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Stripe UK card payments for personal trainers

Last updated: . Stripe's fees were checked on stripe.com/gb/pricing on 7 October 2026, and they can change.

New to card payments? Read how to take card payments as a personal trainer first. Still setting your prices? See how much to charge as a personal trainer, or try the PT pricing calculator. Create your FitDesk account

Short answer. FitDesk connects to your own Stripe account through Stripe Connect. Clients pay you by card, and Stripe pays the money out to your bank on Stripe's payout schedule. You can record cash payments too. No monthly fee. 0.7% on Stripe card payments through FitDesk, minimum 1p per card payment. Stripe's own fees still apply. Cash has no FitDesk fee.

On this page
  1. How do I set up Stripe UK as a personal trainer?
  2. What you can do with Stripe in FitDesk
  3. Card or cash: what each costs you
  4. When you get paid
  5. Clients who pay monthly
  6. Switching from another app?
  7. Keeping your income records
  8. Sources
  9. Frequently asked questions

How do I set up Stripe UK as a personal trainer?

Create your own Stripe account, connect it in FitDesk through Stripe Connect, then send invoices or sell session packages by card.

What you can do with Stripe in FitDesk

Invoices

Create an invoice for a client and email it. Your client opens a secure pay page and pays by card through Stripe Checkout. See also personal trainer software for UK PTs.

Email payment links

The invoice email carries a pay link, so clients can settle by card from their phone or computer. Common questions are answered in the FitDesk FAQ.

Session packages

Sell packs of sessions that clients pay for up front by card, and their remaining sessions count down as they book.

Your own Stripe account

Your money, your Stripe account. Card payments are taken on your own connected Stripe account, and FitDesk does not hold your funds. You can see your balance and payouts in your own Stripe dashboard.

Refunds

You decide on refunds under your own policy, and you can refund a card payment from FitDesk. The FitDesk fee on that payment is refunded too, in proportion to the amount refunded. Stripe does not return its own processing fees from the original payment. See our guide to writing a fair cancellation and refund policy.

Payment records

Invoices, card payments and recorded cash payments sit against each client in FitDesk, next to their bookings. Your Stripe dashboard keeps its own record of every card payment.

Card or cash: what each costs you

  • FitDesk fee

    Card through FitDesk (Stripe)
    0.7% on Stripe card payments through FitDesk, minimum 1p per card payment
    Cash, recorded in FitDesk
    None. Cash has no FitDesk fee
    Stripe on its own, without FitDesk
    Not applicable

  • Stripe fee

    Card through FitDesk (Stripe)
    Stripe's own fees still apply. Stripe lists 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards and 2.8% + 20p for premium UK cards
    Cash, recorded in FitDesk
    None, because the money does not go through Stripe
    Stripe on its own, without FitDesk
    Stripe lists 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards, 2.8% + 20p for premium UK cards, 2.5% + 20p for EEA cards and 3.15% + 20p for international cards, plus 2% if currency conversion is required

  • Monthly or setup fee

    Card through FitDesk (Stripe)
    None from FitDesk. Stripe lists no setup or monthly fees on standard pricing
    Cash, recorded in FitDesk
    None
    Stripe on its own, without FitDesk
    Stripe lists no setup or monthly fees on standard pricing

  • Where the money goes

    Card through FitDesk (Stripe)
    Your own Stripe account, then your bank on Stripe's payout schedule
    Cash, recorded in FitDesk
    Straight to you
    Stripe on its own, without FitDesk
    Your own Stripe account, then your bank on Stripe's payout schedule

  • Refunds

    Card through FitDesk (Stripe)
    Refund from FitDesk under your own policy. The FitDesk fee is refunded too. Stripe does not return its processing fees from the original payment
    Cash, recorded in FitDesk
    Between you and your client. You can record the refund in FitDesk
    Stripe on its own, without FitDesk
    Stripe does not return its processing fees from the original payment

  • Disputes

    Card through FitDesk (Stripe)
    Stripe lists £20.00 for each dispute received. FitDesk does not manage disputes in the app
    Cash, recorded in FitDesk
    Not applicable
    Stripe on its own, without FitDesk
    Stripe lists £20.00 for each dispute received

  • Records

    Card through FitDesk (Stripe)
    Recorded against the client in FitDesk, next to bookings
    Cash, recorded in FitDesk
    You record it against the client in FitDesk
    Stripe on its own, without FitDesk
    In your Stripe dashboard. Bookings and client notes live somewhere else

Stripe figures are from Stripe's UK pricing page on standard pricing, checked 7 October 2026. The Stripe rate for your own account depends on the card type and can change, so check your Stripe dashboard. FitDesk is not affiliated with Stripe beyond using Stripe Connect.

