When you connect Stripe to QuoteIQ, Stripe asks for a URL to verify your business. This trips up a lot of contractors — especially solo operators, brand-new businesses, and contractors in Canada or outside the US. Here's exactly what Stripe needs, what it won't accept, and the fastest way to get verified if you don't have a website.
Why Stripe Asks For This
Stripe uses your business URL to verify that you're a legitimate business and to comply with anti-fraud and KYC (Know Your Customer) regulations. This is required in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and every other country Stripe operates in. It's not specific to QuoteIQ — every Stripe account holder hits this step.
The Honest Truth: What Actually Works
⚠️ Documentation vs. reality:
Stripe's official documentation says you can submit a social media profile, a mobile app URL, or even a written product description in place of a website. In practice, our support team has seen many contractors get rejected by Stripe verification when they try those alternatives. The path that consistently passes is a real, working business website that clearly describes who you are and what you do.
If you're already running into rejection or you want to skip the back-and-forth, plan to have a real website ready before you start Stripe setup.
What Stripe Will Reject
A parked or "dead" domain you bought but never built
A blank or empty placeholder page
A "Coming Soon" page with no business description
A domain that returns a 404 error or doesn't resolve
A pure lead-capture form with no info about your business, services, or contact details
A page that doesn't load or has security warnings
If you submit any of the above, Stripe will reject your account and you won't be able to accept payments through QuoteIQ until you fix it.
What Reliably Works
A real, working business website that clearly displays:
Your business name
A description of your services (what you actually do)
Your service area (cities, regions, or "serving X County")
Contact info — phone number, email address, or a working contact form
A page that loads quickly and is on HTTPS (most modern hosts handle this automatically)
Don't Have a Website? Here's the Fastest Fix
The quickest way to get a Stripe-approved website live is Budget Built Sites — an AI-powered website builder built by QuoteIQ specifically for home service contractors. Every site is generated with the exact business info Stripe verification looks for: name, services, service area, and contact details.
3-day free trial — no commitment
Use code BBS at checkout for $5 off the monthly subscription — drops it to $30/mo
Site is generated and live in under 5 minutes
Free onboarding call to add your photos and any edits
Built-in SEO, AEO, and GEO optimization so the same site that gets you Stripe-approved also helps you get found by customers on Google, ChatGPT, and other AI search engines
Once You Have a Site, Finish Stripe Setup
Once your website is live and clearly describes your business, head back into QuoteIQ to finish connecting Stripe. Full walkthrough: How to Set Up and Collect Payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just use my QuoteIQ InstaQuote link as my website?
Can I just use my QuoteIQ InstaQuote link as my website?
An InstaQuote link is a quote form, not a business identity page — Stripe wants to see your business name, services, and contact info clearly described, which an InstaQuote page doesn't provide on its own. Use a real business website to be safe.
Does this apply to Canadian contractors too?
Does this apply to Canadian contractors too?
Yes. Stripe's website verification requirement applies in Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, and every other supported region. Canadian contractors hit the same requirement — Stripe is the only payment processor QuoteIQ supports in Canada, and Canadian Stripe accounts must pass the same business verification as US ones.
What about a Facebook business page or Instagram profile?
What about a Facebook business page or Instagram profile?
Stripe's documentation says social media profiles are acceptable — but in practice, many contractors who submit them get asked for a real website during follow-up verification. If you only have social media, give it a try, but be prepared to spin up a real website if Stripe pushes back. The least painful path is to have a real website from the start.
How long does Stripe verification take?
How long does Stripe verification take?
If your site clearly describes your business and includes contact info, verification is usually instant or within a few minutes. If Stripe flags it for manual review, it can take 1–3 business days. If your site is rejected, Stripe emails you with the specific reason and lets you resubmit.
Can I switch the website I gave Stripe later?
Can I switch the website I gave Stripe later?
Yes. You can update your business URL inside your Stripe Dashboard at any time under Settings → Business → Public business information.
My Stripe account was rejected because of my website. What now?
My Stripe account was rejected because of my website. What now?
Stripe will email you with the specific reason. Common fixes: add a clear description of your business and services to your homepage, add visible contact info (phone or email), make sure your site loads on HTTPS, or replace your URL with a Budget Built Sites page that has all of these built in by default.
Why doesn't a "Coming Soon" page work? My site is genuinely under construction.
Why doesn't a "Coming Soon" page work? My site is genuinely under construction.
"Coming Soon" pages with no business info are rejected because Stripe can't verify what your business does. If you genuinely need a placeholder, the page needs to clearly state your business name, what services you offer, your service area, and how to contact you — even on a single page. A Budget Built Site does all of this automatically.
Does QuoteIQ require a website to sign up?
Does QuoteIQ require a website to sign up?
No. QuoteIQ itself does not require a website. The website requirement comes from Stripe (the payment processor). You can sign up for QuoteIQ and use the app without one — you just won't be able to accept payments through invoices (online or in-person) until your Stripe account is verified.
Need help? Contact us at support@quoteiq.io or text (912) 913-7154.