Stripe is a payment processor. Your marketplace uses Stripe’s Connect platform to power payments on your marketplace, including processing buyer payment cards, charging your commission, paying out earnings directly to seller bank accounts, seller onboarding, KYC, and more.

To get it working, you'll need a free Stripe account, configure a few settings in your Stripe Dashboard, get your API keys from Stripe, and add them to Console when you go Live.

Follow the instructions closely and it will work smoothly!

1. Create and confirm your free Stripe account

Creating a Stripe account is free and you can delete it anytime. If you already have a Stripe account (for another project), it's better to create a new one to avoid any interference.

Note that right now, once you have configured your Stripe account in your Sharetribe marketplace, you won't be able to change it to another one. You can always update all details (bank account, account name...) in your Stripe dashboard but using another new account later isn't possible for the time being.

• Go to https://dashboard.stripe.com/register
• Fill in the required fields, then create your Stripe account
• You can skip the first question by clicking "Skip for now" if you do not know
• Go to your email to confirm your account. Check your email inbox and look for a confirmation email sent from Stripe (by support@stripe.com) named “Confirm your Stripe email address!”
• Click the confirmation link in this email and log in with your credentials.

Your Stripe account is now confirmed! Let’s proceed.

2. Activate your Stripe account

As you will receive money from your users via your Stripe account, you have to provide some details such as your address and your bank account. This data is secured by Stripe and won't be shared with anyone. This process is called “Activating” your account.

• Log in to your Stripe account and click the Activate your account link in the top menu.
• Complete all the fields according to the instructions and set Your website to your marketplace custom domain when asked.
  • It's OK to activate your account as an individual, you don't need a company ID. For example, in the US, it's okay to use your personal name and SSN in place of an EIN. You can read more about signing up without a tax ID or employer ID number from Stripe here.
  • The activation form varies based on your country, so select that first!
• Once completed, click "Activate account".

Your Stripe account may still need to be reviewed by Stripe. It's automatic, and it should be a very quick process. You may need to provide additional information in order to verify your identity if a red banner appears on your Stripe dashboard. Once the review is completed, your dashboard will say "Your account is now active".

Good job! Now you need to enable Connect in your platform so your sellers can add their bank details in their settings.

3. Enable Stripe Connect and Stripe Connect Onboarding on your platform

Sharetribe uses the Stripe Connect features with Custom Accounts. These enable your sellers to process payments through your marketplace and let you earn a commission on these sales. These next steps describe how to enable Stripe Connect.

This step is important. Without it, providers will not be able to receive money and buyers will not be able to start any transaction.

• Click Connect in the top bar. Then "Get started".
• Answer "Platform or marketplace" when prompted about the type of integration you would like to build. Your integration is already included with your Sharetribe marketplace, but Stripe still needs this information to learn more about your business - At this point, Stripe may have to review your account. If that's the case, you may consult our guide on how to complete the Connect Review process for help.

After a few seconds, or after the review process, you should see your Connect dashboard. Let’s finalize the Connect setup now.

• From the top bar, go to Settings (the gear icon) then Settings under the Connect heading.
• Make sure that Custom is enabled in the Account types section then click on "Manage" for Custom. There should be a blue tick next to "Custom", as shown in the screenshot below

• Turn on "Allow Stripe to collect bank account information of authenticated users" with the toggle, then save
• Back on the https://dashboard.stripe.com/settings/connect page, scroll down to the "Branding" section. There, add your marketplace and business name, its logo and icon, and its colors. Then save. This information will brand the form sellers use to add their payout details and complete KYC on your marketplace.

Great, Stripe is configured! Last step is to get your API keys and input them into Console.

4. Get your API keys from Stripe and add them to your Console

API keys are some text strings that link your Sharetribe marketplace with your Stripe account, so you can manage payments in your marketplace.

First, get your API keys from Stripe.

• Click "Developers" → "API Keys" in the top bar menu.

• Make sure that you are not using test data. If this is the case, switch the View test data toggle. Test API keys will not work in your Sharetribe marketplace.

• Copy the value from the Publishable key row, from the Token column. It should look like pk_live_somelongrandomvaluelikeVqFze9etc

• Share this value with Sharetribe during the going Live process.

• Go back to your Stripe account, in the API tab and click the Reveal live key token button.

• A new window will pop up with the Secret key.
• Copy the value of the Secret key. It should look like sk_live_somelongrandomvaluelike0Rx3jvetc - Note that ou won't be able to see the key again after this. Make sure you copy it and save it somewhere safe and private.
• Paste that value in your payments setup page, at "Integrations -> Payments"

That's it! You have now connected your Stripe account and are ready to receive payments in your marketplace!