How to Create a Payment Form (Tutorial)

Whether you’re running a small business, managing an event, or setting up a nonprofit fundraiser, having a seamless way to collect payments online is essential. A well-designed payment form can streamline transactions, improve user experience, and ensure you get paid on time. With the right tools and a clear process, creating a payment form doesn’t have to be complicated. In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to set up a secure payment form using Knack’s no-code platform.

Key Takeaways

• A payment form is a digital tool that securely collects online payments. They are commonly used for customer self-service portals, donations and fundraising, paid member access, dynamic cost calculations, paid member access, and charging on behalf of customers.
• The easiest way to create a custom payment form with Knack is to use our AI app builder. The AI will suggest an initial form structure based on your specifications that you can edit to match your exact needs.
• When building and managing your payment form, always ensure it is secure and compliant, optimized for user experience, and regularly updated.

What is a Payment Form?

A payment form is a tool designed to collect payments online. With Knack, you can build customizable payment forms that suit your needs, from simple product purchases to dynamic billing scenarios. These forms help ensure payments are processed efficiently and securely, making them an indispensable part of any online workflow.

Types of Payment Forms You Can Create

Knack makes it easy to create versatile payment forms tailored to various use cases, such as:

Basic Payments

Basic payment forms are ideal for simple, straightforward transactions. They collect essential information like item selection and payment details to handle single-product or service sales. These forms simplify order tracking and ensure smooth payment processing for businesses of all sizes.

Multi-Item Payments

Multi-item payment forms are a powerful solution when handling transactions that involve multiple products or services. These forms allow customers to bundle various items into a single transaction, streamlining the checkout process. Overall, multi-item payment forms enhance the shopping experience and improve operational efficiency.

Use Cases for Your Payment Form

The five most common ways payment forms are used are:

Charge on Behalf of Customers

Payment forms make it easy to manage dynamic billing scenarios, such as charging hourly or based on project milestones. These forms can also handle partial payments, such as requiring 50% upfront and the remaining balance upon project completion. Service providers typically use payment forms to manage billing for flexible agreements or project-based work.

Customer Self-Service Portals

Customer self-service portals make it easy for users to manage their accounts, submit service requests, and pay invoices. By integrating payment forms into these portals, you can provide a seamless experience for your customers. They reduce administrative overhead while empowering customers to handle their own transactions.

Paid Member Access

Payment forms can help manage access if you offer memberships or exclusive content. These forms handle registration fees or recurring subscription payments, making it easy to monetize premium features. For example, businesses can use paywalls to limit access to certain areas of their app, ensuring only paying members can view specific content.

Fundraising and Donations

Payment forms are a valuable tool for non-profits and charities looking to collect donations. These forms can be customized to allow one-time or recurring contributions, making it easier for supporters to give. They can even securely store donor payment details for future use.

Dynamic Cost Calculations

For businesses that require real-time pricing updates, payment forms with dynamic cost calculations are an ideal solution. These forms can account for taxes, fees, and discounts, ensuring accurate and transparent pricing. This capability enhances customer trust and simplifies the purchasing process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building Payment Forms with Knack

Knack is a powerful no-code platform that enables users to build custom payment forms using pre-built components and drag-and-drop functionality. The intuitive interface makes creating a scheduling form quick and easy, even for those with little to no technical skills. 

This tutorial will walk you through creating your own basic payment form using Knack’s tools. If you need additional guidance, visit our learning center and developer docs. 

Before diving in, make sure you sign up for a free 14-day trial so you can follow along!

Method 1: Build a Payment Form with AI

A simple way to kickstart your payment form project is by using Knack’s AI app builder. Here’s how:

1. From the app builder dashboard, click “Create New App.”
2. Select “Generate with AI.”

3. In the pop-up, enter a prompt that details the scheduling form you want to create. For example, “A secure, intuitive, basic payment form for a non-profit organization.” 

4. The AI will suggest an initial scheduling form structure. Explore it and make note of any changes you want to make.

5. Navigate to “Settings” and determine whether e-commerce has been enabled. If it hasn’t, click “E-Commerce” and select “Enable.”

6. Use the menu on the left to customize the AI-generated form. You can add, edit, or remove fields, pages, tables, names, and connections. 

