Payment Processor Setup

Overview

AutomateNexus CRM supports integrated payment processing, allowing you to collect payments from customers directly within your CRM workflows. Whether you need to process one-time payments, set up recurring subscriptions, or send invoices with payment links, AutomateNexus CRM connects with leading payment processors including Stripe and PayPal. This guide covers the complete setup process for each provider, webhook configuration for real-time payment status updates, and testing procedures to ensure everything works before going live.

Prerequisites

Before configuring payment processing, ensure you have:

• An active AutomateNexus CRM account with Administrator role permissions.
• A verified Stripe account or PayPal Business account.
• Your business details completed in the payment processor (required for live payment processing).
• SSL enabled on any custom domains used with AutomateNexus CRM (required for secure payment forms).

Navigating to Payment Settings

1. Log in to your AutomateNexus CRM dashboard.
2. Click Settings in the left-hand sidebar.
3. Select Integrations from the settings menu.
4. Click the Payments tab at the top of the Integrations page.

Stripe Integration

About Stripe

Stripe is the recommended payment processor for AutomateNexus CRM. It supports credit and debit card payments, ACH transfers, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and 135+ currencies. The integration supports both one-time and recurring payments with full webhook event handling.

Connecting Stripe with API Keys

1. Log in to your Stripe Dashboard at dashboard.stripe.com.
2. Navigate to Developers → API keys.
3. You will see two sets of keys: Test mode and Live mode. Start with test mode keys for initial setup.
   • Publishable key: Starts with pk_test_ (test) or pk_live_ (live). This key is used client-side for payment forms.
   • Secret key: Starts with sk_test_ (test) or sk_live_ (live). This key is used server-side for processing payments. Keep this key confidential.
4. Copy both keys.
5. In AutomateNexus CRM, navigate to Settings → Integrations → Payments.
6. Click Configure next to Stripe.
7. Paste your Publishable Key and Secret Key into the respective fields.
8. Select the Mode: Choose Test for initial setup and testing, or Live when you are ready to accept real payments.
9. Click Save & Verify. AutomateNexus CRM will validate your API keys with Stripe.

Configuring Stripe Webhooks

Webhooks allow Stripe to notify AutomateNexus CRM in real time when payment events occur (e.g., successful payment, failed charge, subscription canceled). This is essential for keeping your CRM records up to date.

1. After saving your Stripe API keys, AutomateNexus CRM will display a Webhook URL. Copy this URL. It will look similar to: https://app.automatenexus.com/api/webhooks/stripe/{your-account-id}
2. Go to your Stripe Dashboard → Developers → Webhooks.
3. Click Add endpoint.
4. Paste the AutomateNexus CRM webhook URL into the Endpoint URL field.
5. Under Events to send, select the following events:
   • payment_intent.succeeded
   • payment_intent.payment_failed
   • charge.refunded
   • customer.subscription.created
   • customer.subscription.updated
   • customer.subscription.deleted
   • invoice.paid
   • invoice.payment_failed
   • checkout.session.completed
6. Click Add endpoint to save.
7. After creating the webhook, Stripe will show a Signing secret (starts with whsec_). Copy this value.
8. Return to AutomateNexus CRM, navigate to Settings → Integrations → Payments → Stripe → Webhook Settings.
9. Paste the signing secret into the Webhook Signing Secret field.
10. Click Save.

Stripe Payment Settings

After connecting Stripe, configure your payment preferences:

1. Navigate to Settings → Integrations → Payments → Stripe → Payment Settings.
2. Configure the following options:
   • Default currency: Set your primary currency (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP).
   • Payment methods: Enable or disable specific payment methods such as credit cards, ACH direct debit, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
   • Statement descriptor: The text that appears on your customer's bank or credit card statement (max 22 characters).
   • Automatic receipts: Enable to have Stripe automatically send email receipts to customers after successful payments.
   • Capture method: Choose between Automatic (charge immediately) or Manual (authorize now, capture later).
3. Click Save Settings.

Creating Products and Prices in Stripe

To use payment links and checkout forms in AutomateNexus CRM, you need products configured in Stripe:

1. In the Stripe Dashboard, navigate to Products → Add product.
2. Enter the product name, description, and optional images.
3. Set the pricing:
   • One-time: For single purchases.
   • Recurring: For subscriptions. Set the billing interval (monthly, yearly, etc.).
4. Save the product. AutomateNexus CRM will automatically sync your Stripe products and make them available in payment forms and checkout flows.

PayPal Integration

About PayPal

PayPal is supported as an alternative payment processor. It allows customers to pay using their PayPal balance, linked bank accounts, or credit/debit cards through the PayPal checkout flow.

Connecting PayPal

1. Navigate to Settings → Integrations → Payments.
2. Click Configure next to PayPal.
3. Click Connect PayPal Account.
4. You will be redirected to PayPal. Log in with your PayPal Business account credentials.
5. Review the permissions and click Agree and Connect.
6. You will be redirected back to AutomateNexus CRM with your PayPal account connected.

