Overview
Every organizer must connect a payment account before publishing their first trip - Stripe (recommended) or Square. Stripe is the primary gateway and supports all payment methods. Stripe processes card payments, Apple Pay, and all Buy Now, Pay Later options (Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm). You don't need a business EIN -- personal information and SSN are sufficient to create a Stripe account.
Where to Connect Stripe
You connect Stripe once for your whole account — it then applies to every trip you run, so there’s no need to connect it separately for each trip. You can start the connection from any of these places:
During signup (recommended). The setup wizard finishes on a “Link to Stripe” step headed “Daily payouts with Stripe.” Click “Link To Stripe Connect” to connect right away, or “Skip for Now” to do it later.
From the trip builder. At the top of any trip-builder page there’s a “Payment account” indicator. When it reads “Not connected,” click it and then click “Connect Now →” in the pop-up.
When you publish a trip. If you click Publish before a payment account is connected, SquadTrip prompts you to connect first — follow the “Connect to Stripe” / “Continue” prompts, then finish publishing.
From your settings, any time. Go to Settings → Company Settings and scroll to the Payment Settings section. Click “Add Payment Processing Account” (or “Change Payment Processing Account” if one is already connected), choose Stripe, and click Continue.
Whichever route you take, they all lead to the same Stripe connection page.
Connect Your Stripe Account
You’re taken to Stripe’s secure connection page.
Log in if you already have a Stripe account, or create one if you don’t.
Follow the prompts to add your bank account details and business information.
Complete identity verification (SSN or EIN).
Stripe returns you to SquadTrip, and your Payment account indicator now shows “Connected.”
Connect only one Stripe account. If Stripe offers to create a new account when you already have one, log into your existing account instead — a brand-new account starts empty and won’t carry over any balance you’ve already collected. To review or change which account is connected later, go to Settings → Company Settings → Payment Settings (see Change Connected Stripe Account).
Tips for new Stripe accounts:
Use your own name as the business name if you don't have a registered business
Your personal website or Instagram link works for the business website field
Stripe account creation is free
Where Your Money Goes: Stripe Is Your Bank, Not Ours
When a traveler pays, the money goes directly into your own Stripe account — it never passes through or sits in a SquadTrip account. SquadTrip is the software that rings up the sale; Stripe is your bank.
SquadTrip never holds and cannot release your balance, and cannot send you a payout.
You control when your balance reaches your bank, through your Stripe payout schedule.
For anything about your balance, payouts, or bank transfers, the answer lives in your Stripe dashboard, not in SquadTrip.
Check your payout schedule now: in your Stripe dashboard, go to Settings → Payouts. It can be automatic (Stripe sends your balance to your bank on a schedule) or manual (your balance waits in Stripe until you release it yourself). If you want to be paid without any extra steps, set it to automatic.
What Stripe Enables
Feature | Details |
Card Payments | All major credit and debit cards |
Apple Pay | One-tap checkout on supported devices |
Klarna | Buy Now, Pay Later. USD, GBP |
Afterpay | Buy Now, Pay Later. USD, GBP |
Affirm | Buy Now, Pay Later. USD only |
Payouts to Your Bank | You choose the schedule — automatic (daily/weekly) or manual — in your Stripe dashboard under Settings → Payouts |
Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay run through your Stripe connection, and each must be active on your Stripe account before its toggle will save. Toggle them on in your trip's Payment Options settings.
Important Notes
A payment account - Stripe (recommended) or Square - is required before you can publish a trip
SquadTrip charges a flat 6% processing fee that covers standard Stripe card processing
Stripe adds 1.5% for international cards and 1% for currency conversion, both deducted from the organizer's payout
SquadTrip never holds your funds and cannot change your payout schedule or move money on your behalf
First Stripe payouts typically have a 7-day waiting period (up to 14 for some accounts)
For card payments, travelers see your company name + trip name (truncated to 21 characters) on their statements; Buy Now, Pay Later and 3D-Secure payments show your Stripe account’s default descriptor instead
Troubleshooting
Problem | Solution |
Not sure where to connect Stripe | You can connect from the setup wizard’s “Link to Stripe” step, the “Payment account” indicator at the top of the trip builder, the Publish prompt, or Settings → Company Settings → Payment Settings. If you don’t see a connect option anywhere, you’re likely already connected. |
Stripe asking for EIN but I don't have one | Select "Individual" or "Sole Proprietor" as your business type. SSN is sufficient -- no EIN required. |
Connection failed or stuck | Clear your browser cache, try a different browser, or disable ad blockers that may interfere with Stripe's redirect. |
Payouts paused by Stripe | Log in to your Stripe dashboard at dashboard.stripe.com and provide any requested updates. Stripe pauses payouts when verification information is outdated. |
First payout taking longer than expected | First-time Stripe payouts have a 7-day waiting period. After that, transfers arrive in about 2 business days if your payout schedule is set to automatic. If it’s set to manual, your balance stays in Stripe until you log in and release it — check Stripe → Settings → Payouts. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to set up Klarna, Affirm, or Afterpay separately after connecting Stripe? A: Not separately - but each provider must be active on your Stripe account. Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay run through your Stripe connection; if a toggle refuses to save, the message names the provider - activate it in your Stripe dashboard, then toggle it on again. Go to your trip's Payments page, expand "Payment Options," and toggle on whichever BNPL providers you want to offer. No separate BNPL accounts are needed.
Q: What will travelers see on their credit card statements? A: For card payments, travelers see your company name plus the trip name, truncated to 21 characters total; Buy Now, Pay Later and 3D-Secure payments show your Stripe account’s default descriptor. For example, "ELEVATE TRAVEL BALI W" -- this helps minimize complaints about unrecognized charges.
Q: Can SquadTrip help me with Stripe account issues? A: No. Payment processing is governed by your direct agreement with Stripe. For account issues, payout delays, or verification problems, contact Stripe support directly through your Stripe dashboard.
Q: Can I use Square instead of Stripe? A: Square is offered as an alternative. You connect one gateway at a time, not both simultaneously. Square supports card payments only -- no BNPL or Apple Pay. If you need BNPL (Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm), you must use Stripe.
Q: What fees are associated with Stripe on SquadTrip? A: SquadTrip bundles fees at 6% total for standard U.S. card transactions. This covers both Stripe's processing fees and SquadTrip's platform fee. Stripe adds 1.5% for international cards and 1% for currency conversion, deducted from your payout. BNPL adds a 4% convenience fee charged to the traveler.
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