Invoicing & Payments · updated 2026-08-08

How to create an order with a payment link in Dumpster Controls

When you create an order with the "Payment Link" option, the app generates the invoice, emails and texts a secure payment link to the customer, and can start automatic reminders, all in one flow.

Before you start

A connected Stripe account (otherwise the "Payment Link" button is disabled).
A customer with an email address or phone number.

## Start a new order
Click "Create New Order" in the sidebar and fill in the customer, dumpster size, and dates as usual.
## Choose "Payment Link"
In the payment section, select "Payment Link". The tooltip explains it: a secure payment link is sent to the customer and Stripe processes the payment. Card details are never stored by the app.
## Review the invoice
The "Invoice Preview" modal shows the full invoice before anything is sent. Under "Delivery Options" choose "Send via Email" (you can add more recipients with "Add another email...") and "Send Text Message Notification".
## Set "Card Fee Handling"
Pick who covers the processing fee: "Customer pays fee", "Company absorbs fee", or "Split 50/50". The preview updates the customer total accordingly.
## Send it
Click "Confirm & Send". The order and invoice are created, the payment link goes out by the channels you chose, and automatic payment reminders are scheduled for unpaid invoices.

What happens next

The customer receives the invoice with a "Pay Now" button on the public invoice page.
If you ordered multiple dumpsters at once, they are billed under one combined invoice.
When the customer pays, the invoice and the order are marked paid automatically.

Troubleshooting

The "Payment Link" button is grayed out.

Your Stripe account is not connected yet. Clicking the button opens a prompt to set up payouts first.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Is Dumpster Controls really free?

Yes. The software is free: dispatch, online booking, the driver app, invoicing, the Tresha AI assistant and every other feature, with no monthly fee, no trial period and no credit card to sign up. The only cost on the free plan is optional card processing when a customer pays by card through the platform: 2.99% plus $3.99 per transaction on the free plan. An optional Unlimited plan at $169 per month lowers that to 2.99% plus $0.30. Prices as published on dumpstercontrols.io/pricing on 2026-09-23.

Do you charge per driver, per truck or per order?

No. There is no per-driver, per-truck, per-user or per-order fee, and no order limit. A company with one truck and a company with twenty pay the same for the software: nothing.

Is there a contract?

No. There is no contract, no minimum term and no setup fee. You create the account yourself, and on the free plan there is nothing to cancel because nothing is billed. The optional Unlimited plan is billed month to month.

Which countries and languages are supported?

Dumpster Controls serves hauling companies in the United States and Canada. The app interface and the Tresha AI assistant are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The public pages, such as the blog, the help center and the landfill finder, are in English.

How do I switch from another dumpster software?

Create a free account at dumpstercontrols.io/login, with no sales call and no credit card. Then import your customers from a CSV file using the template provided in the app; past orders can also be imported from a CSV. Container sizes and pricing are set up in Settings. The landfill database, with 1,750 active US and Canadian landfills as counted on 2026-10-01, is already loaded, so disposal sites do not need to be typed in. Step-by-step guides are at dumpstercontrols.io/help.