Worked example (illustration only, not a suggested price). A £50 payment on a standard UK card: Stripe's fee is 95p and the FitDesk fee is 35p, so you receive £48.70. The FitDesk fee is rounded to the nearest penny, with a minimum of 1p per card payment. The same £50 paid in cash costs you nothing in fees.

When you get paid

Card payments go into your own Stripe account, and Stripe pays them out to your bank on Stripe's payout schedule. You can see your balance and payouts in your own Stripe dashboard. Cash is paid to you on the spot, so there is nothing to wait for.

Clients who pay monthly

FitDesk does not offer automatic recurring billing, so it will not charge a client's card by itself each month. Each month you can send an invoice that the client pays by card, or record a cash payment. If you need automatic collection, you will need a separate provider outside FitDesk. The personal trainer payment system page covers what FitDesk does and does not do.

Switching from another app?

See how FitDesk compares as a Trainerize alternative, a My PT Hub alternative or a PT Suite alternative.

Keeping your income records

FitDesk is not accounting software and does not file tax returns. With card payments and recorded cash in one place, it can be easier to gather your income records as a self employed personal trainer at the end of the year.

Sources

  • Stripe, UK pricing (card rates, setup and monthly fees, refunds, disputes): stripe.com/gb/pricing (checked 7 October 2026)

Frequently asked questions

Why use Stripe for personal trainer payments?

Stripe lets your clients pay you by card, and on its standard UK pricing it charges no setup or monthly fees. With FitDesk, card payments go into your own Stripe account and Stripe pays the money out to your bank on its payout schedule. Your payments sit next to your bookings and client records.

Do I need my own Stripe account?

Yes. FitDesk uses Stripe Connect, so you create your own Stripe account and connect it to FitDesk. Card payments go through your account, and you can see your balance and payouts in your own Stripe dashboard. FitDesk does not hold your funds, so you stay in control of your money.

What are the Stripe fees for personal trainers in the UK?

Stripe's UK pricing page lists 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards and 2.8% + 20p for premium UK cards. For FitDesk itself: No monthly fee. 0.7% on Stripe card payments through FitDesk, minimum 1p per card payment. Stripe's own fees still apply. Cash has no FitDesk fee.

Can clients pay by card?

Yes. You can create an invoice in FitDesk and email it to your client, who pays by card through Stripe. Clients can also buy session packages by card. The payment is recorded against that client in FitDesk, and Stripe keeps its own record in your dashboard. Clients who prefer cash can pay you directly, and you record it.

When do I get paid from Stripe?

Stripe pays your card payments out to your bank on Stripe's payout schedule. You can see your balance and payouts in your own Stripe dashboard. Cash is paid to you directly, so there is no payout to wait for.

Can I charge clients automatically every month with Stripe in FitDesk?

No. FitDesk does not offer automatic recurring billing, so it will not charge a client's card by itself each month. Each month you can send an invoice that the client pays by card through Stripe, or record a cash payment. If you need automatic collection, you will need a separate provider outside FitDesk.

What happens if a client disputes a card payment?

If a client disputes a card payment with their bank, Stripe's UK pricing page lists a £20.00 fee for each dispute received. It also lists £20.00 for each dispute you respond to manually, which you get back if you win. FitDesk does not manage disputes in the app. They are handled through Stripe.

Can clients still pay cash?

Yes. Cash has no FitDesk fee and no Stripe fee, because the money does not go through Stripe. You and your client arrange the cash between you, and you record the payment in FitDesk so it sits against that client next to their bookings and any card payments.

How do I set up Stripe UK as a personal trainer?

Create your own Stripe account, connect it in FitDesk through Stripe Connect, then send invoices or sell session packages by card.

What does "Powered by Stripe Connect" mean?

Payments go through your own connected Stripe account. FitDesk does not hold your funds.

Create your FitDesk account

No card needed to sign up and no client cap. Connect Stripe when you are ready to take card payments.

Create your FitDesk account