Why Connect Stripe?

Stripe is the payment processor that handles all your subscription billing, customer payments, and bank transfers. Connecting your Stripe account is essential for accepting payments and getting paid for your services.

What Is Stripe?

Stripe is a secure payment processing platform that:

For Your Customers:

• Processes credit and debit card payments

• Stores payment information securely

• Handles subscription billing automatically

• Sends payment receipts

For Your Business:

• Transfers money to your bank account

• Manages recurring billing cycles

• Handles failed payments and retries

• Provides transaction records

✍️ TIP: Think of Stripe as your digital cash register and bank deposit system—it's what turns customer subscriptions into money in your account.

Why ServiceSubscriber Uses Stripe

ServiceSubscriber is built specifically to work with Stripe because:

Security: Stripe is PCI-compliant and handles sensitive payment data so you don't have to

Reliability: Stripe processes billions in payments annually with 99.99%+ uptime

Automation: Recurring subscriptions bill automatically without manual intervention

Global reach: Stripe supports multiple currencies and payment methods worldwide

Direct deposits: Money goes straight from customers to your bank account—ServiceSubscriber never holds your funds

✅ BEST PRACTICE: Stripe is an industry-standard payment processor used by millions of businesses worldwide. Your customers trust it, and it's built specifically for subscription businesses like yours.

What Happens Without Stripe?

Until you connect Stripe, your business has limitations:

❌ Cannot accept real payments

• Customers can't complete subscriptions

• No way to process credit cards

• No money flowing to your account

❌ Services stay "Pending"

• Your services remain inactive

• Nothing appears on your live site

• Customers see an empty page

❌ Limited functionality

• Can build services but not publish them

• Can't test the full customer journey

• Missing the core revenue component

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Connecting Stripe is the single most important step to making your subscription business operational. Everything else is setup—Stripe is what actually makes your business work.

What Connecting Stripe Enables

Once Stripe is connected, everything comes alive:

✅ Accept Real Payments

• Process credit and debit cards

• Collect subscription payments automatically

• Receive money in your bank account

✅ Activate Your Services

• Pending services go live immediately

• Customers can browse and subscribe

• Your business is open for subscriptions

✅ Automate Billing

• Recurring charges happen automatically

• Failed payments retry automatically

• No manual invoicing required

✅ Manage Subscriptions

• Process refunds when needed

• Handle cancellations properly

• Track payment history

Do You Need a Stripe Account Already?

No! You don't need an existing Stripe account.

If you're new to Stripe:

• Create a Stripe account during the connection process

• ServiceSubscriber guides you through setup

• Takes about 5-7 minutes

If you have a Stripe account:

• Connect your existing account

• Link it to ServiceSubscriber

• Takes about 2 minutes

✍️ TIP: Even if you've never used Stripe before, the setup process is straightforward. You'll need basic business information and your bank account details—that's it.

How Money Flows with Stripe

Understanding the payment flow helps you see why Stripe matters:

Step 1: Customer Subscribes

• Customer enters payment information

• Stripe securely stores their card

• First payment processes immediately

Step 2: Recurring Billing

• Stripe charges customer automatically each billing cycle

• No action required from you

• Customer receives payment receipt

Step 3: Fees Deducted

• Stripe's processing fee (typically 2.9% + 30¢)

• ServiceSubscriber's transaction fee (2% or 1%)

• Both deducted automatically

Step 4: Money to Your Bank

• Remaining funds transfer to your bank account

• Payout schedule: Daily, weekly, or monthly (you choose)

• Typically arrives within 2-7 business days

✍️ TIP: You can track every payment, fee, and payout in your Stripe dashboard.