Stripe Connect Setup Guide
Learn how to set up Stripe Connect to receive payouts when your products sell. Quick, secure, and required to start earning!
Important: You must connect a Stripe account to receive payouts. Without Stripe Connect, you can create and list products, but earnings will be held until you complete setup.
What is Stripe Connect?
Stripe Connect is a secure payment platform that handles creator payouts. Here's how it works:
- Customer purchases your product through Pixerr
- Stripe processes the payment securely through Pixerr's native checkout
- Printful fulfills the order (manufacturing & shipping)
- Pixerr calculates your earnings (price - platform fee - fulfillment cost)
- Stripe transfers funds directly to your bank account
Security & Privacy:
- Pixerr never sees your bank account details
- All sensitive information is handled by Stripe (a $95 billion payment processor)
- Stripe is trusted by millions of businesses including Amazon, Google, and major e-commerce platforms
- Your financial data is encrypted and PCI-compliant
Step-by-Step Setup
1
Navigate to Settings
Log into your Pixerr account and go to Dashboard → Settings
2
Find Stripe Connect Section
Scroll to the "Payment Settings" or "Stripe Connect" section
You'll see one of these statuses:
- Not Connected - You need to connect
- Pending Verification - Stripe needs more information
- Connected - You're all set!
3
Click "Connect Stripe Account"
You'll be redirected to Stripe's secure onboarding flow
Two options:
- Create new account: If you don't have Stripe, create a free Stripe Express account
- Use existing account: If you already have Stripe, log in to connect it
4
Complete Stripe Onboarding
Stripe will ask for the following information:
Business Information
- Individual or Company: Most creators choose "Individual"
- Business Name: Your shop name or personal name
- Business Type: Sole proprietor, LLC, etc.
- Description: "Online art and merchandise sales"
Personal Information
- Full Name: Your legal name (required for tax reporting)
- Date of Birth: For identity verification
- Address: Your physical address
- Phone Number: For account security
- SSN or Tax ID: Required by U.S. law for tax reporting (last 4 digits initially)
Bank Account Details
- Bank Name: Your bank or credit union
- Account Type: Checking or Savings
- Routing Number: 9-digit bank routing number
- Account Number: Your bank account number
💡 Finding Your Bank Details:
- Check your checkbook (routing number at bottom left)
- Log into your bank's online portal
- Call your bank's customer service
- Most banks show this in your mobile app
5
Verify Your Identity
Stripe may ask you to verify your identity by uploading:
- Government-issued ID (driver's license, passport)
- Photo of yourself holding the ID (in some cases)
This is a legal requirement to prevent fraud and money laundering.
6
Complete & Return to Pixerr
After completing the Stripe onboarding:
- Click "Done" or "Return to Pixerr"
- You'll be redirected back to your Pixerr dashboard
- Your Stripe status should show as Connected
- You're now ready to receive payouts!
Understanding Payouts
How Earnings Are Calculated
When a customer purchases your product, here's how your payout is calculated:
Formula:
Your Payout = Sale Price - Platform Fee - Fulfillment Cost - Payment Processing FeesExample 1: $25 Physical Product (T-Shirt)
| Customer Pays | $25.00 |
| - Fulfillment Cost (Printful) | -$12.00 |
| - Platform Fee (10% on Free plan) | -$2.50 |
| - Payment Processing (≈3%) | -$0.75 |
| Your Earnings | $9.75 |
Example 2: $10 Digital Image Download
| Customer Pays | $10.00 |
| - Fulfillment Cost | $0.00 No production costs! |
| - Platform Fee (5% on Creator plan) | -$0.50 |
| - Payment Processing (≈3%) | -$0.30 |
| Your Earnings | $9.20 |
💡 Digital Downloads = Higher Profit Margins! No manufacturing or shipping costs means you keep significantly more per sale. A $10 digital download can earn you more than a $25 physical product!
Platform Fees by Plan:
- Free Plan: 10% of sale price
- Creator Plan ($20/mo): 5% of sale price
- Pro Plan ($50/mo): 1% of sale price
💡 Pricing Strategy: Higher subscription plans have lower platform fees, so you keep more profit per sale. If you make consistent sales, upgrading can pay for itself!
Payout Schedule & Settlement Delays
⏰ When Do I Get Paid?
Important: There is a delay between when a customer purchases and when funds are available for payout. This is due to payment processing settlement periods and bank clearing times.
The Complete Timeline:
Day 0: Customer Makes Purchase
- Customer completes checkout
- Revenue is tracked immediately in your dashboard as "Pending Earnings"
- But funds are NOT yet available for withdrawal
Days 1-7: Payment Processing & Settlement Period
- Payment processor holds funds for settlement (2-7 business days typically)
- For physical products, order is also being fulfilled during this time
- Funds are still pending and locked in the payment processing system
Days 7-10: Bank Deposit & Clearing
- Funds are transferred to Pixerr's business bank account
- ACH transfer takes 1-3 additional business days to clear
Day 14+: Revenue Becomes Available
- After 14 days, revenue is marked as "Available for Payout"
- This ensures payment has been fully processed and funds have cleared
- You can now request a payout via your dashboard
Payout Transfer (After You Request)
- Standard Transfer: 1-3 business days to your bank (free)
- Instant Transfer: Usually minutes (1% Stripe fee, waived for Founding Creators)
Total Timeline Summary:
- Physical Products: 14-21 days from sale to payout availability
- Digital Products: 14-18 days from sale to payout availability
- After requesting payout: Add 0-3 days depending on transfer method
Why the Delay?
