Connecting Stripe to Accept Payments | Getting Started

Stripe Connect allows you to collect submission fees, entry fees, and process payments directly through Crafted Call. This guide walks you through connecting your Stripe account so you can start accepting payments from artists.

Why Connect Stripe

When you connect Stripe to your Crafted Call organization, you can:

Collect submission fees – Artists pay an entry fee when they submit their work
Implement tiered pricing – Offer early-bird discounts or late fees
Facilitate artwork sales – Process payments if you sell work through the platform
Receive funds directly – Money deposits to your linked bank account (minus Stripe's standard processing fees)

Artists see payment processing as a standard part of the submission process, and Stripe is one of the most trusted payment providers globally.

Before You Start

Have the following information ready:

Your personal or business name
Business type (individual, company, non-profit, government, etc.)
Business address and phone number
Personal identification document (for individuals or business representatives)
For companies: your business tax identification number, which in the US is an EIN (Employer Identification Number) and elsewhere is your country's equivalent, such as an ABN in Australia or an IRD number in New Zealand
Bank account details for receiving funds
Expected monthly transaction volume

Tip: Gather this information before starting the connection process. It speeds up Stripe's verification, which can take 1–3 business days.

Stripe Connect onboarding is available in a set list of countries, Australia and New Zealand among them. See Where Crafted Call Works to check yours before you begin.

Step-by-Step: Connecting Stripe

Only an organization owner can connect Stripe. Admins can see the page and its status, but the connect button appears for owners only.

Step 1: Open Stripe Connect

In the admin sidebar, open Finance → Stripe Connect. You can also get there from Organization Settings → Payments → Review Stripe Connect, or from the Connect Stripe if you'll charge fees step on your dashboard checklist. The status card reads Not connected until you finish.

Step 2: Choose "Connect Stripe Account"

Choose Connect Stripe Account. If your organization's country isn't set yet, the page asks for it first: Stripe can't change an account's country later, so pick the country your organization is registered in, then continue.

This takes you to Stripe's secure onboarding. You'll come back to Crafted Call when you finish. If you stop partway, the button reads Resume Onboarding so you can pick up where you left off.

Step 3: Select Your Business Type

Stripe asks you to confirm your business structure:

Individual – You operate as a sole proprietor
Company – Your organization is a registered business entity
Non-Profit – You're a 501(c)(3) in the US, or your country's equivalent tax-exempt or registered charitable entity
Government – A public institution or agency

Select the type that matches your organization. Non-profits may qualify for reduced processing fees.

Step 4: Provide Business Information

Stripe collects standard details:

Business name – The legal name or DBA under which you operate
Website – Your organization's website (optional but recommended)
Industry – Select "Arts & Design" or the closest match
Business address – Where your organization is located
Phone number – A contact number for your business

Step 5: Representative Information

Stripe requires details about the person legally responsible for the account:

Full name – Your legal name
Date of birth – Used for identity verification
Email address – Stripe uses this to contact you about the account
Government ID – A copy of your driver's license or passport (uploaded securely)

For companies, you may need to provide information about beneficial owners or officers.

Step 6: Bank Account Details

Stripe deposits funds to your designated bank account:

Bank identifier – US organizations give their bank's routing number. Australian organizations give a BSB. New Zealand organizations have no separate identifier, because the bank and branch are already part of the account number.
Account number – Your account number. New Zealand account numbers use the standard 2-4-7-2 or 2-4-7-3 format.
Account type – Checking or savings, where your bank distinguishes them

Important: Verify these details carefully. Incorrect bank information can delay fund deposits.

Step 7: Verification

Stripe may verify your bank account by depositing small amounts (typically $0.01) and asking you to confirm the deposits. This process usually takes 1–2 business days.

Once verified, funds from submissions begin depositing on a rolling basis (typically every 2–3 business days).

Knowing You're Ready

Back on Finance → Stripe Connect, the status card shows Details Submitted, Charges Enabled and Payouts Enabled. When all three say yes, your calls can take real payments. There is no separate test mode for your account: every payment after that point is real.

If Stripe needs something more from you, the page shows Action required with what's missing. Choose Resume Onboarding to finish it, or Manage in Stripe to open your Stripe dashboard.

Tip: Consider starting with a non-critical call to ensure your payment flow works smoothly before using it on high-profile submissions.

Stripe Fees & Payouts

Stripe charges a standard processing fee on each successful payment, deducted automatically from deposits to your bank account. In the United States that rate is 2.9% + US$0.30 per transaction. Stripe publishes different rates for other countries, including Australia and New Zealand, so check Stripe's pricing page for yours.

For example, at the US rate a US$25 submission fee results in approximately US$23.92 deposited to your account.

Non-profits may qualify for reduced fees. Visit Stripe's non-profit program page to learn more.

Troubleshooting

Stripe won't connect: Ensure you're providing accurate information. Stripe may block connections if details don't match your identity documents.

Verification taking too long: Contact Stripe support directly via your Stripe Dashboard. They can expedite verification in some cases.

Payments aren't depositing: Check that your bank account information is correct in your Stripe settings. Contact your bank if funds don't appear after 3–5 business days.

What's Next

With Stripe connected, you're ready to:

Create calls with submission fees (see Creating Your First Call for Artists)
Invite team members to help manage submissions (see Inviting Team Members & Setting Permissions)

Secure payment processing builds trust with artists and streamlines your submission workflow.