The first step toward processing credit card payments with Stripe in Joist is signing up for a Stripe account. We've put together a detailed step-by-step guide on how it works to help ensure everything goes smoothly for you.

If at any point you get stuck or have questions during the signup process, you can connect with Stripe support here and they will be happy to help you.

For quick access to a specific section, use the links below. Otherwise, scroll down to follow along step by step.

Step 1: Get Started

Step 2: Secure your account

Step 3: Verify Business details

Step 4: Personal Information

Step 5: Professional Details

Steps 6: Banking Information

First, start the signup process by clicking here. On the following page, you'll be asked to enter the email address you'd like to use for your account. Next, you need to choose a secure password for your Stripe account.

After creating your password, you'll be asked for phone number so that we can safely secure your account with multi-factor authentication. You'll have the option to use an authenticator app instead of a phone number to give you more options to stay safe.

On the next screen, you'll be asked for some information about your business, starting with the business location and business type.

You are a Corporation if you have incorporated your business with the IRS.

You are a Partnership if you have a registered partnership agreement.

In all other cases, you would be considered an Individual/Sole Proprietorship.

If you're not sure, you can double check with the entity you registered your business with to confirm.

Here is where you'll add a small amount of your personal information, used to verify your identity and protect you from fraud. Stripe is also required to collect this information to remain in compliance with government regulations.

Note that for your SSN, it's an optional field. And for the home address, just make sure to include a valid street name and the unit number -- this has to be a home address, so PO Box is not applicable here.

On the following page, you'll be asked more information about your business including your industry, website and description of products and/or services you provide. If you don't have a website, you can use your Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram business page to move to the next step.

Now that you've started creating your account, you'll need to add your banking details so that when your clients pay you the funds are transferred from your Stripe account to your bank account.

Just fill in the specifics related to the bank you want your money deposited to and continue.

Next, you'll need to add your statement descriptor and your shortened descriptor -- this is the information your client will see on their statements after paying you.

On the following page, you can review the information you used to sign up before clicking Agree and Submit so that Stripe can begin verifying your account.

Once Stripe verifies your account, payment processing will be enabled in your Joist account and you can begin collecting online payments from your clients.
​
You can learn more about the transaction fees with Joist Payments here.

If Stripe needs any more information from you to complete your account, they will reach out to you by email with more details on the information they require.

And remember, if you have any questions or need help at any stage of the signup process, our friends at Stripe are here and can be contacted here. For questions about Joist, you can reach us on live chat in the Help section of the app, or shoot us an email at hello@joist.com