This is an industry-standard practice for marketplaces:
- Payment Processing Settlement: Payment processors hold funds to protect against chargebacks and fraud
- Cash Flow Safety: Ensures Pixerr has actually received the money before paying creators
- Chargeback Protection: Customers can dispute charges for 30-60 days; the hold period protects creators from reversed payments
Your Dashboard Shows:
- Pending Earnings: Revenue from sales made in the last 14 days (still settling)
- Available for Payout: Revenue from sales made 14+ days ago (settled and ready to withdraw)
💡 Track Your Payouts: View detailed payout history in your Stripe Dashboard
Tax Information & 1099 Forms
Understanding Tax Reporting
Stripe handles all tax documentation for you:
1099-K Forms (For U.S. Creators)
If you earn over the IRS threshold in a calendar year:
- 2024 Threshold: $600+ in gross sales
- What happens: Stripe automatically generates and files a 1099-K form
- When: Available by January 31st for the previous year
- Where: Access in Stripe Dashboard → Reports → Tax Documents
Accessing Tax Forms
- Log into dashboard.stripe.com
- Navigate to Reports → Tax Documents
- Download your 1099-K or other tax forms
- Provide to your tax preparer or use for self-filing
Business Expenses to Track
These may be tax-deductible (consult a tax professional):
- Pixerr subscription fees
- Platform fees (10%, 5%, or 1%)
- Fulfillment costs
- Marketing and advertising expenses
- Professional services (designers, accountants)
⚠️ Tax Disclaimer: Pixerr does not provide tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for questions about reporting your earnings, deductions, and tax obligations.
Managing Your Stripe Account
Stripe Dashboard Features
Access your Stripe Dashboard at dashboard.stripe.com to:
- View Payouts: See all past and upcoming payouts
- Transaction History: Detailed record of every sale
- Update Bank Account: Change payout destination
- Tax Documents: Access 1099 forms and tax reports
- Account Settings: Update business information
- Download Reports: CSV exports for accounting software
Updating Your Bank Account
- Log into Stripe Dashboard
- Go to Settings → Bank accounts and scheduling
- Click "Add bank account" or edit existing
- Enter new bank details
- Verify with micro-deposits (Stripe will send 2 small deposits to confirm)
Troubleshooting Common Issues
❌ "Stripe verification required"
Problem: Stripe needs additional information to verify your account
Solution:
- Check your email for messages from Stripe
- Log into Stripe Dashboard
- Look for banner notifications about verification
- Provide requested documents (usually ID or business proof)
❌ "Bank account verification failed"
Problem: The bank account you entered couldn't be verified
Solution:
- Double-check routing and account numbers
- Ensure account is active and in your name
- Contact your bank to confirm account details
- Try entering the information again carefully
❌ "Payout is taking longer than expected"
Problem: You haven't received your payout yet
Solution:
- Check order status—payouts only happen after fulfillment
- Log into Stripe Dashboard to see payout status
- Bank transfers can take 1-3 business days
- Contact Stripe support if payout shows as "paid" but not in your account
❌ "Stripe account restricted or suspended"
Problem: Stripe has restricted your account
Common Causes:
- Incomplete verification
- Suspicious activity flags
- Outstanding verification requests
- Terms of service violations
Solution:
- Check email from Stripe explaining the restriction
- Log into Stripe Dashboard for details
- Contact Stripe support directly through their dashboard
- Provide any requested documentation promptly
International Creators
Stripe Connect Outside the U.S.
Stripe Connect is available in 40+ countries. Requirements vary by region:
Supported Countries
Stripe Connect is available in: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States.
Currency & Payouts
- Payouts are made in your local currency
- Currency conversion happens automatically
- Conversion rates are competitive (usually 1-2% markup)
- Tax forms vary by country (not just 1099-K)
💡 Check Availability: Visit stripe.com/global to see specific requirements for your country.
Security & Privacy
How Your Data is Protected
- PCI-DSS Level 1: Highest level of payment security certification
- Bank-level Encryption: All data encrypted in transit and at rest
- Two-Factor Authentication: Optional 2FA for your Stripe account
- Fraud Prevention: Advanced ML algorithms detect suspicious activity
- GDPR Compliant: Meets European data protection standards
- Regular Audits: Third-party security audits and compliance checks
Bottom line: Your financial information is safer with Stripe than storing it in your email or on your computer.
Need Help?
Stripe Connect Support
Pixerr Support:
- Email support@pixerr.com for help connecting your account
- Check our Troubleshooting Guide for common issues
Stripe Support:
- For account verification, payout, or banking issues, contact Stripe Support
- Use the chat widget in your Stripe Dashboard for instant help
- Email: support@stripe.com
Ready to Set Up?
Head to your Dashboard → Settings and click "Connect Stripe Account" to get started. The process takes about 10-15 minutes and then you're ready to receive payouts!
