How to Accept ACH Debit Payments on Invoices in Sparkforge

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

ACH Direct Debit lets customers pay invoices straight from a bank account. Connect Stripe, enable ACH on the invoice, and the option appears for one-time invoices, Text2Pay links, and recurring invoices with auto-pay.

ACH Direct Debit is a payment method on Sparkforge invoices. It lets customers pay directly from a bank account through ACH — typically lower fees than cards, useful for larger transactions, and supports auto-pay on recurring invoices. The integration runs through Stripe.

Why use it

Lower processing fees than card transactions on most invoices.
Customer convenience — pay from a bank account, no card required.
Stripe-handled — transactions and payment methods live in your Stripe dashboard.
Larger transactions — bypass card limits for high-value invoices.
Auto-pay on recurring invoices — once a customer authorizes, future invoices charge automatically.

Setup

Enable ACH Direct Debit in Stripe. Log into Stripe → Settings → Payment Methods. Confirm ACH Direct Debit is on for your account.
Connect Stripe to Sparkforge. In Sparkforge go to Settings → Integrations, click Connect Stripe, and follow the prompts.
Configure the invoice. When creating an invoice, select ACH Direct Debit as an enabled payment method. Toggle Auto-Payment on for recurring invoices if you want future charges to run automatically.
Send the invoice. The customer sees ACH Debit as an option, enters their bank account details, and authorizes the payment.
Track in Stripe. Use the Stripe dashboard to monitor settlement, failed transactions, and saved payment methods.

Failed payments

If an ACH payment fails — insufficient funds, invalid account, etc. — Stripe surfaces the reason. Reach out to the customer to update their bank info or pick a different method.

Saving the bank account for future use

When a customer pays an invoice using ACH and selects auto-pay, Stripe stores the bank account on file as a payment method. If they don't pick auto-pay, you'll need to use Stripe's customer management to save it manually — or send a payment link configured to save the bank account by default (recurring payment setups handle this automatically).

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there fees for accepting ACH payments through Stripe?

Yes. Stripe charges different fees for ACH Direct Debit than for card transactions. Check Stripe's pricing page for current rates — ACH is generally cheaper than cards for larger invoices.

Does ACH work for recurring invoices with auto-pay?

Yes. Toggle auto-pay on the recurring invoice during setup. Future invoices charge automatically on schedule once the customer authorizes.

Where do I control which payment methods show on invoices?

In Stripe — <strong>Settings → Connect → Payment Methods</strong>. Pick the configuration (Invoice or InvoiceWithAutopayment) and toggle methods on or off.

What happens if an ACH payment fails?

Stripe sends the failure reason — insufficient funds, invalid account, etc. Contact the customer to update their bank info or switch payment methods.

Can I save a customer's bank account for future invoices?

Yes — automatic when the customer selects auto-pay. Otherwise, save it manually in Stripe's customer management or use a payment link that saves the account by default (typical for recurring setups).