Help center/Set up/Getting started
Go live with Paidnice
A checklist for your first week, what Draft, Active and safe mode each do, and how to avoid chasing customers who have already paid.
Updated 3 November 2026
Nothing goes to a customer until you approve an action or make a policy Active. Use this checklist to go from connected to live.
Draft, Active and safe mode
These three controls are often mixed up. Check which one you are using before you expect something to send.
| Control | Where you set it | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Draft | On one policy | Actions wait on the Actions page until you approve them |
| Active | On one policy | Actions run by themselves on schedule, unless safe mode is on |
| Safe mode | Settings, General, or the toggle in the top bar | Actions are created for the whole organization, but none run |
New organizations start with safe mode off and the sample policies in Draft. A Draft policy still needs you to approve each action, and an Active policy sends as soon as safe mode is off.
Before anything goes out
- Bring your accounting system up to date. Reconcile recent payments in Xero or QuickBooks. Paidnice chases what your accounting system shows as unpaid, so an unmatched payment looks like an overdue invoice.
- Turn off reminders in Xero or QuickBooks, if you use them. Paidnice does not control these, and your customers would get both.
- Check who should not be chased. Keep key accounts or direct debit customers out with a contact tag or a separate group. To hold one customer or invoice for now, freeze it.
- Read the templates. Open the email templates and check that each policy uses the one you expect, especially on statement policies at month end.
- Choose a sender. You can go live on the default sender and add your own domain when your IT team has added the DNS records. Custom domains need a Pro plan.
Test one customer
Open an invoice and check Applicable Policy results. It shows every policy with a tick or a cross and the reason. Each policy page also has a Test & Preview tab for checking one invoice or contact.
Your first week
- Keep your policies in Draft. Check the Draft tab on the Actions page each day and approve what looks right. New drafts do not send a notification.
- Start with one policy type. Reminders and statements are the usual first step, and you can add late fees after that.
- Check the Failed tab each day. Each failed action says why it failed. See Fixing failed actions.
- When the drafts look right for a few days, switch that policy to Active.
- Repeat for the next policy.
How the trial works
New organizations get a small number of free actions. Once they are used, scheduled actions wait until you choose a plan. See Plans and billing.
If something goes wrong
- A customer was chased after paying: reconcile the payment. If a fee was charged, see Removing a fee.
- You need everything to stop now: turn on safe mode. Nothing runs by itself until you turn it off. Run now on a single action still sends.
- A reminder went out that you did not expect: check the action on the Actions page. If there is none, it probably came from Xero or QuickBooks.
- Nothing is going out: see Why did Paidnice not send a reminder or charge a fee?
You can also contact support to book a setup call.