Afterpay and Clearpay Installment Payments on Squarespace
TL;DR:
- Afterpay and Clearpay let customers pay for physical products in four installments over eight weeks
- Same service, different names: Clearpay in the UK, Afterpay everywhere else
- You get paid upfront while customers spread their payments
- Only works with physical products, not digital goods or services
- Available in specific regions and requires certain Squarespace plans
- Processing fees apply to each transaction
Afterpay and Clearpay make it easier for customers to buy your products by splitting payments into four interest-free installments. This can boost your sales while you still get paid upfront.
Eligibility Requirements
Before you can offer these payment options, check you meet these criteria:
Geographic Coverage
- Afterpay: US, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, and Australia
- Clearpay: UK only
Payment Processing
You need either Squarespace Payments or a connected Stripe account. Your subscription plan affects whether you can use these features.
Product Types
Only physical products qualify. Digital downloads, services, and subscriptions won't work with these payment methods.
Make sure your store currency matches your Stripe account's local currency. This prevents payment processing issues.
Setting Up the Integration
The setup process is straightforward:
- Go to your Squarespace dashboard and find the Payments panel
- If you're using Squarespace Payments, head to the Payment Methods tab under Manage Settings
- Toggle Afterpay or Clearpay to enable it
- If you're using Stripe, link your account and turn on installment payments in your Stripe settings
Once enabled, the option appears automatically for all eligible transactions.
Processing Fees
Each Afterpay or Clearpay transaction includes a processing fee. This is calculated as a percentage of the order total plus a fixed fee. The exact amounts vary slightly between the two services and depend on your Squarespace plan.
Factor these fees into your pricing strategy so they don't eat into your margins unexpectedly.
How Customers Use It
The checkout process is simple for customers:
- They select Afterpay or Clearpay as their payment method
- Enter their billing address
- Log into their existing account or create a new one
- Review their payment schedule and confirm
Afterpay or Clearpay handles all communication about payment schedules and reminders. You don't need to manage the installment process.
FAQs
Can customers use Afterpay or Clearpay for all products?
No, only physical goods qualify. Services, subscriptions, and digital products aren't supported.
What happens if a payment fails?
Failed transactions might show as 'Uncaptured' in Stripe. You'll need to handle these according to Stripe's guidelines.
How do refunds work?
Refunds go back through Afterpay or Clearpay. Customers get refunded for any payments they've already made, minus transaction fees.
Do I need to do anything special for customer support?
Direct customers to contact Afterpay or Clearpay directly for questions about their accounts or payment limits.
Jargon Buster
Installment Payments: A way for customers to pay for products over time without interest charges
Processing Fees: Costs for handling transactions, usually a percentage of the sale plus a fixed fee
Subscription Plan Eligibility: Which Squarespace plans support specific payment integration features
Wrap-up
Adding Afterpay or Clearpay to your Squarespace store can increase sales by making products more affordable for customers. You get paid immediately while they spread their payments over eight weeks.
Check your eligibility requirements first and understand the processing fees involved. This payment option works particularly well for higher-priced physical products where customers appreciate the flexibility.
Ready to improve your Squarespace store's payment options? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more detailed tutorials and expert guidance.