7. Once your form is complete, go back to the “E-Commerce” tab and click “Add Processor.” Choose between Stripe and PayPal, then enter the requested information about your processor.

8. If your payment form doesn’t already have a dedicated page, select “Pages” in the left-hand menu. Click the purple + beside “All Pages” and give it a relevant name (ex. Donate Now!). Add a form view that connects to the payment form you created, then add a payment view. This is the page your visitors will interact with when making payments.

9. Click “Live App Design” in the menu to change your form’s colors, fonts, and logo to match your branding.

10. Run a test payment to ensure the form works properly, then publish it.

Method 2: Build a Payment Form with a Knack Template

If AI doesn’t seem like the right fit, Knack also offers a library of customizable app templates that offer a great starting point. The template you need will depend on the purpose of your payment form, but some commonly used payment form templates are the Event Registration Application Template, Customer Payment Portal Template, and Online Donation Portal Template. Here’s how to get started:

1. From the app builder dashboard, click “Create New App.”
2. Select “Start from a Template,” then browse the template library until you find one that meets your needs.
3. Explore the template structure and make note of any changes you want to make.
4. Navigate to “Settings” and determine whether e-commerce has been enabled. If it hasn’t, click “E-Commerce” and select “Enable.”
5. Use the menu on the left to customize the template. 
6. You can add, edit, or remove fields, pages, tables, names, and connections. 
7. Once your form is complete, go back to the “E-Commerce” tab and click “Add Processor.” Choose between Stripe and PayPal, then enter the requested information about your processor.
8. If your payment form doesn’t already have a dedicated page, select “Pages” in the left-hand menu. Click the purple + beside “All Pages” and give it a relevant name (ex. Donate Now!). Add a form view that connects to the payment form you created, then add a payment view. This is the page your visitors will interact with when making payments.
9. Click “Live App Design” in the menu to change your form’s colors, fonts, and logo to match your branding.
10. Run a test payment to ensure the form works properly, then publish it.

Method 3: Build a Payment Form from Scratch

Looking for more control of your payment form? Try building it from scratch—still without any coding!

1. From the builder dashboard, click “Create New App.”
2. Select “Start with a Blank App.”
3. Navigate to “Settings,” click “E-Commerce,” and “Enable.”
4. In the same tab, select “Add Processor.” Choose between Stripe and PayPal, then enter the requested information about your processor.
5. Navigate to the data tab and build your form. Give it a relevant name and add necessary fields, like name, contact information, and currency.
6. Once your form is complete, click “Pages” in the left-hand menu. Click the purple + beside “All Pages” and give it a relevant name (ex. Donate Now!). Add a form view that connects to the payment form you created, then add a payment view. This is the page your visitors will interact with when making payments.
7. Click “Live App Design” in the menu to change your form’s colors, fonts, and logo to match your branding.
8. Run a test payment to ensure the form works properly, then publish it.

Best Practices for Creating Payment Forms

When designing payment forms, it’s crucial to prioritize both functionality and user experience. This ensures a seamless user experience that instills trust. Below are some key best practices to keep in mind:

Ensure Security and Compliance

Security is paramount when handling online payments. Always use secure payment gateways to protect customer data and prevent fraud. Additionally, ensure that your forms adhere to PCI compliance and other relevant data protection laws to avoid legal risks and reassure customers that their sensitive information is safe. When you implement robust security measures, you create a trustworthy payment experience that encourages users to complete transactions confidently.

Optimize User Experience

A simple, intuitive design can make all the difference in how users interact with your payment form. Keep the layout clean and easy to navigate. Provide clear instructions to guide users through the process and include feedback indicators, such as confirmation messages or progress bars, to keep them informed. 

Monitor and Improve

Your payment form should evolve over time based on data and user feedback. Use analytics to monitor performance metrics, such as conversion rates and drop-off points, to identify areas for improvement. Additionally, gather customer feedback to understand their pain points and refine the form’s usability. Regular updates and optimizations will ensure your payment form remains effective, reliable, and aligned with user expectations.

Create a Payment Form with Knack

Ready to encourage donations, applications, conversions, and more with a custom, secure payment form? Sign up with Knack and start building for free today!