How to Connect Your Stripe Account in Zibster
Overview
Connecting Stripe allows you to securely accept eligible credit and debit card payments through your Zibster account. Once Stripe is connected, configured, and active, you can use it to collect payments through supported Zibster ecommerce tools.
This guide explains how to connect a new or existing Stripe account, activate the Stripe merchant in Zibster, customize the payment option customers see, understand how Stripe fees and refunds are handled, and troubleshoot common connection issues.
Before You Begin
You will need a Stripe account to accept payments through Stripe. If you do not already have one, you can create a Stripe account during the connection process.
Stripe may require business, identity, tax, banking, or other account information before your Stripe account can be fully activated.
Where You Can Use Stripe
Once Stripe is connected and active, it can be used for eligible payments through supported Zibster tools, including:
- Scheduler
- Invoices
- Forms
- Online Store orders
The checkout experience may vary depending on where your customer is submitting payment.
What Zibster Can Access
Connecting Stripe gives Zibster the permissions required to submit eligible transactions to Stripe and associate those payments with the appropriate Zibster order or transaction.
Zibster does not receive your Stripe password, bank login credentials, or full customer credit card numbers.
Your Stripe account remains managed through Stripe. Account verification, banking information, payouts, processing requirements, and other Stripe account settings are managed directly through your Stripe dashboard.
For more information, review Stripe’s article about security permissions and access levels when connecting a Stripe account to a third-party platform.
STEP ONE
Log in to your Zibster account and click ECOMMERCE in the left-side menu.
The ECommerce Dashboard will open, where you can manage orders, products, payments, merchants, and other ecommerce settings.
STEP TWO
Hover over PAYMENT at the top of the ECommerce Dashboard and select MERCHANTS from the dropdown menu.
The Merchants section displays the payment processors connected to your Zibster account.
STEP THREE
Click NEW MERCHANT.
The New Merchant screen will open. Under SELECT MERCHANT TYPE, Stripe (recommended) is selected by default because Stripe is Zibster's recommended merchant provider.
The page also displays information about Stripe registration, account availability, and processing.
Click CONNECT TO STRIPE.
A Stripe window will open where you can sign in to an existing Stripe account or follow Stripe's prompts to create a new account.
STEP FOUR
Sign in to your existing Stripe account, or follow Stripe's prompts to create a new account.
Review the account information and permissions displayed by Stripe. Follow the remaining Stripe prompts and click AUTHORIZE ACCESS TO THIS ACCOUNT when prompted.
Stripe may require you to provide or confirm business information, identity details, bank account information, tax information, or contact information before your account can be fully activated.
After the connection is completed, you will see a CONNECTION SUCCESSFUL confirmation screen.
Click OK.
You will return to the Zibster New Merchant screen, where CONFIGURE NEW STRIPE ACCOUNT will appear.
FINAL STEP
Click CONFIGURE NEW STRIPE ACCOUNT.
The Stripe merchant settings will open and display information about the connected account, including the merchant type, creation date, and email address associated with the Stripe account.
Under ACTIVE, select YES.
Important: New Stripe merchants are set to NO by default. Your Stripe account may be successfully connected, but it will not be available for eligible Zibster payments until ACTIVE is set to YES and the settings are saved.
Review the remaining merchant settings:
- PAYMENT NAME: Enter the name customers will see for this payment option during checkout. Credit Card is entered by default.
- SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Enter an optional message customers will see when they select this payment method.
- THANK YOU MESSAGE: Enter the message customers will see after their payment is successfully processed.
Click SAVE CHANGES.
Once ACTIVE is set to YES and your changes are saved, Stripe can be used for eligible payments through supported Zibster tools.
If Stripe requires additional verification, complete those requirements directly through your Stripe account before attempting to process payments or receive payouts.
What Your Customers Will See
The payment experience depends on where the customer is submitting payment.
ECommerce Checkout with Stripe
Scheduler and Online Store orders use the Zibster checkout experience. When Stripe is available for the transaction, customers can select the payment option and enter their eligible card information during checkout.
Invoice Payments with Stripe
Customers paying a Zibster invoice can enter their eligible credit or debit card information through the invoice payment screen when Stripe is available.
Form Payments with Stripe
Customers making a payment through a Zibster form can enter their eligible card information through the form payment experience when online payment is enabled.
