required. Powered by Stripe for secure credit card processing.
Overview
Checkout links let you collect payments from customers without creating a formal invoice first. You generate a unique URL, share it with the customer, and they complete payment through a secure Stripe-hosted checkout page.
This is ideal for situations where a full invoice is unnecessary:
- Quick one-time payments or deposits
- Event registrations or class fees
- Donations or voluntary contributions
- Service deposits before work begins
- Subscription or membership renewals
Prerequisites
Before creating checkout links, you need an active Stripe payment gateway configured in Kantivo:
- Go to Settings → Payment Gateway Settings
- Add a Stripe gateway with your API keys
- Test the connection to confirm it is working
See the Receiving Payments guide for full Stripe setup instructions.
Creating a Checkout Link
- Navigate to Checkout Links from the sidebar
- Click Create Checkout Link
- Enter a Title that describes what the payment is for (this is shown to the customer on the checkout page)
- Add an optional Description with additional details
- Choose the Amount Type: Fixed Amount or Open Amount (see below)
- If fixed, enter the Amount
- Click Create Link
Kantivo generates a unique URL that you can copy and share immediately.
Fixed vs Open Amount
When creating a checkout link, you choose how the payment amount is determined:
| Type | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Amount | You set the exact dollar amount. The customer sees the price and can only pay that amount. | Invoiced services, product sales, set fees, deposits with a known amount |
| Open Amount | The customer enters the amount they want to pay. You can optionally set a minimum. | Donations, tips, variable-rate services, pay-what-you-can models |
Sharing Links
Once a checkout link is created, share it with customers through any channel:
- Email: Paste the link into an email. The customer clicks it to go directly to the Stripe checkout page.
- Text / SMS: Send the link via text message for quick mobile payments.
- Social media: Post the link on your business page for public-facing payment collection.
- Website: Embed the link as a button on your own website or landing page.
- QR code: Generate a QR code from the URL for in-person use at events or storefronts.
Each link can be used multiple times by different customers (unless you deactivate it). Kantivo tracks every payment made through each link.
Payment Tracking
All payments received through checkout links appear in your Checkout Links dashboard. For each link, you can see:
- Status: Active or Deactivated
- Total Collected: The sum of all payments received through this link
- Payment Count: How many individual payments have been made
- Last Payment: The date and amount of the most recent payment
Click on any link to see the full list of individual payments with customer details, amounts, dates, and Stripe transaction IDs.
Accounting Integration
Payments received through checkout links are recorded in your general ledger just like any other payment. Kantivo debits your bank/deposit account and credits the appropriate revenue or receivable account based on your gateway settings.
Deactivating & Deleting Links
Deactivating a Link
If you no longer want to accept payments through a particular link:
- Open the link from the Checkout Links list
- Click Deactivate
- Confirm the action
A deactivated link shows a "no longer available" message if a customer tries to use it. You can reactivate it later if needed. All historical payment data is preserved.
Deleting a Link
To permanently remove a checkout link:
- Open the link and click Delete
- Confirm the deletion
Deleting a link removes it from your list. However, any payments that were already received through the link remain in your accounting records and are not affected.