PayPal API Credentials (Advanced)

For advanced configurations, you can manually enter PayPal REST API credentials:

1. Log in to the PayPal Developer Portal at developer.paypal.com.
2. Navigate to Apps & Credentials.
3. Create a new app or select an existing one.
4. Copy the Client ID and Secret for your desired environment (Sandbox or Live).
5. In AutomateNexus CRM, navigate to Settings → Integrations → Payments → PayPal → Advanced.
6. Enter the Client ID and Secret.
7. Select the environment: Sandbox for testing or Live for production.
8. Click Save & Verify.

PayPal Webhook Configuration

1. In the PayPal Developer Portal, navigate to your app settings.
2. Under Webhooks, click Add Webhook.
3. Enter the webhook URL provided by AutomateNexus CRM (found in Settings → Integrations → Payments → PayPal → Webhook Settings).
4. Select the following event types:
   • PAYMENT.CAPTURE.COMPLETED
   • PAYMENT.CAPTURE.DENIED
   • PAYMENT.CAPTURE.REFUNDED
   • BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.CREATED
   • BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.CANCELLED
   • BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.PAYMENT.FAILED
5. Save the webhook.

Using Payments in AutomateNexus CRM

Payment Links

Generate shareable payment links from within AutomateNexus CRM:

1. Navigate to Tools → Payments → Payment Links.
2. Click Create Payment Link.
3. Select the payment processor (Stripe or PayPal).
4. Choose a product/price or enter a custom amount.
5. Optionally add a custom thank-you page URL.
6. Click Generate Link.
7. Share the link via email, SMS, or embed it on your website.

Invoice Payments

AutomateNexus CRM invoices can include payment buttons:

1. When creating an invoice under Tools → Invoicing, toggle on Online Payment.
2. Select the payment processor to use for this invoice.
3. When the client receives the invoice, they can click the Pay Now button to complete payment through the configured processor.
4. The invoice status will automatically update to Paid when payment is received via webhooks.

Checkout Forms

Embed payment collection directly in your forms and landing pages:

1. In the Form Builder, drag the Payment element onto your form.
2. Select the payment processor and product/price.
3. Configure the form fields you want to collect alongside payment (name, email, address, etc.).
4. When a visitor submits the form, payment is processed immediately and a new contact record is created in AutomateNexus CRM with the payment details attached.

Testing Payments

Stripe Test Mode

Always test your payment integration before going live:

1. Ensure your Stripe integration is set to Test mode in Settings → Integrations → Payments → Stripe.
2. Use Stripe's test card numbers to simulate payments:
   • Successful payment: 4242 4242 4242 4242 (any future expiry, any CVC)
   • Declined payment: 4000 0000 0000 0002
   • Requires authentication: 4000 0025 0000 3155
   • Insufficient funds: 4000 0000 0000 9995
3. Process a test payment through a payment link or checkout form.
4. Verify the payment appears in your Stripe test dashboard.
5. Confirm the webhook updates the payment status in AutomateNexus CRM.
6. Check that the contact record in the CRM shows the payment activity.

PayPal Sandbox Testing

1. Set your PayPal integration to Sandbox mode.
2. Use PayPal sandbox buyer accounts (created in the PayPal Developer Portal under Sandbox → Accounts).
3. Process a test payment and verify the webhook updates.

Switching to Live Mode

Once testing is complete:

1. In your Stripe Dashboard, copy your Live API keys (pk_live_ and sk_live_).
2. In AutomateNexus CRM, update the API keys and switch the mode to Live.
3. Update the webhook endpoint in Stripe to use the live webhook URL if different from the test URL.
4. Copy the new webhook signing secret and update it in AutomateNexus CRM.
5. Process a small real transaction to verify everything works in production.

Troubleshooting

Payments Not Appearing in CRM

• Verify that webhooks are correctly configured in your Stripe or PayPal dashboard.
• Check the webhook signing secret is correctly entered in AutomateNexus CRM.
• In the Stripe Dashboard, navigate to Developers → Webhooks and check the event delivery log for failed attempts.
• Ensure the webhook URL is accessible (not blocked by firewalls or IP restrictions).

Payment Form Not Loading

• Verify that the Publishable Key is correctly entered (not the Secret Key).
• Check your browser console for JavaScript errors.
• Ensure your domain has SSL enabled (HTTPS is required for payment forms).
• Verify that the selected payment methods are enabled in your Stripe account.

Webhook Signature Verification Failed

• This error means the webhook signing secret in AutomateNexus CRM does not match the one in Stripe.
• Go to Stripe Dashboard → Developers → Webhooks, click on the endpoint, and copy the signing secret again.
• Update the signing secret in Settings → Integrations → Payments → Stripe → Webhook Settings.

Test Payments Work but Live Payments Fail

• Confirm you have switched from test to live API keys in AutomateNexus CRM.
• Verify your Stripe account is fully activated (business verification complete).
• Check that live webhook endpoints are configured (separate from test endpoints).
• Ensure the products and prices used in payment links exist in live mode (test products are separate from live products in Stripe).

Subscription Payments Not Renewing

• Verify the customer.subscription.updated and invoice.paid webhook events are selected.
• Check the customer's payment method has not expired in Stripe.
• Review the subscription status in Stripe to see if it has been paused or canceled.

Related Articles

• Webhooks & Custom Integrations — Learn more about webhook configuration and custom event handling.
• Automation Platform Connections — Trigger workflows in Zapier or Make when payments are received.
• Email Integration Setup — Send payment confirmation emails and receipts through your configured email provider.