Understanding Deposit Collection Options

Learn about the different ways you can collect deposits and payments from your tattoo clients on Apprentice.

Overview

Apprentice offers three flexible ways to collect deposits and payments from clients, depending on your needs and whether you have Stripe Connect enabled. You're not limited to just one method—you can use different approaches for different clients and situations.

The Three Payment Methods

1. Automated Collection (Stripe Connect)

Requires: Stripe Connect setup

Best For: Seamless, hands-off payment collection

When you have Stripe Connect enabled, clients can pay their deposits directly through the platform using credit/debit cards. The payment is processed automatically, funds go directly to your connected Stripe account, and both you and your client receive instant confirmation.

Advantages:

• Fully automated—no manual recording needed
• Instant payment confirmation
• Clients can pay anytime, anywhere
• Built-in payment receipts
• Secure card processing through Stripe

2. In-Person Card Capture (Stripe Connect)

Requires: Stripe Connect setup

Best For: In-studio card payments

With Stripe Connect enabled, you can capture card payments directly in the Apprentice app when clients are physically present. You can either enter the card details yourself or hand your device to the client for them to enter their information privately.

Advantages:

• Process cards without a separate terminal
• Optional tip collection in client handoff mode
• Immediate payment confirmation
• No need for external payment processors
• Secure, PCI-compliant card processing

3. Manual Recording (No Stripe Connect Required)

Requires: Nothing—available to all artists

Best For: External payment methods

If you collect payment through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, cash, or any other method, you can manually record the payment in Apprentice to keep your records accurate.

Advantages:

• Works with any payment method
• No additional setup required
• Maintains accurate project tracking
• Flexible for your preferred payment apps

Which Method Should You Use?

Use Automated Collection When:

• You want a completely hands-off deposit process
• You're sending prep forms to clients before their appointment
• You want to accept payments 24/7
• You prefer professional, automated payment handling

Use In-Person Card Capture When:

• Clients are already in your studio
• You want to offer card payments without a terminal
• You want to give clients the option to add a tip
• You need to collect balance payments after session completion

Use Manual Recording When:

• You prefer payment apps like Venmo or Zelle
• You accept cash payments
• Your clients prefer PayPal or Cash App
• You're not ready to set up Stripe Connect yet

How Payment Status Works

Regardless of which method you use, Apprentice tracks the payment status for each project:

• Pending - No payment received yet
• Partial - Deposit paid, balance still due
• Paid - Full payment received
• Refunded - Payment returned to client

All payment methods update the status automatically (for automated/card capture) or when you manually record the transaction.

Tips

• You can use different methods for different clients—whatever works best for each situation
• Manual recording takes just a few seconds and keeps your records clean
• If you plan to use automated collection or card capture, you'll need to set up Stripe Connect first (see "Setting Up Stripe Connect")
• All payment methods create a permanent record in your project history

Common Issues

• Issue: I want to collect cards but don't want to set up Stripe Connect → Solution: You can still manually record card payments after processing them through your existing payment terminal or processor
• Issue: Client wants to pay via Venmo but I have Stripe Connect → Solution: That's fine! Accept the Venmo payment and use the manual recording method to log it
• Issue: I'm not sure which method is best → Solution: Start with manual recording to get comfortable with the system, then consider adding Stripe Connect later for automated convenience

Updated on: 16/01/2026