Payment methods overview

HomeHerald supports several payment methods. Some you turn on with one click; some require a bit of setup; some are manual (i.e., you record the payment after the fact). This article is the menu — pick what’s right for your community.

The full menu

Method	Online?	Setup needed	Convenience fee
Credit / debit card	Yes	Stripe Connect	4% + $0.30
ACH (bank transfer)	Yes	Stripe + ACH activation	2%
Apple Pay	Yes	Live Stripe + domain verification	Same as card
Google Pay	Yes	Live Stripe (auto with cards)	Same as card
PayPal	Yes	PayPal Business account	Per PayPal’s pricing
Venmo	Yes (via PayPal)	PayPal Business with Venmo enabled	Per PayPal’s pricing
Bank transfer (out-of-band)	No	None	None
Paper check	No	None	None

Online methods are processed through HomeHerald — the resident pays in the portal, the money settles to your bank, and a payment record is automatically created.

Out-of-band methods (paper checks, manual bank transfers) require an admin to record the payment in the ledger after receiving the money.

What to enable on day one

A pragmatic starter set:

• Credit / debit card via Stripe — turn on. Even if you’ll discourage cards (because of the fee), residents expect it.
• ACH if you want to encourage cheaper online payments — turn on after Stripe is connected.
• Paper check support is implicit — you don’t toggle it, you just tell residents where to mail checks and record them manually when they arrive.

Optional add-ons:

• Apple Pay — adds residents’ convenience but requires a few extra setup steps. Worth it for communities with iPhone-heavy demographics.
• PayPal / Venmo — useful if your community already has a PayPal account. Some residents strongly prefer it. The fee structure is different from Stripe.

How online payments flow

When a resident pays through the portal:

1. They click Pay on a charge in their property’s ledger
2. They pick a payment method (card, bank, Apple Pay, etc.)
3. They confirm the amount and a convenience fee is shown if it’s pass-through (see below)
4. The payment is processed through Stripe (or PayPal, depending on method)
5. A PAYMENT record is automatically created in the ledger
6. The property’s balance updates immediately

The money lands in your HOA’s bank account within 2-7 days (Stripe), depending on the method and your payout schedule.

How fees are charged

The convenience fee is the cost of processing the payment. You configure who pays it:

Mode	Who pays the fee	Resident sees
Pass-through	Resident	Base amount + fee at checkout
Absorb	HOA	Base amount only; HOA nets less

Most HOAs use pass-through — the resident is choosing to pay online, so they cover the cost. Some communities absorb the fee for ACH (to encourage it as the cheaper method) and pass through for cards.

Configure under Settings → Community Settings → Payment Methods panel.

Card vs. ACH — encouraging the cheaper option

Card payments are 4% + $0.30. ACH is 2% flat. For a $300 dues payment:

• Card: $12.30 fee
• ACH: $6 fee

If you absorb the fee, that’s $6.30 saved per ACH payment. If you pass it through, the resident saves $6.30. Either way, ACH is cheaper.

Some communities make ACH more visible in the portal (or only ACH) to nudge residents toward it.

Manual / offline methods

Two patterns are common:

Paper checks

Residents mail a check to your HOA’s mailing address (set under Settings → Community Settings). When you receive it:

1. Deposit the check at the bank
2. Record the payment in HomeHerald — see Recording a manual payment

This keeps the resident’s balance accurate even though the money flow is offline.

Direct bank transfer (resident-initiated)

Some residents prefer to log into their own bank and send money directly. When the money arrives:

1. Confirm the deposit hit your HOA’s bank account
2. Record the payment in HomeHerald the same way as a check

Note: this is not the same as ACH-through-Stripe. ACH-through-Stripe is HomeHerald-mediated (the resident initiates from the portal, Stripe pulls from their account). Direct bank transfer is the resident pushing money themselves, outside the system.

When residents complain about fees

Residents will sometimes ask why they should pay a 4% fee on a $300 dues bill. A few things to know for that conversation:

• The fee covers Stripe’s processing, fraud protection, dispute resolution, PCI compliance, and HomeHerald’s payment infrastructure
• The fee is industry-standard for HOA portals — Buildium, AppFolio, and similar tools charge in the same range
• ACH is an option if cost is the issue — you can route them there
• Paper checks remain free (other than postage)

If your community votes to absorb the fee instead of pass-through, that’s a board decision. The toggle is in Settings.

Plan implications

Stripe (cards and ACH) is available on every plan. PayPal, Apple Pay, and other payment methods are typically part of paid plans. Check My Herald Account for your current tier and what’s available.

Where to go next

• Enabling Stripe payments — the primary online method
• Apple Pay setup — adding Apple Pay
• Accepting PayPal, checks, and Venmo — alternative methods
• Recording a manual payment — for offline payments
• Issuing refunds — when you need to give money back