Connecting Stripe to accept payments
How to set up Stripe Connect so your studio can take deposits and balance payments.
Kowbi uses Stripe Connect to handle all payments. That means money goes straight from the customer to your Stripe account — Kowbi never touches your funds, and you keep full control of refunds, payouts, and disputes.
Before you start
You need:
- A verified email on your Kowbi account (check Admin → Settings if you're not sure)
- Your business EIN or SSN (Stripe is required by law to collect this)
- A bank account where you want payouts deposited
- A government-issued ID (driver's license or passport)
Connect your account
- Go to Admin → Settings → Payments
- Click Connect with Stripe
- You'll be redirected to Stripe's onboarding form (NOT Kowbi)
- Fill in your business details, bank info, and identity verification
- Stripe redirects you back to Kowbi when you're done
Most people finish in 5–10 minutes. If Stripe asks for additional verification documents, upload them through their dashboard — don't email them to Kowbi support.
Already have a Stripe account?
Yes, you can use it. When you click Connect with Stripe, log in with the email on your existing Stripe account during the onboarding flow. Stripe will link your existing account to Kowbi instead of creating a new one.
How payouts work
- Stripe pays you on a rolling 2-day schedule by default (you can change this in your Stripe dashboard)
- Payouts go to the bank account you linked during onboarding
- Refunds come out of your Stripe balance — make sure you keep enough float
How Kowbi charges fees
Depends on your plan:
- Free — 8% per booking is held back by Kowbi
- Starter / Pro / Business — 0% transaction fee; you only pay Stripe's standard processing (~2.9% + $0.30)
Troubleshooting
"Stripe account not fully onboarded" warning — your onboarding form is incomplete. Click Continue Stripe onboarding in Admin → Settings → Payments to finish.
Card declines on the customer side — see Troubleshooting payments.
Payouts paused by Stripe — log into your Stripe dashboard at dashboard.stripe.com. They'll show you exactly what document or info is missing.