Headnote is an easy-to-use, trust-compliant payment tool for lawyers that allows attorneys to request online payment from clients by either eCheck or credit card and offers attentive customer service.
Headnote Highlights
Easy setup. Creating an account and setting up payment information is simple and straightforward. During setup, the software prompts you for all information required to send and receive payments, including uploading an invoice. At the end is a simple, unique link that can then be sent to the client to request payment.
Trust account compliant. Headnote allows you to accept trust account payments, even through credit card, and stay compliant with IOLTA guidelines and the ABA’s Rules of Professional Conduct.
Easy payment for clients. Once clients click their unique link, they are prompted to pay by eCheck or Credit Card. Once they receive the link and pay, they’ll automatically receive a receipt through their email once their payment has been completed. If they paid by credit card, they’ll see your firm name as the memo on their statement. If clients have viewed an invoice but haven’t paid, you’ll be able to see that as well. You can also give clients the option to pay in installments (and set up automated reminders).
Pricing
There are no up-front costs or hidden fees or contracts for Headnote. You sign up for free, and the only fees you pay are transaction fees when you receive payment, 1.9% for eChecks and 2.9% for Credit Card payments.
For payments into trust accounts, fees are deducted from your operating account, not your trust account.
If you want to give Headnote a try, they offer a free trial in the form of a $50 transaction fee credit. You won’t pay anything until your transaction fees exceed $50.
If you are looking for something more robust, Headnote offers a Headnote AR Pro package which includes all of Headnote’s features, plus a dedicated AR professional for 5 hours a month to follow up on all your Headnote payments. Pricing for this service starts at $249/mo.
Features
| Headnote | |
|---|---|
| Website | headnote.com |
| Starting Monthly Fee | $0 |
| Starting Processing Fee | 1.9% for eChecks, 2.9% for Credit Card |
| Free Trial | Yes |
| Apps | |
| Installation | Web |
| Support | 24 hours via ticket, 7am-7pm 7 days a week via phone, email, and chat |
| Features | |
| Accept Payments | ✓ |
| Recurring Payment | ✓ |
| Send Invoices | ✓ |
| Request Payments | ✓ |
| Accepts Major Credit Cards | ✓ |
| eCheck/ACH Deposits | ✓ |
| International Transactons | |
| Issue Refunds | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✓ |
| Fraud Protection | ✓ |
| Trust Account Compliance | ✓ |
Things You Might Want to Know
Customized Dashboard. When you log into your Headnote account, you’ll be able to see your personalized dashboard and AR tracking, reflecting the status of your Accounts Receivable and your firm’s financials. Given that Headnote’s website is mobile responsive, you’ll be able to view this, and do more, on the go.
Security. Headnote is Payment Card Industry (“PCI”) compliant and uses a SHA-256 SSL certificate to protect its users’ data. Headnote tokenizes (which is different from encryption) all payment details, including credit card numbers and bank account information.
Integrations. Currently, Headnote is a standalone service, though it is in the process of offering integrations with other third-party software. It is compatible with all law practice management software with its unique payment link you can include in your emails to clients. Of course, most law practice management software now has online payments built in, so you’d probably just use that.
Who Headnote is For
Honestly, Headnote is a no-brainer if you want to accept online payments from clients but aren’t sure how. All you have to do is sign up, generate a link, and email it or attach it to an invoice. It is not as compelling if you already use law practice management software with a built-in online payments function.