Create a Stripe Connect Account – SubscriptionFlow

Create a Stripe account from inside SubscriptionFlow and connect it in one flow. Stripe handles identity and bank verification, and SubscriptionFlow turns the gateway on automatically once Stripe approves the account.

Who can do this: users who manage payment settings
Time: about 10 minutes
Applies to: new Stripe accounts

Before You Start

Stripe asks for these during onboarding. Having them ready means you can finish in one sitting:

The business email address for the Stripe account
Your business website, a short description of what you sell, and a support phone number
The account owner's date of birth, home address and tax ID (in the US, the Social Security number)
A bank account for payouts
A photo ID, if Stripe asks for one

Already have a Stripe account? Use Link Existing Account on the same screen instead. This article covers creating a new account with Create Connect Account.

Watch the Walkthrough

The full flow, from Payment Settings to a validated Stripe gateway. Recorded in Sandbox mode.

Create and Connect the Account

Step 1: Open Payment Settings

Select the gear icon at the top right, then open Settings › Payment Settings. The Configured Gateways tab lists the gateways you already use.

Payment Settings page with the Configured Gateways and Available Gateways tabs

Step 2: Choose Stripe from Available Gateways

Open the Available Gateways tab and select Stripe.

Available Gateways tab with the Stripe tile highlighted

Step 3: Start a Connect Account

The Configure Stripe page opens on the Connection tab. Select Create Connect Account to show the account form.

Configure Stripe page with the Create Connect Account button highlighted

Step 4: Fill in the Account Details

Complete every field marked with an asterisk:

Field	What to enter
Business Email	The email for the new Stripe account. Stripe sends account notices here.
Business Type	Individual, Company or Non Profit.
Business Country	The country your business is registered in.
Merchant Region	United States or United Kingdom. This sets which SubscriptionFlow Stripe platform the account is created under.
Sandbox	Tick it to create a test account that takes no real payments. Leave it clear to accept live payments.

Connect account form filled in: business email, business type Individual, country United States, merchant region United States, Sandbox ticked

Step 5: Create the Account

Select Create Connect Account again. SubscriptionFlow creates the account and takes you to Stripe.

Completed form with the Create Connect Account button highlighted

Step 6: Complete Onboarding on Stripe

Stripe's secure onboarding opens with your business email already filled in. Follow each screen: confirm your phone number, add the business and owner details, add your payout bank account and accept Stripe's terms. If Stripe asks for a photo ID, upload it here. When you finish, Stripe returns you to SubscriptionFlow.

Stripe's Get started with Stripe page showing the business email

Need to stop partway? Select Return to SubscriptionFlow. You can finish the remaining details later from your Stripe dashboard.

Step 7: Wait for Stripe to Approve the Account

Back in SubscriptionFlow, the gateway shows Not Validated while Stripe checks your details. This usually takes a few minutes. When Stripe enables payments on the account, SubscriptionFlow updates the gateway to Validated and marks it Active on its own. Select Reload to refresh the page.

Configure Stripe page showing the account as Validated and Active, with the Stripe account ID

Set Up How Stripe Is Used

Open the Advanced Options tab to decide how SubscriptionFlow uses the gateway, then select Save.

Payment Options: the payment methods customers can use with this gateway.
Allow Access To: which users the gateway is available to.
Make Default: send payments through Stripe unless a payment method says otherwise.

Advanced Options tab with payment options, Klarna, global currency, card reader, customer search, automatic payouts and access settings

Lower part of Advanced Options with Make Default, application fee, statement identifier and Save

Back on Settings › Payment Settings, Stripe now appears as Validated and enabled. If no default gateway is set, select Make Default on the Stripe row so transactions have a gateway to process through.

Configured Gateways list with Stripe shown as Validated and enabled

Troubleshooting

"Some required fields are missing!" when I select Create Connect Account

One of the starred fields is empty. Fill in Business Email, Business Type and Business Country, then select Create Connect Account again.

The gateway still says Not Validated after onboarding

Stripe hasn't enabled payments on the account yet. Either it is still checking your details, or it needs more information. A photo ID is the most common request. Sign in to your Stripe dashboard and complete anything listed as required.

You don't need to reconnect. As soon as Stripe enables payments, the gateway changes to Validated automatically.

I created a Sandbox account and now want to take live payments

A Sandbox account only takes test payments. Uninstall the Sandbox gateway from the Configure Stripe page, then repeat these steps with Sandbox cleared.