Payment Processing

Supported Payment Processors

STORAGEsimple integrates with three payment processors. Pick one based on your existing merchant relationships and rate structure:

• Authorize.net for card and eCheck processing with most merchant accounts
• Stripe for fast onboarding with cards and ACH
• NMI for operators using an NMI-based merchant services provider

To connect, go to Settings, then Payments, choose your processor, and paste in the API credentials from your processor dashboard. Run a small test transaction before going live to confirm everything posts correctly.

Every transaction, regardless of processor, posts to the built-in accounting ledger. If you use QuickBooks Online, enable the sync so revenue, fees, and deposits flow to your books without re-keying. Cash and check payments taken at the counter are recorded alongside electronic payments for a complete picture.

Cards, ACH, and Payment Methods on File

Tenants can pay with credit cards, debit cards, or ACH bank transfers. Cards on file are stored as secure tokens with the processor, never on STORAGEsimple servers. A few practical points:

• ACH typically carries lower processing costs but settles slower than cards
• Tenants can store multiple payment methods and choose a default
• Staff can charge a stored method, key in a card, or record cash and checks
• Convenience fees can be configured where your state and processor allow

When a stored card is declined, the system retries on a schedule and notifies the tenant by email and Twilio SMS so they can update the card in the tenant portal before late fees apply.

Autopay

Autopay is the single biggest lever for reducing delinquency. Tenants can enroll at move-in, through the tenant portal, or staff can enroll them at the counter with authorization:

• Autopay runs on the invoice due date using the default payment method
• Receipts are emailed automatically after every successful charge
• Failed autopay triggers retry attempts plus email and SMS alerts
• Tenants can change or cancel autopay themselves in the portal

Online rentals include autopay setup in the checkout flow by default, which is why online move-ins tend to be your most reliable payers. Review your autopay enrollment rate monthly; you can ask the AI assistant which tenants are not enrolled and target them with a portal invitation.

Invoicing and Billing Cycles

STORAGEsimple generates invoices automatically based on your billing configuration:

• Anniversary billing (each tenant billed on their move-in day) or first-of-month billing with proration
• Invoices are emailed ahead of the due date with a payment link to the portal
• Recurring charges can include rent, protection plans, and unit add-ons
• One-time charges such as merchandise, locks, and fees post through the retail POS or directly to the ledger

Rate changes can be scheduled in advance with required notice periods, and the new rate flows onto the next invoice automatically. Tenants see every invoice and receipt in the portal, which cuts down on statement requests.

Late Fees and the Delinquency Workflow

When an invoice goes unpaid, STORAGEsimple walks the account through a configurable delinquency schedule. The default timeline looks like this:

• Due date: invoice unpaid, reminder emails and SMS begin
• Day 5: late fee is applied automatically and the tenant is notified
• Day 30: gate lockout; the tenant gate code is suspended through the PTI integration
• Day 45: lien notice is generated and sent per your state requirements
• Day 60 and beyond: auction scheduling, advertising, and sale documentation

Every threshold, fee amount, and notice template is configurable per facility, so you can match your state lien statute and your own collection style. Each step is logged on the tenant record with timestamps and copies of every notice sent.

The moment a tenant pays their past-due balance, the workflow stops, late stages reverse where appropriate, and gate access is restored automatically. See Gate Integration for how lockout and restore work at the keypad.

Related Articles

• Getting Started with STORAGEsimple
• Managing Tenants
• Gate Integration
• AI Assistant
• STORAGEsimple Product Page
• Help Center