Set up payments with Stripe

Connecting payments is a one-time setup that lets clients hold their spot with a card — and it's how deposits and no-show fees reach your bank. You'll do it from your booking page in your dashboard, through a company called Stripe, and it takes about ten minutes with your bank details handy.

Before you start

• You must own the profile. Salon managers can't touch payments — it's your bank account. Haven't claimed yours? Start with Claim your stylist profile.
• Have your bank routing and account numbers ready (a check or your banking app shows both).
• Stripe will ask you to confirm who you are: legal name, birthday, home address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Occasionally it asks for a photo ID too.

What Stripe is and why we use it

Stripe is one of the largest payment companies in the world — it handles cards for millions of businesses, the same job Square does for a card reader. When you connect, you get your own Stripe account. Every booking charge — a deposit, a no-show fee — happens on your account and pays out to your bank. Spokane Hairdressers never holds your money and takes 0% of it.

Connect your account

1. Sign in, go to your dashboard, press Manage on your profile card, then Set up booking.

2. On the booking page, find the Payments card — it starts with "Connect payouts to take card-on-file bookings."

3. Press Set up payments. You'll see "Opening Stripe…" for a moment, then Stripe's own pages open.

4. Fill in your details on Stripe's pages: legal name, birthday, address, and the last four of your Social Security number.

5. Enter the bank account where you want your money to land.

6. Finish Stripe's last step and it sends you back to your booking page.

7. Look for the green message "Payouts are active — you're all set to take bookings." and the Payouts active badge on the Payments card.

Closed the window halfway through? No harm done — Stripe keeps what you entered, and the button on your Payments card now reads Finish setup. Press it any time to pick up where you left off.

Once payouts are active, two things unlock: a Deposit & fees section appears right below the Payments card, where you can set a no-show fee or deposit and your cancellation window, and your public profile can finally show its Book appointment → button — see Turn on online booking for going live and What your clients see for the client side.

Where your money goes

• Straight to you. Each charge lands in your Stripe balance, and Stripe pays it out to your bank on its regular schedule.
• We take 0%. No commission, no per-booking fee from us. The only cost is Stripe's standard processing rate, deducted from each charge — same as any card reader.
• Payouts live at stripe.com. You have a full Stripe dashboard of your own. Sign in there to see every charge, every payout, and the day money reaches your bank.
• Disputes come to you, with our help. If a client's bank ever reverses a charge, you answer it from your Stripe dashboard — more on that below.

Good to know

Why does a hair site need my Social Security number?

It isn't for us — and we never see it. You're the merchant here: the money is yours from the moment a card is charged, and U.S. banking rules require Stripe to verify the person being paid. It's the same check Square or GlossGenius runs when you sign up. Your Social Security and bank numbers go to Stripe only.

The badge says "Setup incomplete" and won't change

Stripe still wants something — often ID verification or a bank confirmation. Press Finish setup to reopen Stripe and complete whatever it lists. If you just finished, give it a minute and refresh; Stripe confirms accounts on a short delay. Still stuck? Sign in at stripe.com — a banner there spells out exactly what's missing.

Stripe says the link expired

Stripe's setup links only work once, so a bookmarked page or the back button hits a dead end. Never bookmark the Stripe form — go back to your booking page and press Finish setup. A fresh link is created every time.

"Couldn't reach Stripe just now — please try again in a moment."

This one's temporary — Stripe hiccuped while opening your account. Wait a minute and press the button again. If it keeps happening over a few days, tell us and we'll dig in.

Where's my money after the first booking?

In your Stripe balance, on its way to your bank. Stripe holds a brand-new account's first payout for up to about a week while it finishes verifying you; after that, payouts follow your account's regular schedule. Watch it move at stripe.com under Payouts. Spokane Hairdressers never holds your money.

A client's bank reversed a charge

Rare, but it happens. The disputed amount plus Stripe's dispute fee comes out of your balance while the bank reviews, and Stripe emails you when one opens — so keep an eye on that inbox. Respond from your Stripe dashboard (Payments → Disputes) with your side: the booking confirmation and your posted no-show or deposit policy are strong evidence. Win, and the money comes back — and tell us too, we'll help you pull the booking details together.

Payments suddenly says "Set up payments" again

That means the connection to Stripe was removed — usually revoked from inside your own Stripe account settings. Press Set up payments and run through setup again before your next booking. One catch: cards saved on bookings made under the old connection can no longer be charged a no-show fee.

Stuck on something this guide didn't cover? Tell us — a real person reads every message.