Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) gives your clients flexible payment options while ensuring you receive full payment upfront. Practice Better Payments supports Klarna, Affirm, and Afterpay/Clearpay, allowing clients to split purchases into installments.
⚠️ Buy Now, Pay Later for Practice Better Payments is currently in an Early Access Program and is not yet available for all users.
In this article:
- What is Buy Now, Pay Later?
- Learn More About Each Provider
- How BNPL Benefits Your Practice
- How BNPL Works
- Comparing BNPL Providers
- Managing BNPL Payment Methods
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is Buy Now, Pay Later?
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is a payment option that allows your clients to purchase your services, packages, or programs and pay in fixed installments over time, rather than paying the full cost upfront. When a client chooses BNPL at checkout, you receive the full payment (minus processing fees), while the BNPL provider collects the remaining installments directly from your client.
BNPL removes price as a barrier to working with you. Instead of asking clients to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars at once, they can break the cost into manageable payments.
⚠️ Important: Clients must select "Pay in Full" at the Practice Better checkout to choose a BNPL option. They cannot combine BNPL with Practice Better's payment plans feature.
Learn More About Each Provider
For detailed information, including fee structures, payment terms, settlement timing, and dispute procedures:
- Klarna with Practice Better Payments →
- Affirm with Practice Better Payments →
- Afterpay, Clearpay, and Cash App Afterpay with Practice Better Payments →
How BNPL Benefits Your Practice
For You:
- Full Payment Upfront: You receive 100% of the payment upfront.
- No Collection Hassles: The BNPL provider manages all installment collections.
- Risk Protection: You keep your payment even if clients default on their installments.
- Increased Sales: Clients who hesitate at full pricing can now afford your offerings.
For Your Clients:
- Payment Flexibility: Split costs into manageable installments.
- Accessibility: Access services, packages, and programs instantly with flexible financing.
- Transparent Terms: See the complete payment schedule upfront before committing.
How BNPL Works
At Checkout:
- Your client proceeds to the Practice Better checkout page and eligible BNPL options display automatically.
- The client selects their preferred BNPL provider and is redirected to authorize the payment plan.
- The provider presents available payment options based on the client's credit profile.
- The client reviews the payment schedule, agrees to the terms, and makes the first installment (typically 25% of the total).
- The client completes the purchase and immediately gains access to your services.
After Purchase:
- You receive the full payment in your Practice Better Payments account within 1-5 business days.
- The BNPL provider collects remaining installments directly from your client.
- You focus on delivering service while the provider handles all payment collection.
Comparing BNPL Providers
Practice Better Payments supports three BNPL providers. Each serves different geographic markets and offers different payment terms.
| Provider | Countries | Typical Payment Terms |
| Klarna | 22 countries including US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, NZ | Pay in 3 or 4, Pay in 30 days, Financing (up to 36 months) |
| Affirm | US, Canada, UK | Pay in 4 (interest-free), Monthly (0-36% APR) |
| Afterpay/ Clearpay/ CashApp Afterpay | US, Canada, UK, Australia, NZ | Pay in 4 (interest-free, every 2 weeks) |
📍 Note: Practice Better Payments automatically displays the most relevant payment options based on your client’s address (as listed in their profile), your Practice Better Payments account currency, and the invoice currency. Available BNPL financing options and providers vary based on factors such as client location, transaction amount and the client’s individual credit history.
For complete details about each BNPL payment method:
- Klarna with Practice Better Payments →
- Affirm with Practice Better Payments →
- Afterpay, Clearpay, and Cash App Afterpay with Practice Better Payments →
Managing BNPL Payment Methods
BNPL options are automatically enabled once your Practice Better Payments account reaches "Complete" or "Enabled" status. The system displays available options dynamically to eligible clients.
Review the status of your Practice Better Payments account by going to your Practice Better Settings > Payments Dashboard.
The status of your Stripe account is displayed at the top right of your Practice Better Payments Dashboard.
Learn more about Understanding Your Stripe Account Status →
Disabling BNPL Payment Methods
If you do not wish to offer BNPL payment options, you can disable them respectively by following these instructions:
- Log in to Practice Better.
- Click on your Settings (gear icon) and select Payments Dashboard.
- Click View in Stripe near the top-right.
- After successfully logging in to Stripe, click the Settings (gear icon).
- Select Payments from your Settings page.
- Go to the Payment methods tab.
- Locate the payment method (ie. BNPL method) in your list and click on it to expand the payment method panel.
- Click Turn off on the payment method you no longer want to accept.
Re-enabling BNPL Payment Methods
If you have disabled any BNPL payment methods and need to re-enable them, follow steps 1-7 above, and toggle the option to Turn on your desired payment method.
Viewing BNPL Transactions
Monitor all BNPL transactions through your Payments Dashboard:
- In your Practice Better portal, go to Settings > Payments Dashboard.
- Go to the Payments & Disputes tab to review your history of transactions in detail.
- Apply payment method filters to view transactions by each specific BNPL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my own separate account with each BNPL provider?
No. Practice Better Payments manages all three providers through your Stripe account.
Which BNPL option should I recommend to my clients?
You don't need to recommend one. The BNPL payment options will automatically and dynamically display to your clients at checkout when you use Practice Better Payments.
Can clients use BNPL with Practice Better's payment plans?
No. BNPL is only available when clients select "Pay in Full" on the Practice Better checkout page.
Alternatively, practitioners can Set Up Payment Plans in Practice Better →
These are two different approaches to payment flexibility.
What happens if my client defaults on BNPL payments?
The BNPL provider assumes all risk for defaults. Once they approve the transaction, you receive and keep the full payment.
Can international clients use BNPL?
Cross-border (non-domestic) BNPL transactions are supported only by Klarna, and only for businesses located in the EU, EEA, UK, and Switzerland.
All other BNPL providers support domestic transactions only.
How much do BNPL providers charge in fees?
BNPL fees range from approximately 3-6% plus a fixed fee per transaction, depending on the provider and your region. These fees are higher than standard credit card processing but often offset by increased conversion rates.
Why are processing fees higher for BNPL methods?
While BNPL payment methods’ processing fees are higher than standard credit card fees, the increased conversion rates and larger average purchase amounts often offset this additional cost. Stripe research shows that offering Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) at checkout can increase revenue by up to 14%. Customers are more likely to complete their purchase—and often spend more—when BNPL is available.
For detailed fee structures, see each respective article:
- Klarna with Practice Better Payments →
- Affirm with Practice Better Payments →
- Afterpay, Clearpay, and Cash App Afterpay with Practice Better Payments →
When will I receive payment from BNPL transactions?
Settlement timing varies by provider, typically ranging from 1-5 business days.
For specific payout (deposit) timing, see each respective article:
- Klarna with Practice Better Payments →
- Affirm with Practice Better Payments →
- Afterpay, Clearpay, and Cash App Afterpay with Practice Better Payments →
How do refunds work with BNPL?
Process refunds through your usual workflow in Practice Better. The BNPL provider cancels future client payments and refunds installments already paid. Original transaction fees are not refunded. Refund time limits vary by provider (120-180 days from purchase).
💡 Need Help? Email payments@practicebetter.io with questions about BNPL payments. Our team has in-house payment expertise and works closely with Stripe to resolve payment-related questions.