Important Information About Stripe
Zibster provides the connection between your Zibster account and Stripe, but Zibster does not manage your Stripe account.
Contact Stripe directly for questions about:
-
Transaction fees and processing rates
-
Payout timing
-
Bank account setup
-
Account verification
-
Payout holds
-
Stripe account restrictions
-
Required business or tax information
-
Stripe requirements related to surcharges or payment-related fees
You can contact Stripe Support after signing in to your Stripe account.
Stripe Processing Fees
Stripe determines the transaction fees and processing rates associated with your Stripe account. Zibster does not set, collect, or adjust Stripe's processing rates.
Your Stripe pricing may depend on factors such as your Stripe account, transaction type, payment method, currency, or location.
For questions about transaction fees, processing rates, pricing, or charges deducted from a payment, sign in to your Stripe account and contact Stripe Support directly.
Charging Customers an Additional Card Processing Fee
Zibster does not provide a setting that automatically adds a credit card processing fee, convenience fee, surcharge, or other percentage-based transaction fee to a customer's order when they pay with Stripe.
If you are considering adjusting your pricing or adding another charge to offset payment processing costs, you are responsible for making sure your pricing and checkout practices comply with applicable laws, card network requirements, and Stripe policies.
Rules for credit card surcharges and similar fees can vary by location and payment method. Zibster cannot provide legal advice or determine whether a particular fee is permitted for your business. Review the laws that apply to your business and customers, and contact Stripe with questions about Stripe's requirements
Refunds
Stripe refunds must be processed directly through your Stripe account. Stripe refunds cannot be issued from the Zibster dashboard.
To issue a refund, sign in to Stripe, locate the original payment, and follow Stripe's refund process.
Stripe determines how the refund is processed and how quickly funds are returned to the customer's original payment method. Contact Stripe directly with questions about a refund, its status, or associated fees.
Zibster PCI Compliance Report
Zibster provides access to PCI compliance documentation from the merchant setup area.
If a payment provider, bank, organization, or institution requests documentation related to the Zibster platform's PCI compliance, use the available PCI compliance report link in the Merchants section.
You can download or print the report as needed.
Questions about your individual Stripe account, your own PCI responsibilities, or Stripe's compliance requirements should be directed to Stripe.
Troubleshooting
Stripe Is Connected but Does Not Appear at Checkout
Open your Stripe merchant settings and confirm that ACTIVE is set to YES.
Click SAVE CHANGES after changing the setting.
Stripe will not appear as an available payment option while the merchant is inactive. Also confirm that online payment is enabled for the Zibster tool or transaction you are testing.
Stripe Does Not Display as Active
Confirm that you completed the entire Stripe authorization process.
Signing in to Stripe without completing the authorization process will not finish the connection.
Return to PAYMENT → MERCHANTS and attempt the connection again if necessary. Also sign in to Stripe and check for incomplete verification requirements or account alerts.
Stripe Is Active but Payments Are Not Processing
Sign in to Stripe and check for account restrictions, verification requests, required business information, or other account alerts.
Confirm that your Stripe account is enabled to accept payments and that the customer's payment method is supported.
A transaction may also be declined by the customer's card issuer. Review the transaction inside Stripe for any available decline information.
Funds Are Not Reaching Your Bank Account
Confirm that your bank account is connected and verified through Stripe.
Stripe controls payout schedules, payout eligibility, processing periods, and account holds. If the payment appears in Stripe but has not reached your bank account, contact Stripe Support.
The Stripe Connection Window Does Not Open
Your browser may be blocking the Stripe connection window.
Allow pop-ups for Zibster and click CONNECT TO STRIPE again.
You can also try using a current version of another supported browser.
Helpful Notes
Stripe manages your Stripe account, processing rates, verification requirements, payouts, refunds, and transaction-level account issues.
Zibster Support can help you locate your merchant settings, confirm how Stripe is connected to your Zibster account, and review Zibster-side settings.
If you successfully connect Stripe but cannot accept payments, check ACTIVE first. A newly connected Stripe merchant is set to NO until you manually select YES and click SAVE CHANGES.
Need Help?
Zibster Support Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm EST
Phone: 844.353.3412
Channels: Phone, Live Chat, Support Ticket
