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Payment Settings

Payment settings control how your school accepts payments from students and guardians. Before you can collect any online payments, you need to choose a payment processor, open an account with them, and connect that account to Conductly by entering your API keys.

Conductly supports two payment processors: Evolv (which uses the Optimize Gateway) and Stripe. You can use one or the other -- not both at the same time.

Choosing a Payment Processor​

The right choice depends on how much you process each month, how quickly you want to be up and running, and whether you want hands-on help during setup.

Evolv (Optimize Gateway)Stripe
Pricing modelInterchange+Flat rate
Card pricingInterchange + a small fixed markup. Costs are typically lower at higher volumes because you pay the true network cost plus a transparent margin.2.9% + $0.30 per successful card charge (online, U.S.)
ACH / bank transfersAvailable -- contact Conductly for current rates0.8% per charge, capped at $5.00
Account setupConductly works with Evolv on your behalf to open a merchant account. Setup involves underwriting and a short application.Self-serve. Sign up directly at stripe.com and you can be approved in minutes.
Time to first chargeSeveral business days (underwriting required)Same day in most cases
Best forSchools that want the lowest effective rate, especially as monthly volume growsSchools that want to start collecting payments immediately with no Conductly involvement

:::tip Which one should I pick? If you are just getting started or want to send your first invoice today, Stripe is the fastest path. If you process meaningful monthly volume (or expect to soon) and want to optimize processing fees over time, Evolv with Interchange+ pricing usually wins on cost. :::

Option 1: Set Up Evolv (Interchange+ Pricing)​

Evolv accounts are not self-serve. Conductly facilitates the merchant account setup so we can match you with the right pricing tier and underwriting path.

Steps​

  1. Contact Conductly support at support@conductly.com and let us know you want to set up an Evolv merchant account.
  2. Complete the merchant application. We will send you the application and walk you through underwriting requirements (business information, ownership, expected processing volume, etc.).
  3. Receive your API keys. Once your merchant account is approved, Evolv issues you a Public Key and an API Key (Secret Key).
  4. Enter your keys in Conductly. Go to Settings > Invoices, scroll to the Payment Gateway section, set Gateway Provider to Optimize, then paste in your Public Key and API Key (Secret Key).
  5. Run a test charge. Process a small payment on a real invoice to confirm everything is working before you start sending invoices to families.
note

Evolv setup is a partnership between you, Conductly, and the merchant account provider. Plan ahead -- you will not be able to accept online payments until underwriting is complete and your keys are entered.

Option 2: Set Up Stripe (Self-Serve)​

Stripe is the fastest way to start accepting payments. You can sign up, get approved, and connect your account without involving Conductly.

Steps​

  1. Create a Stripe account at stripe.com. You will need basic business information and a bank account to receive payouts.
  2. Activate your account. Stripe will verify your business and bank details. Most U.S. accounts are activated within minutes.
  3. Get your API keys. In the Stripe Dashboard, go to Developers > API keys. You will see a Publishable key (starts with pk_live_...) and a Secret key (starts with sk_live_...).
  4. Enter your keys in Conductly. Go to Settings > Invoices, scroll to the Payment Gateway section, set Gateway Provider to Stripe, then paste in your Publishable key and Secret key.
  5. Run a test charge. Process a small payment on a real invoice to confirm everything is working end-to-end.

:::warning Keep your Secret key private Your Stripe Secret key gives full access to your Stripe account. Never share it, never commit it to source control, and never paste it into a chat or email. Conductly stores it securely and only displays a masked version after it is saved. :::

How Payment Processing Works​

Once your gateway is connected, Conductly uses a two-step payment process for security and flexibility:

  1. Authorization -- When a payment is initiated, Conductly first authorizes the charge with the payment gateway. This verifies the payment method is valid and the funds are available, but does not yet move any money.
  2. Capture -- Once authorized, the payment is captured (finalized). At this point, the funds are transferred.

This two-step approach helps prevent accidental charges and gives you a window to review payments before they are finalized.

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The authorization and capture process happens automatically in most workflows. You generally do not need to manage these steps manually.

The Settings > Payments Page​

The Settings > Payments page in Conductly contains processing preferences that apply regardless of which gateway you choose -- for example, whether families are required to save a card on file when paying. Gateway selection and API keys live under Settings > Invoices in the Payment Gateway section.

Payment Methods​

Once your gateway is configured, families can save payment methods (such as credit or debit cards) on their accounts. Saved payment methods enable:

  • Manual payments -- You can charge a customer's saved card when sending or collecting on an invoice.
  • Auto-charge -- Conductly can automatically charge saved cards when invoices are due, saving you the work of collecting payments manually.

How Families Add Payment Methods​

Families can add their payment information in several ways:

  • During registration -- If your registration form includes a payment step, families can save their card as part of the signup process.
  • Through the online store -- When purchasing classes or lessons, families enter their payment details at checkout.
  • Manually by an admin -- You can add a payment method on behalf of a family from their guardian profile.

Accepted Payment Methods​

Conductly supports six payment method types:

  • Card — Credit and debit cards processed through your connected payment gateway (Evolv or Stripe). Families can save cards on file for one-click checkout and manual charge-on-file operations.
  • ACH / Bank Transfer — Direct bank transfers processed through your payment gateway. Typically lower per-transaction fees than card processing, at the cost of a slower settlement window.
  • Cash — Manually recorded when a family pays in person with cash.
  • Check — Manually recorded when a family pays by check.
  • Credit Card (manual) — Manually recorded when a family pays by credit card outside Conductly (for example, on a physical terminal or through another processor).
  • Venmo — Manually recorded when a family pays via Venmo.
  • Scholarship — Automatically recorded when a scholarship is applied to an invoice, or manually selected to record an external scholarship payment. Shows up on the invoice as a separate line item so families can see how much their award covered.

Cash, Check, Credit Card, Venmo, and Scholarship are manual recording options — they don't charge the customer; they log that a payment already happened. Use the Create payment button on the Payments page to record a manual payment against an invoice.

note

Conductly does not currently support PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. If your school needs these, let us know — they may be added in a future release.

Payment Security​

Conductly takes payment security seriously:

  • Card data is never stored on Conductly's servers. All sensitive payment information is handled directly by the payment gateway.
  • Tokenization -- After a card is saved, Conductly stores only a secure token, not the actual card number. This token can be used to charge the card without ever exposing the full card details.
  • PCI Compliance -- By using a certified payment gateway, your school benefits from PCI-compliant payment processing.

Best Practices​

  • Set up payments early. Having your payment gateway connected before you start invoicing makes the whole billing process smoother.
  • Encourage families to save a payment method. Saved cards make auto-charging possible, which saves significant time on collections.
  • Test with a small payment. After connecting your gateway, process a small test charge to confirm everything is working correctly before sending out invoices to families.
  • Monitor payment failures. Conductly notifies you when a payment fails. Follow up promptly with the family to resolve the issue.