Clio to Stripe_

Yes, Clio connects to Stripe through Clio Payments, which uses Stripe’s infrastructure to process online invoice payments. Clients receive payment links with their invoices and can pay by credit card or bank transfer. Formulaic builds custom payment workflows on top of this foundation — automated reconciliation, payment plan logic, and SRA-compliant payment routing that the native Clio Payments feature does not cover.

Short answer: Yes, Clio connects to Stripe via Clio Payments. Formulaic builds custom reconciliation, payment plan logic, and SRA-compliant payment workflows beyond the native capability.

What data moves between Clio and Stripe

Payment data flows bidirectionally between Clio’s billing system and Stripe’s payment infrastructure. When a Clio invoice is issued with a payment link, the invoice amount, reference number, and client details pass to Stripe. The client sees the amount owed and can pay by card or bank transfer.

When a payment completes, Stripe sends the transaction details back to Clio: amount paid, payment method, transaction ID, processing fees, and settlement date. Clio marks the invoice as paid and records the receipt.

For partial payments, the remaining balance updates in both systems. Stripe tracks the outstanding amount if the client returns to pay later.

Stripe processing fees — typically 1.4% + 20p for UK cards — are captured as transaction data. A custom build posts these fees to the correct expense account in the firm’s accounting system, ensuring that fee income is recorded net of processing costs.

Refund data flows from Stripe back to Clio when payment reversals occur. The integration handles full refunds, partial refunds, and disputed payments, updating the Clio matter ledger accordingly.

The native integration

Clio Payments, built on Stripe, handles the core payment flow effectively. Clients receive professional payment links, can pay by multiple methods, and the firm receives funds with minimal delay. For straightforward invoice payments, it works well. Formulaic’s deployment data shows that firms enabling Clio Payments typically reduce their average payment cycle by 5-12 days.

Where the native feature falls short: payment plans are not supported natively. A client who wants to pay a £10,000 invoice in four monthly instalments cannot do so through Clio Payments without manual tracking. Reconciliation is basic — payments match to invoices, but Stripe processing fees are not automatically posted to the accounting system. Client account money received via card payment needs special handling under SRA Accounts Rules, and Clio Payments does not distinguish between office account and client account receipts.

For firms where most invoices are under £5,000 and paid in full, the native feature is sufficient. For firms handling higher-value invoices, payment plans, or client account money, a custom build addresses the gaps.

What Formulaic builds

Formulaic builds a payment management layer between Clio’s billing API and Stripe’s payment API. The system extends Clio Payments with business logic that law firms need.

Payment plan automation handles instalment billing. When a fee earner creates a payment plan in Clio — splitting a £12,000 invoice into four monthly payments of £3,000 — the system creates a Stripe subscription or scheduled payment series. Each instalment charges automatically. The Clio invoice balance updates after each successful charge. Failed payments trigger retry logic and notification to the billing team.

Advanced reconciliation posts Stripe settlement data to the firm’s accounting system (Xero, Sage, or QuickBooks) with the correct account codes. Processing fees post to the expense account. Net receipts post to the income account. Settlement timing differences are tracked so that the firm’s bank balance reconciles against both Stripe payouts and Clio invoices.

Client account payment routing enforces SRA compliance. When a payment is for client account money — a retainer, funds on account, or a payment towards disbursements — the integration routes it differently from office account receipts. The firm’s COFA receives notification of client account card receipts, and the accounting entries maintain the required separation.

Payment reporting provides dashboards showing collection rates by practice area, average payment times by matter type, and processing fee summaries. This data helps the firm optimise its billing practices.

DIY vs Zapier vs custom build

	DIY / Manual	Zapier / Make	Formulaic Custom Build
Setup time	N/A	Not available	2 weeks
Cost	Free (your time)	N/A	Custom-scoped
Data accuracy	Manual reconciliation	N/A	Automated with fee tracking
Customisation	None	N/A	Full — payment plans, routing, reporting
Compliance	Manual SRA checking	N/A	Client account rules baked in
Maintenance	You	N/A	60-day warranty

Timeline and investment

Every build is scoped and priced based on complexity. Simpler data syncs take less time than multi-system orchestration with compliance requirements. Start with an audit to get a clear proposal.

FAQ

Can Clio connect to Stripe? Yes. Clio Payments is built on Stripe. For payment plans, advanced reconciliation, and SRA-compliant payment routing, a custom build extends the native feature.

Does Clio Payments use Stripe? Yes. Stripe processes all Clio Payments transactions. Clients pay via credit card or bank transfer through payment links included with invoices.

How much does a Clio to Stripe integration cost? Every integration is custom-scoped based on your firm’s requirements. Start with an audit for a clear picture of cost and timeline.

How long does setup take? Two weeks from scoping to production. The build includes Stripe configuration, workflow design, reconciliation setup, and compliance testing.

Does the integration comply with SRA requirements? Yes. Client account receipts are identified and routed separately from office account payments. The COFA receives notifications for client money received via card payment.

Can clients pay in instalments? Yes. Payment plans split invoices into scheduled instalments. Stripe charges automatically. The Clio balance updates after each successful payment.

What are the Stripe processing fees? Standard UK card payments: 1.4% + 20p. European cards: 1.4% + 20p. Non-European cards: 2.9% + 20p. Bank transfers via Stripe vary by method. The custom build tracks these fees as a firm expense.

Can I see payment analytics? Yes. The integration provides reporting on collection rates, average payment times, and processing fees by practice area and matter type.