Managing Registration Payments

To accept paid registrations for your conference, you need to connect a payout method through Stripe Connect. This allows registration payments to flow directly to your bank account.

Before You Start

What you'll need:

• A US bank account or debit card
• Government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID)
• Your phone for verification codes
• About 5-10 minutes to complete setup

Important notes:

• You must be in a supported country (46+ countries including US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia)
• PO boxes are not accepted for business addresses
• You can use a personal bank account—no business account required

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Step 1: Navigate to Payment Settings

1. Go to your conference dashboard
2. Click Registration Management
3. Select Payment Settings

You'll see the Stripe Account status showing "Not Connected".

Step 2: Start Stripe Connect

1. Click the Connect Stripe button
2. You'll be redirected to Stripe's secure onboarding page

Step 3: Enter Your Email and Phone

1. Enter your email address (this becomes your Stripe login)
2. Enter your phone number
3. Click Continue
4. Stripe will text you a 6-digit verification code
5. Enter the code to verify your identity

Step 4: Select Your Account Type

Choose the option that best describes you:

Tip: If you're unsure, select Individual. You can still use your personal bank account and receive payments directly.

Step 5: Provide Your Information

Based on your account type, you'll need to provide:

For Individuals:

• Legal name (as it appears on your ID)
• Date of birth
• Last 4 digits of SSN
• Home address

For Nonprofits/Companies:

• Legal business name (as it appears on IRS documents)
• EIN (Employer Identification Number)
• Business address
• Your personal information as the account representative

Step 6: Verify Your Identity

Stripe requires identity verification to comply with financial regulations:

1. Upload a photo of your government-issued ID
2. Take a selfie for verification (some cases)
3. Wait for automatic verification (usually instant)

Accepted IDs: Driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID card.

Step 7: Connect Your Bank Account

Choose how you want to receive payments:

Option A: Bank Account (Recommended)

1. Select your bank from the list, or
2. Enter your routing and account number manually

Option B: Debit Card

1. Enter your debit card details
2. Note: Limited to $9,999 per withdrawal

Step 8: Review and Submit

1. Review all your information
2. Accept the terms of service
3. Click Submit
4. You'll be redirected back to PaperFox

Your account status should now show Active. You're ready to accept paid registrations!

Account Status Explained

Understanding Fees

For each paid registration, fees are automatically deducted:

Example: For a $150 ticket:

• Stripe fee: $4.65 (2.9% + $0.30)
• Platform fee: $1.00
• You receive: $144.35

How Payments Work

When an attendee registers for your conference, here's what happens:

Attendee pays $100
       ↓
   Stripe processes payment
       ↓
┌────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Your Conference's Stripe Balance   │
│ $94.35 available                   │
│ ($100 - $4.65 Stripe - $1 fee)     │
└────────────────────────────────────┘
       ↓
   You click "Withdraw" when ready
       ↓
   Money arrives in your bank (1-2 days)

Key points:

• Money goes to your Stripe balance first, not directly to your bank
• You control when to withdraw funds
• PaperFox charges a $1 platform fee per registration
• Stripe charges ~2.9% + $0.30 processing fee

Withdrawing Your Funds

Once you have funds available:

1. Go to Payment Settings
2. View your Available Balance
3. Click Withdraw
4. Enter the amount
5. Confirm the payout

Timeline: Funds typically arrive in your bank account within 1-2 business days.

Tip: Keep some balance for potential refunds. If you withdraw everything and need to issue a refund later, Stripe will debit your bank account.

Managing Your Stripe Account

To update your bank account, identity information, or view detailed transaction history:

1. Go to Registrations → Payment Settings
2. Scroll to Stripe Account Settings
3. Click Manage in Stripe
4. You'll be redirected to the Stripe Express Dashboard

In the Stripe Dashboard you can:

• Change your bank account or debit card
• Update your business or personal information
• View detailed transaction and payout history
• Download tax documents (1099 forms)

You may need to verify your identity again when making changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a business bank account? No. You can use your personal bank account to receive payments.

Can I use my university's bank account? Yes, if you have authorization. Select "Nonprofit Organization" during setup and provide the university's EIN.

How long until I can accept payments? Most accounts are verified instantly. In some cases, additional review may take 1-2 business days.

What if I don't have an EIN? Select "Individual" as your account type. You'll use your SSN instead.

Can I change my bank account later? Yes, through the Stripe Dashboard accessible from Payment Settings.

Is my information secure? Yes. All financial data is handled by Stripe, which is PCI-DSS compliant. PaperFox never sees your full bank account or SSN.

What countries are supported? Stripe Connect Express accounts are available in 46+ countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and most of Europe. See Stripe's global availability for the complete list.

Handling Refunds

When an attendee requests a refund, you'll receive a notification and can approve or reject it from the Refund Approvals page.

Issuing a Refund

1. Go to Registrations → Refund Approvals
2. Find the refund request
3. Click Approve or Reject
4. For approvals, confirm in the dialog
5. The attendee receives their refund automatically

What Happens During Refund Approval

When you approve a refund, PaperFox checks your Stripe balance:

You'll see a warning before approving if your balance is insufficient.

Example: Refund with Insufficient Balance

Scenario: You have $50 in Stripe balance, need to refund $100

1. You approve the refund in PaperFox
2. Stripe uses your $50 balance
3. Stripe debits $50 from your bank account
4. Attendee receives full $100 refund
5. Bank debit takes 5-7 business days

Note: The $1 platform fee is not refunded—PaperFox keeps this fee even when refunds are issued.

Need Help?

If you encounter issues during setup:

1. Verification failed: Ensure your ID photo is clear and matches the name you entered
2. Bank connection failed: Try entering account details manually instead of using instant verification
3. Account restricted: Check the Stripe Dashboard for specific requirements

For additional support, use the Help Desk (available with paid support packages) or visit our Community Forum.