Creating a Stripe account takes about 10 minutes and requires basic information about you, your business, and your bank account. You can sign up at stripe.com for free, and Stripe lets you test its full platform in a sandbox environment before you verify your business and start accepting real payments.
What You Need Before You Start
Gather these details before you begin the signup process so you can complete everything in one sitting:
- Personal identification: Your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Stripe uses this to verify your identity.
- Business details: Your legal entity name, entity type (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, etc.), and Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you have one. If you’re operating as an individual without a registered business, your SSN covers this.
- Physical business address: The address where most of your business activity takes place. PO Boxes are not accepted.
- Bank account information: A U.S. bank account routing and account number where Stripe will deposit your payouts.
- Business website or product description: Stripe reviews what you sell, so having your website URL or a clear description of your product or service ready speeds up verification.
If you haven’t filed paperwork to register your business with any government agency, Stripe classifies you as an individual or unregistered business. You won’t need to select a business structure, and your personal SSN serves as your tax identifier. If you have filed registration documents (forming an LLC, corporation, or partnership), you’ll select “registered business” and provide the corresponding structure and EIN.
Step-by-Step Account Creation
Go to stripe.com and click the sign-up button. You’ll enter your email address, full name, and create a password. Stripe sends a verification email to confirm your address, so check your inbox and click the confirmation link before moving on.
Once you’re inside the Stripe Dashboard, you’ll see an account checklist guiding you through the remaining setup. The checklist walks you through several sections: business information, personal details, and payout settings. Fill in your legal business name, entity type, EIN or SSN, and your physical address. Stripe verifies these details against public records and may ask you to upload official documentation (like a government-issued ID or business registration certificate) if it can’t confirm something automatically.
Next, you’ll add your bank account for payouts. Enter the routing number and account number for the account where you want Stripe to send your funds. Stripe typically deposits a small amount to verify the account is yours.
You’ll also set up your public-facing business information. This includes your business name, website URL, support email address, phone number, and a statement descriptor. The statement descriptor is the text that appears on your customers’ credit card statements when they buy from you. It must be between 5 and 22 characters, contain at least 5 letters, and can’t include the characters < > ‘ ” or *. Choose something recognizable so customers don’t file chargebacks because they don’t recognize the charge.
Testing Before Going Live
After creating your account, Stripe gives you access to a sandbox environment where you can simulate transactions without moving real money. This is useful for testing your checkout flow, verifying that webhooks (automated notifications from Stripe to your server) work correctly, and making sure your integration handles different payment scenarios like refunds and failed charges.
To move from testing to accepting real payments, you need to complete business verification and fulfill any remaining activation requirements in your Dashboard. Stripe reviews the information you submitted, and once everything checks out, your account goes live.
Website Requirements for Approval
Stripe reviews your website or online presence as part of the activation process. If your site is missing key elements, it can delay or prevent approval. Make sure your website includes:
- Clear product or service descriptions: Don’t just list product names. Include detailed text descriptions, and for physical goods, add multiple photos with information about materials, colors, and sizing.
- Pricing with explicit currency: Display the full currency name or code alongside prices, not just a dollar sign. This is especially important if you sell to international customers.
- Customer service contact information: Provide at least two direct contact methods like an email address, phone number, or live chat. A contact form alone isn’t sufficient.
- Fulfillment policies: Post your refund policy, shipping or delivery policy, return policy, and cancellation policy. Each should clearly explain the conditions and process. Businesses that only offer in-person services or process charitable donations can skip fulfillment policies.
- Privacy policy: Explain how you collect, use, and protect customer data.
- Payment security information: Let customers know their payment information is handled securely and that you comply with PCI standards (the industry security requirements for handling card data). Your payment page must use HTTPS.
Displaying the logos of the credit card brands you accept (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) on your checkout page is also recommended. If you offer promotions, discounts, or free trials, clearly disclose all terms and conditions where customers can see them before they agree to participate.
Who Can Open a U.S. Stripe Account
For a U.S. Stripe account, unregistered businesses must have a business owner or representative physically located in the United States. Registered businesses must be registered in the U.S., even if operations happen in another country.
Stripe also maintains a list of prohibited business types that cannot use the platform. These include illegal substances, adult services, gambling and internet casino games, debt collection agencies, debt settlement services, shell banks, and peer-to-peer money transmission services, among others. If your business falls into a restricted category, Stripe will decline your application or shut down your account after review. Check Stripe’s restricted businesses page before signing up if you’re unsure whether your industry qualifies.
After Your Account Is Active
Once verified, you can integrate Stripe into your website or app using its APIs, or use one of its no-code options like Stripe Payment Links or hosted checkout pages if you don’t want to write code. Stripe charges processing fees per transaction rather than a monthly subscription, so there’s no ongoing cost if you’re not actively processing payments.
You can update your public business information, statement descriptor, bank account details, and support contact info anytime from the Account Settings section of your Dashboard. If your business structure changes (say you incorporate an LLC after starting as a sole proprietor), update your entity type and EIN in the Dashboard to keep your account in good standing.