Stripe is one of the most popular payment processors in the world, and connecting it to Tezzera allows you to accept credit card and bank transfer payments directly through your invoices. This guide will walk you through the entire Stripe connection process step by step.
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What is Stripe?
Stripe is a payment processing platform that enables you to accept:
Credit and debit card payments from clients
ACH/bank transfer payments (direct from client's bank account)
Payments in multiple currencies
Secure, PCI-compliant transactions
When you connect Stripe to Tezzera, payments are processed through Stripe and deposited directly into your bank account.
Why Connect Stripe?
For you:
Accept credit card payments without a merchant account
Get paid faster with automated processing
Lower fees for ACH/bank transfer payments
Secure payment processing with fraud protection
Automatic payout to your bank account
For your clients:
Pay with any major credit or debit card
Pay directly from their bank account (ACH)
Secure payment processing
Automatic receipts and confirmations
What You'll Need
Before starting the Stripe connection process, gather:
Email address (preferably your business email)
Business legal name and address
Phone number
Tax identification: Social Security Number (SSN), Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Tax ID depending on your business structure
Bank account information: Account and routing numbers
10-15 minutes to complete the setup
Already have a Stripe account? If you already use Stripe for other services (like your website, another CRM, or e-commerce), you can connect that existing account! Just make sure you have your login credentials ready.
Step-by-Step: Connecting Stripe
Step 1: Access Your Financial Settings
Click the three dots (∙∙∙) in the bottom left corner of your Tezzera workspace
Select "Settings"
Navigate to the "Financial" tab
Step 2: Configure Basic Settings
Before connecting Stripe, set these up first:
Select Your Country
Choose the country where your business is registered
This affects available payment options and currencies
Choose Your Default Currency
Select the currency you typically invoice in (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.)
You can change this on individual invoices later if needed
Step 3: Select Bank Account as Payout Method
Under "Primary Payout Method", select "Bank Account".
This tells Tezzera you want to connect your bank account through Stripe for receiving payments.
Step 4: Start the Stripe Connection
You'll now see "Step 2: Connect Bank Account Securely Using Stripe" appear.
Click the "Connect" button.
What happens next: You'll be redirected away from Tezzera to Stripe's secure connection page. Don't worry—this is normal! Stripe handles all the sensitive bank and business information securely.
The Stripe Connection Process
Once you click "Connect," you'll be taken through Stripe's onboarding flow. Here's what to expect:
Screen 1: Enter Your Email Address
First-time Stripe users:
Enter your business email address
Click "Continue"
Stripe will create a new account for you
Existing Stripe users:
Enter the same email address you used to create your Stripe account
Click "Continue"
Stripe will recognize your account
💡 Pro tip: If you already have a Stripe account, make sure to use the exact same email address. This allows you to connect your existing account instead of creating a new one.
Screen 2: Log In or Create Account
If you already have a Stripe account:
Stripe will recognize your email
Enter your password to log in
You may need to verify your identity (see next section)
If you're creating a new Stripe account:
Stripe will guide you through creating a new account
Follow the prompts to set up your password and account details
Verifying Your Identity
When logging into an existing Stripe account, you may need to complete additional security steps:
Two-Factor Authentication:
If you have 2FA enabled, you'll need to verify through your authenticator app
Open your authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.)
Enter the 6-digit code shown
Email or SMS Verification:
Stripe may send a verification code to your email or phone
Enter the code to continue
These extra steps protect your financial information and ensure only you can access your account.
Screen 3: Select Your Stripe Account
If you have an existing Stripe account, you'll see two options:
Option 1: Use Existing Account
Select this to connect your current Stripe account to Tezzera
All your existing business details, bank info, and tax details will be used
Recommended if: You already use Stripe and want everything in one place
Option 2: Create New Business Account
Select this to create a separate Stripe account specifically for Tezzera
Useful if you want to keep business finances separate
Recommended if: You use Stripe for personal transactions and want a dedicated business account
Choose the option that works best for you, then click "Continue".
📌 Note: If you connect an existing account, Stripe will automatically pull all your tax details, business information, and bank account from that account. This saves time!
Screen 4: Confirm Business Details
Stripe will now ask you to confirm (or enter) your business information.
Business Name
Your legal business name (or personal name if sole proprietor)
This appears on client credit card statements
Phone Number
Your business phone number
Used for verification and account security
Business Address
Your business's physical address
Required for tax and compliance purposes
Business Type
Individual/Sole Proprietor
LLC
Corporation
Partnership
Non-profit
💡 Pro tip: Make sure all information is accurate! Incorrect details can delay your account approval or cause payout issues.
