We hosted a live webinar on ValPay and what’s coming to Parachute, and you brought plenty of questions. Here are answers to some of them, in plain language.

💳 Who needs to set up ValPay?

I already use ParaPay. Do I need to do anything?

Yes, if you haven’t already. You need to set up ValPay. It isn’t automatic.

I’ve never taken payments in Parachute. How do I start?

Sign up with ValPay to use payments! Go to Settings, then Subscription & ParaPay, and select Begin Onboarding Verification. It takes ten minutes.

Once you’re approved, you can send your first invoice to parents, have them add their card and get them on autopay, so you don’t have to chase them. Deposits land in your bank account in one or two days.

What happens if I don’t finish setup in time?

Your families will need to add their cards again, and payments through your current setup will end in December.

📋 What you need before you start

What should I have ready for ValPay setup?

• An active, paid Parachute subscription
• The Provider or Administrator role (if you don’t see the setting, this may be why)
• Your legal business name, as it appears on your tax paperwork
• Your bank account information
• An estimate of your yearly tuition income
• Access to the email inbox you’ll use as your contact address

Check everything before you submit, because you can’t edit the form from Parachute afterward.

📝 Filling out the ValPay setup form

What’s the difference between my business name and my legal name?

You’ll enter both. Your business name, or doing business as, is what families know you by. Your legal name is the one on your tax paperwork.

Which legal entity type do I choose?

• Organization: more than one person owns the business
• Individual: you’re a single person who doesn’t own a business
• Sole proprietorship: you’re a single person who owns a business

What does “store name” mean?

It’s your business name, such as the name of your daycare or center. The store address is your business address.

What should I enter for annual tuition?

Enter what you expect to receive in tuition from parents over the year. It’s an estimate, so rounding is fine. Use a whole number with no decimals, commas or dollar sign.

What if my estimate turns out to be wrong?

It only needs to be in the right range. If you’re not sure, use the amount before taxes.

The form won’t accept my entry. What should I check?

• Names: leave out symbols like ! or @, and don’t replace them with anything
• State: a two-letter code, like TX
• ZIP code: five digits or ZIP+4
• Phone number: 10 digits
• Website: optional, but use the full address with https
• Suite or apartment: add it to the street address line

What if I made a mistake on my form?

Once you’ve submitted, changes go through our support team, so email support@kidkare.com and we’ll help.

🔐 The Adyen verification page

What is the Adyen page?

After you submit the form in Parachute, a new page opens from Adyen, the company that processes ValPay payments. That’s expected. This secure page is where you confirm who you are and add the bank account for your payouts.

Why does it ask for all this?

The page explains that federal law requires financial institutions to identify the people and businesses that open an account. That’s why it asks for your name, address, taxpayer ID number and other details.

What does it ask, and what does that mean?

You’ll see a list called “Set up your account.” Work through each item:

• Personal details: your name exactly as it appears on your ID, date of birth, Social Security number, email, phone and home address. If you don’t have an SSN, there’s a box to check.
• Identity check: take a photo of your passport, identity card or driver’s license for instant verification, or upload a copy, which may take a few days.
• Business details: your trading name, or check the box if it’s the same as your legal name. Your EIN, or check “I do not have an EIN.” Then your registered address. If you chose sole proprietorship, this item is called “Sole proprietorship details.”
• Bank account: it has to be in your name or your business’s name. Log in through your banking app or website, or upload a bank statement, which may take a few days.
• Services agreement: this should already say “Signed,” because you accepted the terms in Parachute.

How do I know I’m done with the Adyen page?

Finish each item until none says “Add,” then use the button at the bottom to go back to Parachute. To stop partway, select “Save and go to overview.”

🏦 ValPay bank details and approval

Why do I need to enter my bank details?

That’s how your payouts reach you. You enter them on the Adyen page, not in Parachute. Parachute never sees your bank details and never holds your money.

I closed the verification page before finishing. Can I go back?

Yes. Look for the “View onboarding page” button in the ParaPay panel, or use the link in your verification email, so you can finish later or on another device. Your account stays unverified until you finish that page.

My bank won’t connect. What can I do?

You can upload a bank statement instead of logging in to your bank. The account has to be in your name or your business’s name. If you’re still stuck, email support@kidkare.com.

My setup says “in progress.” What now?

That’s expected after you submit. If you didn’t finish the verification page, use the “View onboarding page” button. Approval usually takes about 48 hours, and uploaded documents may take a few days. You can refresh the tab to check your progress. Keep an eye on your inbox and your spam folder for email from no-reply@mail.adyen.com in case anything else is needed.

I’m approved. Now what?

You’ll get an email that says you’re approved, and your Settings page will show “ParaPay Onboarding Verified!” Being approved isn’t the same as being turned on, so there’s one more step:

Make sure the ParaPay Enabled switch is on, then save.

Go to Settings, then Subscription & ParaPay.

Select Edit at the top of the page.

👪 How families pay with ValPay

How can families pay me?

Payers can pay online with a credit card or bank (ACH) transfer for each invoice, or set up automatic payments. Payments are automatically deposited to your bank account and recorded for you.

🚀 What’s coming to Parachute in January 2027

What’s new?

When we asked what’s the hardest part of running your program, the top answer was too many tools, too much admin. The goal with the new Parachute is not to give you another tool to manage. It’s to bring everything together, for family child care home providers and childcare centers:

• Fill seats: Families who find you online book from your website or join the waitlist, and land in your enrollment CRM, with calls, texts, emails and chats in one inbox.
• Run the day: Families check in at the kiosk, the door or their phone. Your team gets a staff app, and parents get their own app, with photos and video, daily reports and messages translated both ways.
• Get paid: Build a plan from your own rates and bill a whole classroom at once. A billing check finds children not billed. Parents pay by card or bank, on autopay or with a pay link.
• Ask Hazel: Ask a question, and Hazel answers. Tell Hazel what to do, like send reminders, and you confirm.
• Coming from another system? We do it for you, the whole setup.

Is joining the waitlist the same as setting up ValPay?

No, they’re separate. The waitlist is for the new Parachute. If you already take payments in Parachute, you still need to finish your setup.

How do I hear more?

Join the waitlist for the new Parachute.

Still have a question?

Thanks to everyone who joined us and asked. You don’t need a call to set up ValPay, but we can help if you’d like a hand. Email support@kidkare.com.