In the ever-evolving landscape of online marketplaces and software platforms, one of the key challenges for businesses is handling payments. The complex nature of processing payments across different countries, currencies, and legal frameworks can be daunting. However, with the advent of Stripe Connect, it has become easier than ever to build and scale your business by leveraging its powerful payout engine and global routing capabilities.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of Stripe Connect and help you understand the different account types it offers. This article will help you find the ideal Stripe Connect account type for your business needs.

What is Stripe Connect?

Before we dive into the account types, let’s take a moment to understand what Stripe Connect is and how it can revolutionize your payment processes. Stripe Connect is a robust platform offered by the payment service provider, Stripe. It serves as a global routing and payout engine for online marketplaces and software platforms.

Stripe Connect provides a set of programmable APIs and tools that enable businesses to seamlessly handle payment interactions between buyers, sellers, and customers on a global scale. Whether you need to split funds between multiple parties, route payments across borders, or specify earnings on each transaction, Stripe Connect has got you covered.

With Stripe Connect, you can effortlessly pay out funds in local currencies without the need for additional engineering efforts or establishing complex banking relationships. The Stripe Dashboard allows you to send funds, issue refunds, handle chargebacks, and keep comprehensive records of all transactions. By simplifying compliance, reducing manual processes, and offering seamless scalability, Stripe Connect empowers businesses to focus on growth and revenue generation.

The Three Stripe Connect Account Types

Now that we have a solid grasp of what Stripe Connect brings to the table, let’s explore the three different account types it offers: Standard, Custom, and Express. Each account type is designed to cater to specific use cases and offers varying levels of integration, features, and costs.

1. Stripe Standard Account

The Standard account is the most straightforward option. It requires minimal integration effort, allowing you to launch your platform quickly without incurring upfront costs or investing heavily in payment facilitation development.

With a Standard account, sellers are prompted to create their own Stripe accounts and connect them to your marketplace. They have complete control over their accounts, directly interacting with Stripe and accessing the Stripe Dashboard. Sellers can process charges independently and disconnect their accounts from your platform if needed. It’s important to note that in this setup, buyers transact directly with the seller’s account, making sellers responsible for Stripe fees, refunds, and chargebacks.

The Standard account is ideal when:

• You want to kickstart your business without delay.
• Your users are experienced online sellers who may already have Stripe accounts. You’re comfortable with limited control over the user experience.
• You don’t want to manage liability or seller Stripe accounts.
• You prefer to use direct charges, where buyers transact with sellers, often unaware of your platform’s existence. You want Stripe to handle direct communication with your users for account-related issues.
• Prominent examples of businesses utilizing the Standard account include e-commerce SaaS platforms like Shopify and Invoice2go.

2. Stripe Custom Account

If you’re looking for a white-label solution that offers complete control over the payment process and user experience, the Custom account is the way to go. With a Custom account, you have the freedom to fully customize the payment process, dashboard, and reporting interfaces.

When using the Custom account, the Stripe Connect integration is almost invisible to the account holder. They won’t have access to the Stripe Dashboard, and Stripe won’t directly contact them. Instead, your platform will handle all interactions with users, including onboarding, information collection, support, and managing Stripe fees, refunds, and chargebacks on behalf of the sellers.

While the Custom account offers unparalleled flexibility, it requires significant development resources and integration effort. You’ll need to build the infrastructure to collect user information, create a user dashboard, and handle support. This level of customization allows you to tailor the payment process to your specific needs and communicate directly with your users.

A real-world example of a business utilizing the Custom account is Lyft. When their drivers requested on-demand payments instead of weekly payouts, Lyft customized the payment process to meet their drivers’ needs, enhancing user satisfaction and attracting more drivers to their platform.

The Custom account is suitable when:

• You want full control over the user experience.
• You prefer to use destination charges, where buyers transact with your platform, but goods are delivered by the seller account.
• You have the resources to build the infrastructure required for information collection, user dashboard creation, and support.
• You want to communicate directly with your users instead of having them contact Stripe for account-related issues.
  

3. Stripe Express Account

The Express account is a hybrid option that strikes a balance between simplicity and customization. It allows sellers to sign up for your marketplace within minutes, providing a streamlined onboarding process.

With an Express account, Stripe handles the onboarding and identity verification processes, as well as reporting and account management. However, your platform retains control over certain aspects of the user experience, such as charge types and payout schedules. Sellers primarily interact with your platform, while Stripe provides a pre-built Express Dashboard, which is a lighter version of the full Stripe Dashboard. This reduces development time significantly, enabling you to get your payment system up and running in a matter of weeks.

Just like the Custom account, your platform is responsible for handling disputes, refunds, and chargebacks. The Express account offers a balance between speed and customization, making it an excellent choice for businesses that want to start quickly while retaining some control over the payment process.

Popular examples of businesses utilizing the Express account include Airbnb, Spotify, and GitHub. The Express account is ideal when:

• Speed is crucial, and you want to get started as quickly as possible.
• You want to customize the payment process to some extent, such as using destination charges or separate charges and transfers.
• You prefer not to handle account onboarding, management, and identity verification yourself. You want to strike a balance between simplicity and customization.

Additional Differences and Considerations

In addition to the primary differences between the Stripe Connect account types, there are a few other factors to consider when choosing the right account for your business.

Pricing

Stripe Connect pricing varies depending on the account type. Standard accounts enable businesses on a tight budget to get started for free, making it an attractive option. Express and Custom accounts, on the other hand, come with a cost of $2 per active account per month, plus 0.25% + $0.25 per payout sent.

Refunds

The handling of refunds differs depending on the account and charge type. With destination charges, there is no difference between the three Stripe Connect account types. Stripe automatically processes the refund once sufficient funds are available in your platform’s account.

For direct and separate charges, there are slight variations. In the case of Standard accounts, Stripe automatically processes refunds when sufficient funds are available in the seller’s account. Both Custom and Express accounts allow the deducting of funds from either the seller’s account or the platform’s account.

How to Choose the Right Stripe Connect Account Type?

When it comes to building a successful online marketplace or software platform, choosing the right payment system is paramount. Stripe Connect offers three account types, each tailored to different use cases, integration requirements, and user experiences. Let’s summarize the best-suited account types for various scenarios:

• The Standard account is a great choice for quick launches, experienced sellers, and when you’re comfortable with limited control over the user experience.
• The Custom account offers complete customization options, making it the right choice if you need complete control over the payment process and user experience, and have the necessary resources for development.
• The Express account offers a perfect balance between speed and customization, making it ideal for businesses looking to kickstart quickly while maintaining some control over the payment process.
• By carefully considering your business needs, user expectations, and integration capabilities, you can confidently choose the right Stripe Connect account type to unlock the full potential of your platform.

With a comprehensive understanding of Stripe Connect and its account types, you’re now ready to embark on your journey of building and scaling a successful global venture. With Stripe Connect’s powerful payout engine and global routing capabilities, you can revolutionize your payment processes and provide a seamless experience for your users. Good luck on your path to success!