> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cryptoix.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cryptoix.io/payment-links.md).

# Payment Links

Cryptoix helps you manage payments in various ways, from one-time requests to ongoing subscriptions. This guide explains the different options available to you and how to manage them effectively.

## When to Use Payment Links, Invoices, or Subscriptions

Choosing the right tool depends on your needs:

* **Payment Links:** Ideal for quick, one-off payment requests. You create a link that a customer can click to pay you. Use this for simple transactions, custom orders, or when you don't need a formal invoice.
* **Invoices:** Use invoices when you need a formal record of a sale, including details like items, quantities, and prices. They are suitable for one-time sales where you want to provide a clear, itemized bill to your customer.
* **Recurring Subscriptions:** Perfect for services or products you sell on a recurring basis (e.g., monthly memberships, software licenses, retainer services). Cryptoix automatically generates invoices on a schedule, and customers complete each payment through the public crypto checkout page.

## Payment Links

Payment links are a simple way to request payment from a customer.

### How to Create a Payment Link

1. Navigate to the **Payment Links** area in your merchant dashboard.
2. Initiate the creation of a new payment link.
3. Enter the **Amount** you wish to charge.
4. Select the **Currency**.
5. (Optional) Add a **Description** or **Reference** for your own tracking.
6. (Optional) Set an **Expiration Date** for the link.
7. Confirm the creation of the link.

Once created, you'll receive a unique URL. You can share this link directly with your customer via email, message, or any other communication channel.

### Customer Experience

When a customer clicks your payment link, they will be directed to a secure Cryptoix payment page where they can see the payment details and choose their preferred cryptocurrency to complete the transaction.

### Managing Payment Links

In the **Payment Links** section of your dashboard, you can view all your created links, their status (e.g., pending, paid, expired), and the associated transaction details.

## Invoices

Invoices provide a detailed record of a transaction and are suitable for formal billing.

### How to Create an Invoice

1. Go to the **Invoices** area in your Cryptoix dashboard.
2. Initiate the creation of a new invoice.
3. Fill in the customer's details (if applicable).
4. Add **Line Items**: For each item or service, specify the name, quantity, and unit price.
5. Cryptoix will automatically calculate the subtotal. If enabled and configured, you may have options to add taxes or discounts.
6. Select the **Due Date** for the invoice.
7. Choose the **Currency** for the invoice.
8. (Optional) Add any **Notes** or **Terms & Conditions**.
9. Confirm the creation of the invoice.

### Invoice Generation and Delivery

After creating an invoice, you can:

* **Share a link:** You can get a shareable link to the invoice's payment page.
* **Send it to your customer:** If your system is configured with an email service, you may be able to send the invoice directly to the customer's provided email address.

### Customer Experience

When a customer receives an invoice, they can click a link within the invoice (or use the provided shareable link) to view a secure payment page. Here, they can review the invoice details and select their cryptocurrency to pay.

### Managing Invoices

The **Invoices** section displays all your invoices with their current status:

* **Draft:** The invoice has been created but not yet finalized or sent.
* **Pending:** The invoice has been shared with the customer and is awaiting payment.
* **Paid:** The invoice has been fully paid.
* **Overdue:** The payment deadline has passed.
* **Cancelled:** The invoice has been cancelled and is no longer valid for payment.

You can view, edit (if still in draft status), resend, or cancel invoices from this section.

## Recurring Subscriptions

Subscriptions allow you to automate recurring billing for your customers.

### Setting Up a Subscription Plan

1. Navigate to the **Subscriptions** area in your Cryptoix dashboard.
2. Initiate the creation of a new subscription plan.
3. Define the **Plan Name** and **Description**.
4. Set the **Amount** and **Currency** for the recurring payment.
5. Choose the **Billing Interval** (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, yearly).
6. Confirm the creation of the plan.

### Managing Subscriptions

Once a plan is created, customers can subscribe to it. In the **Subscriptions** area, you can:

* View all active and past subscription plans.
* See which customers are subscribed to each plan.
* Monitor the status of each subscription (e.g., active, cancelled, past due).

### Recurring Billing Expectations

When a customer subscribes to a plan:

* **First Payment Request:** The first invoice for the subscription is created according to the plan's setup. The customer must actively complete this payment through the provided public checkout page. Cryptoix does not automatically charge stored payment methods.
* **Automatic Invoice Generation:** Cryptoix will automatically generate a new invoice for each subsequent billing cycle based on the interval you set. This process relies on scheduled tasks (cron jobs) running on your server.
* **Customer Payment:** The customer will receive a notification for each due invoice and must complete the payment through the provided public crypto checkout page.
* **Cron Configuration:** For recurring invoices to be generated reliably on schedule, your Cryptoix installation must have its subscription cron job configured and running.