Screen 5: Tax Information
Stripe needs your tax identification for compliance and reporting:
For US businesses, you'll enter:
Sole Proprietors:
Social Security Number (SSN)
LLCs, Corporations, Partnerships:
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
For non-US businesses:
Tax ID or VAT number specific to your country
Why does Stripe need this?
Legal requirement for payment processing
Enables Stripe to issue you tax forms (like 1099-K in the US)
Verifies your business identity
Screen 6: Verify Owner Information
Stripe needs to verify the identity of the person who owns the business (this is usually you!).
Owner/Representative Details:
Full legal name
Date of birth
Residential address (not a PO Box)
Last 4 digits of SSN (in the US)
Why is this needed?
Anti-fraud and compliance requirements
Ensures the person setting up payments is authorized to do so
Screen 7: Bank Account Confirmation
If you're connecting an existing Stripe account, Stripe will show you the bank account already connected.
Verify that:
The bank name is correct
The last 4 digits of the account match your bank account
This is the account where you want to receive payouts
If you need to change the bank account:
You can do this later in your Stripe dashboard
Or contact Stripe support for help
Screen 8: Review and Submit
This is your final review screen before completing the connection.
Review all information carefully:
✓ Business name and address
✓ Business type
✓ Tax identification
✓ Owner information
✓ Bank account details
If everything looks correct:
Click "Agree and Submit"
You're agreeing to Stripe's Terms of Service
Stripe will process your information
If something is wrong:
Use the "Back" button to go back and correct any information
It's better to fix errors now than deal with payout issues later!
Completing the Connection
After clicking "Agree and Submit," here's what happens:
Account Onboarded Confirmation
You should see a success message that says "Account Onboarded" or similar confirmation that your Stripe account is connected to Tezzera.
This means:
Your Stripe account is successfully connected
You can now accept payments through Tezzera
Clients can pay your invoices with credit cards or bank transfer
Redirected Back to Tezzera
After the confirmation message, you'll be automatically redirected back to your Tezzera Workspace Settings.
Don't see the redirect?
Click the link provided by Stripe to return to Tezzera
Or manually go back to your Tezzera tab/window
Verify the Connection
To confirm everything worked:
Go back to Workspace Settings → Financial in Tezzera
Look for "Step 2: Bank Account"
You should now see:
Your bank account listed (last 4 digits)
A green "Connected" tag next to it
✅ Success! Your Stripe account is connected and ready to receive payments.
Adding PayPal (Optional)
Want to offer both Stripe AND PayPal to give clients maximum flexibility?
After connecting Stripe:
Scroll down on the Financial tab
Find the "PayPal (Optional)" section
Enter the email address associated with your PayPal account
Save your settings
Now clients will see both credit card (Stripe) and PayPal payment options on your invoices!
💡 Pro tip: Offering multiple payment methods increases the likelihood of getting paid quickly. Some clients prefer PayPal, others prefer credit cards.
Setting Default Payment Options
Now that Stripe is connected, choose which payment methods appear by default on new invoices. Scroll down to "Default Payment Options" and check the boxes for:
☐ Stripe (Credit Card)
Clients pay with credit or debit card
2.9% + $0.30 fee per transaction
☐ Stripe (ACH Bank Transfer)
Clients pay directly from their bank account
Much lower fees: 0.8% capped at $5
Takes 3-5 business days to process
☐ PayPal (if you added it)
Clients pay through PayPal
☐ External Payment Link (optional)
For additional payment methods like Wise, Venmo, etc.
Added on individual invoices
Understanding Stripe Fees
Stripe charges fees for processing payments. Here's what to expect:
Credit/Debit Card Payments
US:
2.9% + $0.30 per successful transaction
International:
Rates vary by country
Check Stripe's website for your region
ACH/Bank Transfer Payments
US:
0.8% capped at $5 per transaction
Much cheaper than credit cards!
Example:
$5,000 invoice paid by credit card: $145 + $0.30 = $145.30 fee
$5,000 invoice paid by ACH: 0.8% = $40, but capped at $5 = $5 fee
Payout Schedule
When do you receive funds?
Credit card: 2-7 business days after payment
ACH: 3-5 business days after payment
Where do funds go?
