Setting up Stripe FAQ
Note: due to the nature of Stripe as a 3rd party payment processor, it is difficult to set up your Stripe account from the mobile app. We recommend using a laptop for the smoothest experience.
Q: Is Stripe safe to use?
A: Stripe has been audited by a PCI-certified auditor and is certified to PCI Service Provider Level 1. This is the most stringent level of certification available in the payments industry. You can read more here.
Q: What percentage does Stripe take for payouts?
A: Payouts on Stripe are free for all US-based hosts. For non-US hosts the cost is $2.25 + 0.25% of earnings for each payout.
Q: I don't have a business or my business doesn’t have a website but Stripe requires this information, what should I do?
A: You can enter "Sniffspot host" as your business and write in www.sniffspot.com for the business URL field. You can enter Sniffspot as the descriptor.
Q: What industry should I choose for my spot?
A: You can choose whatever industry you think is most appropriate, but, if you are in doubt, we recommend "Other entertainment and recreation". If you have additional considerations for your property, you can reach out to Stripe support for help.
Q: Can I get paid in a different way than Stripe?
A: All US-based hosts need to be paid through Stripe. This is how we track payouts to hosts for tax compliance, so we cannot issue payouts in any other way.
Q: Do I have to give my SSN?
A: Stripe does require that individuals use their SSN as required by anti-money laundering law. You can read more here. If you are a business, you can enter your EIN number instead. Stripe is very secure - they are PCI complient and certified to PCI Service Provider Level 1, which is the most stringent level of certification available in the payments industry. You can read more here.
Q: How do I set up / add a Stripe account?
A: You can go to your Sniffspot account earnings payout section here. If you have not set up a Stripe account, you can follow the prompts where you will be redirected to Stripe to create your account with Stripe. This will require a Stripe username and password. Follow the prompts in Stripe to set up your account and when you finish you will be redirected back to your Sniffspot account. You can manage your Stripe account from your Sniffspot account earnings payout section.
Q: Stripe requires a verification code, but none has been provided
A: Since you are creating an account with Stripe, we recommend reaching out to Stripe support with any issues. If you get the below message, then you may want to refer to this article: https://support.stripe.com/questions/enable-two-step-authentication-using-a-mobile-app
If you continue to have issues, you may want to delete that account from your Sniffspot account and add a new Stripe account to complete your set up. Refer below for how to remove a Stripe account from your Sniffspot account. Refer above for how to add a Stripe account.
Q: How do I edit my Stripe account?
A: Here is the process to follow to edit a Stripe account from your Sniffspot account:
- Go to the earnings methods section of your host account here
- Click on the three vertical dots on the Stripe account you want to remove
- Select "Manage in Stripe"
Q: How do I remove a Stripe account from Sniffspot account?
A: Here is the process to follow to remove a Stripe account from your Sniffspot account:
- Go to the earnings methods section of your host account here
- Click on the three vertical dots on the Stripe account you want to remove
- Select "Unlink Stripe account"
Q: As a non-US host, how do I ensure that my Stripe account is set up appropriately?
A: Non-US hosts need to have a different kind of Stripe account than US hosts. US hosts have an Standard type Stripe account. Non-US hosts have the Express type account. You should automatically be assigned the correct account when you sign up for Stripe payouts through your host account. However, if you want to confirm, you can email [email protected] and we can confirm if your account type is correct to receive payouts. If you as a host have a Standard Stripe account and want to switch to an Express account to get paid, you can do the following:
- Log out of your existing Stripe account
- Disconnect your payout method through your Sniffspot account
- Add a new payout method and create a new Stripe account. It should automatically be connected as an Express account, which will mean you are set up to get paid!