Stripe enables you to securely accept online payments for your experiences. Connecting your Tourism Accelerator account to Stripe allows guests to book and pay 24/7, automating your payment process and improving cash flow. This means less time chasing payments and more time focusing on your tours.
Accessing this feature
Go to Settings > Payments
How to use it
Connecting to Stripe
On the Payments settings page in your Tourism Accelerator account, you will see a section dedicated to Stripe. You will see a button that says something like Connect to Stripe or Set up Stripe. Click it.
You will be securely redirected to Stripe's website. This is normal and how the two systems securely link up. You might see a new browser tab open, or your current tab will change.
Setting up your Stripe Account (or logging in)
Once you're on the Stripe website, you'll have two main paths:
Path A: You already have a Stripe account.
If you've used Stripe before for another business or project, look for the option to Sign In or Log in to your existing Stripe account.
Enter your Stripe email address and password.
Stripe will then ask you to confirm that you want to connect this existing account to Tourism Accelerator. Review the details, and if everything looks correct, authorise the connection.
Path B: You're brand new to Stripe.
Creating a new Stripe account is simple and secure. You'll be prompted to Sign up or Create your Stripe account. Stripe will guide you through a series of questions to set up your account. Here's an overview of the information they'll ask for:
Your Business Details: This includes your business name, address, ABN (if you have one), and your business structure (e.g., sole trader, company, partnership). This helps Stripe understand your business.
Your Personal Details: Stripe needs to verify who you are as the owner or representative of the business. This is a standard security measure known as "Know Your Customer" (KYC) – it helps prevent fraud and keeps everyone safe. They'll likely ask for your name, date of birth, and sometimes identification details.
Bank Account Details: This is crucial! Stripe needs to know where to send the money you earn from your bookings. You'll need to provide your Australian bank account name, BSB, and account number. Note, this information is highly encrypted and secure.
A few other questions: They might ask about the type of products/services you offer (tourism, of course!), and an estimated average transaction amount. Just answer honestly!
Take your time to fill out all the fields accurately. Stripe uses this information for verification and to ensure your payouts are correct. If you're unsure about any specific field, don't hesitate to check your business registration documents or contact your accountant.
Completing the Connection
Once you've either logged into your existing Stripe account or successfully created a new one and completed all the necessary steps on Stripe's website, Stripe will automatically redirect you back to your Tourism Accelerator Payments settings page. You'll know it's worked because the Connect to Stripe button will likely have disappeared, or it will now say Stripe Connected with a green tick, or display the email address associated with your Stripe account.
Finalising Your Payment Settings in Tourism Accelerator
Now that Stripe is connected, let's just confirm a few things in your Tourism Accelerator account:
Enable Payments: On the Payments settings page, make sure the toggle next to Enable Payments (or similar wording) is switched ON. It should be green or indicate it's active. This tells your booking system to actually use Stripe.
Currency: Confirm your currency is set to AUD (Australian Dollars).
Refund Policy (Optional but Recommended): You might see an option to link to your refund policy. This is a great idea to build trust with your guests. If you have a refund policy page on your website, you can add the link here.
Click Save Changes (or similar) on your Tourism Accelerator Payments settings page if you've made any adjustments.
That's it, you're set up! Your Tourism Accelerator account is now ready to accept online payments through Stripe.
Tips
With Stripe connected, your Tourism Accelerator account gains some powerful capabilities:
Accept a Wide Range of Payments: You can now accept all major credit and debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and more, directly through your booking system.
Process Payments Securely: All transactions are handled by Stripe's robust, industry-leading security infrastructure, protecting both your business and your guests' financial information.
Automated Payouts: Funds from your bookings will be automatically transferred from your Stripe account to your nominated bank account, usually within a few business days (Stripe typically holds funds briefly for security and processing).
Manage Transactions & Refunds: You can view detailed transaction histories, process full or partial refunds directly.
Need help?
For further assistance, contact us at [email protected]