Connecting Stripe for Payments | Guidewinds

Why Stripe?

Guidewinds uses Stripe to process payments. Stripe is the same payment processor used by Amazon, Google, and millions of businesses worldwide.

Benefits of Stripe:

Fast payouts: Money in your bank account in 2 business days
All major cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover
Secure: PCI-compliant, so you never handle sensitive card data
Transparent fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
No monthly fees: Only pay when you process payments

You Don't Need an Existing Stripe Account

If you don't have a Stripe account, you'll create one during the connection process. It takes about 5 minutes.

What You'll Need

Have this information ready before starting:

Legal business name (or your personal name if you're a sole proprietor)
EIN (Employer Identification Number) or SSN (for sole proprietors)
Bank account and routing number (where you want to receive funds)
Phone number (for account verification)
Business address

Use Your Real Information

Stripe verifies your identity and business information. Using inaccurate details will delay account activation. If you're a sole proprietor, using your personal SSN is normal and secure.

Step-by-Step Connection

Start the Connection

Go to Dashboard → Settings → Payments

Click the "Connect with Stripe" button. You'll be redirected to Stripe's secure website.

Create or Sign Into Stripe

On Stripe's page, you have two options:

New to Stripe: Click "Create a new account" and follow the prompts
Existing Stripe account: Sign in with your Stripe credentials

Pro Tip

If you have an existing Stripe account from another business, you can connect that same account to Guidewinds. Your payouts will go to the same bank account.

Enter Your Business Details

Stripe will ask for:

Business type: Sole proprietor, LLC, Corporation, etc.
Business name: Your legal business name
Industry: Select "Recreation & Entertainment" or "Travel & Tourism"
Business website: Optional, but helpful if you have one

Verify Your Identity

Stripe needs to verify who you are. This is required by financial regulations.

For sole proprietors: Your SSN and personal details
For LLCs/Corps: Your EIN plus personal details of an owner

Why Does Stripe Need My SSN?

Financial regulations require payment processors to verify the identity of everyone they pay. This is standard for all payment platforms. Stripe uses bank-level security to protect your information.

Add Your Bank Account

Enter your bank account and routing number. This is where Stripe will deposit your earnings.

You can use a checking or savings account
Business or personal account both work
Stripe may make two small deposits (under $1) to verify the account

Complete and Return

After you finish entering information, click "Submit" or "Complete." You'll be redirected back to Guidewinds.

On your Payments page, you should now see "Connected" status with a green checkmark.

You're Connected!

Anglers can now pay online when they book. Payments will be deposited to your bank account within 2 business days.

Understanding Fees

Stripe's Payment Processing Fee

Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per successful transaction.

Example:

Customer pays $500 for a trip
Stripe fee: $500 × 2.9% + $0.30 = $14.80
You receive: $485.20

No Hidden Fees

There are no monthly fees, no setup fees, and no minimum transaction requirements. You only pay when you actually process a payment.

Guidewinds Platform Fee

Guidewinds's subscription is a flat monthly rate—we don't take a percentage of your bookings. What you see on our pricing page is what you pay.

When Do I Get Paid?

Standard Payout Schedule

Timing: Funds are deposited 2 business days after the payment is made
Frequency: Daily automatic payouts (you can also set weekly or manual)
Minimum: No minimum payout amount

Example Timeline:

Monday: Angler pays $500 for a booking
Wednesday: $485.20 appears in your bank account

Track in Stripe Dashboard

You can view all transactions, payouts, and pending amounts in your Stripe Dashboard. Bookmark it for easy access.

Managing Your Stripe Account

Accessing Stripe Dashboard

From Settings → Payments, click "Open Stripe Dashboard" to manage your payment account directly.

What You Can Do in Stripe:

View transaction history
Download reports and tax documents
Update bank account information
Change payout schedule
View refund history

Updating Bank Account

If you need to change where payouts go, do this in your Stripe Dashboard (not in Guidewinds):

Go to Stripe Dashboard → Settings → Payouts
Add a new bank account
Set it as your default payout destination

Troubleshooting

Connection stuck on "Pending"

If your account shows "Pending Verification," Stripe may need additional information:

Check your email for messages from Stripe
Log into Stripe Dashboard and look for verification requests
You may need to upload ID documents or clarify business details

Payments not depositing

Common causes:

Bank account verification incomplete: Check Stripe Dashboard for any pending actions
Account on hold: Stripe may request additional documentation for new accounts
Weekend/holiday: Payouts only process on business days

I already have Stripe from another platform

You can connect your existing Stripe account to Guidewinds. During the connection flow, sign in with your existing Stripe credentials instead of creating a new account.

Different Stripe Accounts

If you use Stripe with another booking platform that uses Stripe Connect (like FareHarbor), you may have a "connected account" that's linked to that platform. You can still connect to Guidewinds, but you may need to create a fresh Stripe account or use your standalone Stripe account.

Can I disconnect Stripe?

Yes. Go to Settings → Payments and click "Disconnect Stripe." Note that you won't be able to accept online payments until you reconnect.

Security & Compliance

Your Data is Secure

Stripe is a PCI Level 1 certified service provider (the highest level)
All card numbers are encrypted and stored by Stripe—Guidewinds never sees or stores them
Two-factor authentication available on your Stripe account

Tax Documents

Stripe will provide a 1099-K form if you process over $600 in payments during the year. Download tax documents from your Stripe Dashboard under Documents → Tax Forms.

What's Next?

Managing Bookings — Handle incoming reservations and payments
Refunds and Cancellations — Process refunds when needed
Getting Started — Complete your account setup