---
title: Stripe Connect | Avara
description: Accept patient payments through Stripe Connect — PCI-compliant card processing, rolling payouts, fees, refunds, and analytics.
---

## Overview

The Avara Clinical Platform uses **[Stripe](https://stripe.com/)** as its payment processor for all **credit card, debit card, HSA, and FSA** transactions. **Stripe Connect** enrolls your organization under the Avara Stripe umbrella so Avara can **facilitate charges on your behalf** — patients pay through the platform, funds settle to your practice, and you stay out of the card-data handling business.

**You cannot begin accepting payments on the Clinical Platform until Stripe Connect is set up** for your organization. Onboarding connects your legal entity and payout bank account so charges at booking, check-in, and in the patient chart route correctly to you.

Admin users configure Stripe Connect and practice payout settings from the platform. See [Inviting Users — Is Admin](/clinical-platform/inviting-users/#is-admin/index.md) for who can manage organization-level payment setup.

## How Stripe Connect Works

When a patient pays — for example at [public or Connect booking](/clinical-platform/appointment-types/#booking-configuration/index.md), at the front desk, or through a balance due in their chart — the charge runs through **your connected Stripe account** under Avara’s Connect program. Avara orchestrates the payment experience in the Clinical Platform; **Stripe** executes the transaction and handles settlement.

**Payouts** are deposited on a **rolling schedule**, typically **every one to three business days**, directly into the **bank account you configure** during Connect onboarding. You do not need to manually sweep funds — Stripe moves net proceeds to your account on its standard payout cadence.

## Security and PCI Compliance

Avara uses Stripe so your organization remains **fully PCI DSS compliant** without building or certifying your own card vault.

- **Patient card details never touch Avara’s servers** — card numbers, CVV, and other sensitive payment data are entered and stored **only by Stripe**
- Avara stores **references to Stripe objects** (customers, payment intents, charges) so the platform can show payment history, issue refunds, and reconcile activity — not raw card data

That separation is intentional: your team gets a unified billing experience in Avara, while Stripe — a certified payment processor — owns custody of payment credentials.

## Processing Fees

Stripe charges a **payment processing fee** on each successful transaction:

**3.15% + $0.30 per transaction**

This rate applies to card, debit, HSA, and FSA payments processed through Connect. The majority of processing fees go to the card networks and issuers — Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and similar providers. These costs are **non-negotiable under Stripe’s policies**.

## Refunds

You **retain full ability to refund patients at any time** from the Clinical Platform when your policy allows — full or partial refunds against prior charges.

Important considerations:

- **Stripe processing fees are non-refundable** — if you refund a patient, the original **3.15% + $0.30** (and any other Stripe fees on that charge) are **not returned** to your organization, regardless of refund reason
- **Refund-related losses are your responsibility** — net revenue after non-refundable Stripe fees should factor into your [refund policies](/clinical-platform/appointment-types/#booking-configuration/index.md) and cancellation rules

Design refund and cancellation policies with this in mind, especially for high-volume booking flows or large upfront payments.

## Analytics and Auditability

The platform **Analytics** tab gives your team **granular visibility into payouts and billing events over time** — charges, refunds, failed payments, and payout batches tied to your Stripe Connect activity.

Use it for day-to-day reconciliation, month-end review, and **full auditability** when finance or compliance needs a clear trail from patient payment through to bank deposit. Event-level detail complements Stripe’s own dashboard while keeping payment context alongside appointments and patient records in Avara.

## Getting Started

Stripe Connect onboarding is initiated from your organization’s **practice settings** (admin access required). The flow collects business verification details and links your **payout bank account**. Until Connect is complete and approved, payment collection features — including required payment at booking — remain disabled.

If you need help during enrollment or payout configuration, contact <support@avarasoftware.com>.