### Customer Experience

Customers subscribe to plans through a dedicated page or a link you provide. Once subscribed, they will receive invoices for each billing period. To manage their subscription status (e.g., cancel), they typically need to contact you or your support team, as there is no customer portal for direct management of payment methods or cancellations.

## Customer-Facing Pages

Cryptoix provides secure, branded pages for your customers to interact with your payment requests.

### Public Payment Pages

When a customer clicks on a payment link, invoice, or subscription checkout, they are directed to a dedicated Cryptoix payment page. This page displays:

* Your business name or logo.
* The payment amount and currency.
* A description of the product or service.
* A list of accepted cryptocurrencies.

Customers can select their preferred cryptocurrency and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the payment.

## Managing Due, Paid, Failed, and Cancelled Items

You can easily track and manage all your payment links, invoices, and subscriptions from their respective sections in your dashboard.

* **Filtering and Sorting:** Use the built-in filters to view items by status (e.g., Paid, Pending, Overdue, Cancelled).
* **Viewing Details:** Click on any item to see its full details, including transaction history, customer information, and associated notes.
* **Actions:** Depending on the item and its status, you may be able to:
  * **Edit:** Modify details (e.g., due date, description) for items still in draft or pending status.
  * **Cancel:** Void an invoice or payment link if it's no longer needed.
  * **Resend:** Send an invoice or payment reminder to the customer.
  * **Refund:** Initiate a refund for a paid transaction. This is a feature-gated capability and may depend on your specific setup, including whether it's a balance-backed refund from your Cryptoix wallet or a manual/external refund process.

### Understanding Item Statuses

* **Due/Pending:** The item is awaiting payment. The customer needs to complete the transaction. For subscriptions, this means a new invoice has been generated for the current period.
* **Paid:** The payment has been successfully received and confirmed.
* **Overdue:** The due date for the item has passed, and payment has not been received. You may need to contact the customer or cancel the item.
* **Failed/Expired:** The payment attempt failed, or the payment link/invoice expired before being paid. Customers may need to be issued a new payment link or invoice.
* **Cancelled:** The item has been intentionally cancelled and is no longer valid for payment.

## Notifications and Reminders

Depending on your system's configuration and enabled features, Cryptoix can send notifications. This relies on having services like SMTP or webhooks configured.

* **For You:** You may receive alerts when a new payment is received or a payment fails.
* **For Your Customers:** Notifications can be sent upon successful payment or for other relevant events, depending on your setup.

You can configure these notification settings within your Cryptoix account's **Settings** area, provided the necessary services (like SMTP) are enabled and correctly configured.

## Tracking Payments and Invoices

For production use, it's recommended to track the status of your payment links and invoices not only through the dashboard but also via automated methods:

* **Webhooks:** Configure webhooks in your Cryptoix settings to receive real-time notifications about payment status changes directly to your own systems.
* **API:** Use the Cryptoix API to programmatically check the status of transactions, payment links, and invoices.

## Best Practices

* **Clear Descriptions:** Always provide clear and concise descriptions for payment links, invoices, and subscription plans so customers understand what they are paying for.
* **Accurate Pricing:** Double-check amounts, quantities, and currencies before sending out payment requests.
* **Timely Invoicing:** Send invoices promptly after agreeing on terms with your customer.
* **Monitor Overdue Items:** Regularly check for overdue invoices and follow up with customers to encourage timely payment.
* **Utilize Subscriptions for Recurring Revenue:** If you offer services or products on a recurring basis, leverage the subscription feature to automate invoice generation and improve customer retention. Ensure your cron jobs are set up for reliable invoice creation.
* **Keep Customer Information Updated:** Ensure you have accurate customer contact details for effective communication and notifications.
* **Define Refund Policies:** Clearly communicate your refund policy to customers. Since cryptocurrency transactions are generally irreversible once settled, refunds are handled manually or via specific gateway configurations.
* **Supported Currencies and Networks:** Be aware of the cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks that Cryptoix supports for payments and payouts.
* **Reconciliation:** Regularly reconcile your Cryptoix transaction records with your own accounting to ensure accuracy.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.cryptoix.io/payment-links.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