Directly deposited into the bank account you connected
You'll receive an email notification from Stripe when payouts are sent
Testing Your Stripe Connection
Before sending your first real invoice, test that everything works:
Create a Test Invoice
Go to any project in Tezzera
Navigate to the Invoicing tab
Click "New Invoice"
Add a small amount (like $1)
Preview the invoice
Check Payment Options
In the invoice preview, verify:
✓ Stripe payment options appear
✓ Your business name displays correctly
✓ The payment button works (don't actually complete payment!)
If everything looks good, you're ready to send real invoices!
Managing Your Stripe Connection
Accessing Your Stripe Dashboard
You can access your full Stripe dashboard anytime:
Go to stripe.com
Log in with your Stripe email and password
View all transactions, payouts, and account details
In your Stripe dashboard, you can:
See all payments received
View payout schedule and history
Update bank account information
Manage tax forms and settings
View detailed transaction reports
Update business information
Updating Your Bank Account
Need to change the bank account where payouts are sent?
Log into your Stripe dashboard
Go to Settings → Bank accounts and scheduling
Add a new bank account or remove the old one
The change will automatically apply to Tezzera invoices
📌 Note: Bank account changes are managed in Stripe, not in Tezzera. Any changes you make in Stripe automatically sync with Tezzera.
Reconnecting Stripe
If your Stripe connection is ever disconnected or needs to be updated:
Go to Workspace Settings → Financial in Tezzera
Look for a "Reconnect" or "Update Connection" button
Click it and follow the prompts
You may need to log into Stripe again
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Q: The Stripe connection failed. What do I do?
A: Common causes include:
Incorrect email or password
Incomplete business verification
Mismatched business information
Pending verification in your Stripe account
Solution: Check your email for messages from Stripe about verification steps. If you're stuck, contact our support team.
Q: I connected Stripe but don't see payment options on my invoices.
A: Make sure you:
Checked the payment option boxes in Default Payment Options in Workspace Settings > Financial
Enabled payment methods on the specific invoice
Completed the full Stripe verification process
Q: My Stripe account says "Pending Verification."
A: Stripe may need additional information or documentation. Check:
Your Stripe dashboard for verification requests
Your email for messages from Stripe
Make sure all business details are accurate
Q: Can I use my personal Stripe account?
A: You can, but we recommend creating a business account for cleaner bookkeeping and financial tracking. You can create a new business account during the connection process.
Q: Clients say they can't pay my invoices.
A: Check that:
Your Stripe account is fully verified
Payment methods are toggled on in the invoice
You've connected your bank account to Stripe
There are no holds or restrictions on your Stripe account
Q: How long before I can start accepting payments?
A: Most Stripe accounts are approved instantly or within 1-2 business days. If additional verification is needed, it may take a few days longer.
Q: Do I need a business bank account?
A: Not necessarily. You can use a personal bank account for sole proprietorships. However, a business account is recommended for LLCs and corporations.
Q: I have multiple businesses. Can I connect different Stripe accounts?
A: Each Tezzera workspace can only connect one Stripe account. If you have multiple businesses, consider creating separate Tezzera workspaces for each.
Q: What if I don't want to use Stripe?
A: You can use PayPal instead, or use external payment links for other services like Wise, Venmo, or direct bank transfers. See our How to Connect Payment Methods guide.
Best Practices for Using Stripe
Complete verification promptly: Don't wait until you need to send an invoice to verify your Stripe account. Do it during setup!
Monitor your Stripe dashboard: Check it weekly to ensure payouts are processing correctly.
Keep business info updated: If you move, change banks, or update your business structure, update it in Stripe immediately.
Enable both payment options: Offer both credit card and ACH so clients can choose what works best for them.
Understand your payout schedule: Know when to expect funds in your bank account (typically 2-7 days).
Stripe Security and Compliance
Is Stripe secure? Yes! Stripe is:
PCI DSS Level 1 certified (highest security standard)
Used by millions of businesses worldwide
Handles billions in transactions securely
What about client data?
Client payment information is encrypted by Stripe
All sensitive data is handled securely by Stripe
Compliance:
Stripe handles tax reporting (1099-K in the US)
Meets international payment regulations
Secure data storage and transmission
Next Steps
Now that Stripe is connected, you're ready to:
Create and send your first invoice – Start accepting payments!
Set up payment plans – Offer installment options
Enable invoice reminders – Automate payment follow-ups
Add PayPal as a secondary option – Give clients more flexibility
Need help? If you're having trouble connecting Stripe or have questions about the setup process, reach out to our team at hello@tezzera.co and we'll be happy to assist you!