Managing a private practice in India comes with its own set of administrative hurdles—none more critical than ensuring seamless payment collection. Whether you prefer the automated ease of a payment gateway or the zero-fee benefits of direct UPI transfers, having a system that tracks everything in one place is essential for your financial health.
This guide walks through how the PractiPal dashboard handles session bookings and payments, ensuring you get paid on time, every time.
The Two Ways to Get Paid on PractiPal
PractiPal offers two primary payment paths to give you and your clients maximum flexibility:
1. Automated Online Payments (Razorpay)
For therapists who want a “set it and forget it” approach, the integrated Razorpay gateway allows clients to prepay at the time of booking.
- Pros: Instant confirmation, automated status updates, and professional checkout experience.
- Consideration: Standard transaction fees (typically 2–5%) apply depending on the client’s payment method. The payment is settled on a weekly basis by PractiPal to your account [00:43].
2. Zero-Fee Manual Payments (UPI & Cash)
To avoid transaction fees, many Indian therapists prefer direct UPI transfers. PractiPal facilitates this by providing your UPI ID and QR code directly in the client booking portal [00:51].
- Pros: 0% transaction fees and immediate settlement into your bank account, cash register or UPI account.
- Consideration: Requires a quick manual “Mark as Paid” step in your dashboard once you verify the transfer [01:22].
Step-by-Step: Managing UPI and Cash Payments
If your client chooses the UPI/Cash option, here is the seamless workflow from booking to revenue tracking:
Step 1: Client Booking
When a client books a session (e.g., Couples Therapy) via your portal, they select the “Cash and UPI” option. They will see your UPI details or QR code, make the payment through their preferred app (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm), and click Continue to finalize the booking [01:07].
Step 2: Verification (Pending Status)
Once booked, the session appears in your Payments tab under a “Pending” status [02:04]. This acts as a reminder that the session is scheduled, but the funds are not yet confirmed in your practice accounting.
Step 3: Marking as Paid
Once you verify the receipt of funds in your bank account or UPI app:
- Navigate to the Sessions tab in your PractiPal dashboard.
- Select the specific session.
- Scroll down and click Mark as Paid [02:21].
Step 4: Automatic Dashboard Updates
The moment you mark a session as paid:
- The status updates to “Paid” in the client portal, giving them instant peace of mind [02:36].
- The amount is added to your Total Revenue in the Practice Dashboard [02:51].
- It prevents the session from moving into the “Overdue” category if the session date passes [03:04].
Why This Workflow is a Game-Changer for Indian Therapists
1. Professionalism Without the Price Tag
You can offer your clients the modern convenience of QR-code payments without losing a percentage of your hard-earned income to gateway fees.
2. Accurate Revenue Tracking
By moving payments from “Pending” to “Paid,” your dashboard provides a real-time snapshot of your business health. You’ll never have to wonder which client still owes for last week’s session.
3. Reduced Administrative Friction
The client portal handles the “heavy lifting” of showing the QR code and collecting booking details, leaving you to focus on what matters most: the therapy.
FAQs
1. Can I use both Razorpay and UPI?
A: Yes! You can give your clients the choice between the two, allowing them to choose convenience or direct transfer. You can also turn off Razorpay if you don’t want to risk the 2-4% fees.
2: What happens if I forget to mark a UPI payment as paid?
A: The payment will remain in “Pending” status. If the session date passes without being marked, it will move to “Overdue,” helping you identify missed payments quickly [03:04].
3: Does the client get a confirmation?
A: Absolutely. Once you mark the session as paid in your dashboard, the client’s portal refreshes to show the “Paid” status automatically [02:36].
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