Payment links on invoices
The link asks for the outstanding balance after any deposit and withholding tax. The customer needs an email address on the invoice.
Developers
Stop chasing customers to confirm they paid
Connect your Paystack account, send a payment link from an invoice, and see the payment arrive in your books.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who it is for | Businesses that invoice customers and want to be paid by card |
| Plan | Every plan |
| Permission | Manage integrations |
| You need | A Paystack account and its live secret key |
| Direction | Simplebks creates the payment link. Paystack tells Simplebks when it is paid. |
Set up
Six steps. You only do them once.
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Open the screen
Go to Settings, Integrations, then the Paystack card, then Connect.
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Find your live secret key
In your Paystack dashboard open Settings, then API Keys and Webhooks, and under API Configuration, Live Mode, copy the live secret key.
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Paste it
Under Add your Paystack Live Secret Key, paste the key and press Complete Setup. Simplebks checks it with Paystack first.
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Copy the webhook URL
Open View webhook detail on the Paystack card. Copy the Webhook URL it shows.
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Register it in Paystack
In Paystack, Settings, API Keys and Webhooks, paste it as the Live Webhook URL. Paystack allows one per account, so the field must be empty first.
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Switch on the link
On an invoice, switch on Paystack link. The first time, press Set up payouts and verify the bank account your payouts settle into. A Pay online button is added when you send the invoice.
What moves
Payments are verified
Simplebks checks the payment reference and amount against the invoice before marking it paid.
Both directions
Simplebks creates the link. Paystack sends the result to the webhook URL you registered.
Limits and known issues
- Foreign-currency invoices cannot be paid online yet. Record the payment with its exchange rate.
- Paystack's own fees apply and are shown in the app before you send a payment link.
- The invoice balance must be above zero and the customer needs an email address.
- Paystack allows one webhook URL per account. If you use another system with Paystack, plan how both will be notified.
- The fee estimate on the WooCommerce payment settings is for display only and is never posted to your books. Your real fee is on the Paystack settlement.
- A webhook that Simplebks cannot process is acknowledged and logged for review. It is not retried automatically.
Troubleshooting
| You see | Do this |
|---|---|
| Invalid paystack secret key | Copy the live key again. It starts with sk_live_. Test keys are not accepted. |
| Paystack account not created | Press Set up payouts on the invoice and verify your payout bank account first. |
| Customer email is required | Add the customer email to the invoice, then generate the link again. |
| Payment made but invoice still unpaid | Check that the Live Webhook URL in Paystack matches the URL shown in Simplebks exactly. |
Security
What Simplebks stores and how you take it back.
- Your secret key is encrypted. It is sealed with AES-256-GCM. Screens show only the last four characters.
- It is never returned. No screen or API response shows the full key again.
- Webhooks are signature-checked. Simplebks verifies each Paystack notification before acting on it.
- Disconnect any time. Press Disconnect on the Paystack card. Rotate the key in Paystack as well if you share it.
Not supported yet
- Gateways other than Paystack.
- Paying foreign-currency invoices online.
FAQ
Do I need a Paystack account?
Yes. You paste your own live secret key, and payments go through your own Paystack account.
Is Paystack on every plan?
Yes. Connecting Paystack is not limited by plan.
Where do I find the webhook URL?
On the Paystack card in Integrations, press View webhook detail after connecting. Copy the URL into Paystack as the Live Webhook URL.
Can I use a test key?
No. The screen asks for the live secret key.
Does Simplebks store my key safely?
Yes. It is encrypted before storage and only the last four characters are ever shown.
Start free and connect your Paystack account.