> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cortado.pro/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Stripe

> Connect your Stripe account to accept payments from customers

## Stripe Overview

Stripe powers payments in Cortado. Once you connect your Stripe account, your customers can pay invoices by credit or debit card and, optionally, by ACH bank transfer directly from the customer portal.

Cortado uses **Stripe Connect**, which means payouts go straight to the bank account attached to your own Stripe account. Cortado never holds your funds.

You can manage your Stripe connection from **Settings > Payments**.

## Before You Connect

<Note>
  Your organization needs a **contact email** before you can connect a Stripe account. If one isn't set yet, Cortado will prompt you to add it in **Settings > Company** first. Stripe uses this email for verification and account communication.
</Note>

## Connecting Your Stripe Account

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open payment settings">
    Go to **Settings > Payments** and find the **Stripe Account** card.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the connection">
    Click **Connect Stripe Account**. A new window opens with Stripe's onboarding flow.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete Stripe onboarding">
    You'll either sign in to an existing Stripe account or create a new one. Stripe will collect business details, banking information, and identity verification.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Return to Cortado">
    When Stripe's flow finishes, the window closes automatically and your account shows as **Connected** with a green badge.
  </Step>
</Steps>

If Stripe needs additional information later, you can click **Re-open Onboarding** from the Stripe Account card to return to the Stripe flow and complete any outstanding requirements.

## What Stripe Powers

Once connected, Stripe handles every money movement in Cortado:

* **Customer checkout** — customers pay invoices through Stripe Checkout from the customer portal
* **Refunds** — refunds are issued through the invoice page and processed back to the original payment method
* **Disputes and chargebacks** — surfaced in Cortado and managed through your Stripe dashboard
* **Payouts** — Stripe transfers funds directly to the bank account on your Stripe account

Because Cortado uses Stripe Connect, the money flow is between your customer and your own Stripe account. Cortado orchestrates the checkout session but never touches the funds.

## Payment Methods

In **Settings > Payments**, under **Payment Methods**, you can choose which methods appear at checkout:

* **Credit / Debit Card** — always enabled; supports Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and other major card networks
* **ACH Bank Transfer** — optional; lets US customers pay directly from their bank account, typically with lower fees than card payments

Toggling ACH applies to every new invoice checkout for your organization.

<Tip>
  Offering ACH on larger invoices can significantly reduce processing fees. Many event businesses enable ACH as the default for bookings above a certain threshold.
</Tip>

## Account Status and Warnings

The Stripe Account card shows your connection status at a glance and surfaces any warnings returned by Stripe — for example, pending identity documents, overdue banking information, or payout holds.

If you see a warning, click **Re-open Onboarding** to resolve it. Until these items are cleared, Stripe may pause your ability to accept charges or receive payouts.

## Disconnecting Stripe

You can disconnect Stripe at any time from the Stripe Account card:

1. Click **Disconnect** on the Stripe Account card
2. Confirm the action in the dialog

<Warning>
  Disconnecting Stripe stops Cortado from processing new payments. Your Stripe account itself remains active — no data or history is deleted on Stripe's side. You can reconnect later without losing your transaction history.
</Warning>

## Best Practices

1. **Complete onboarding fully before sending invoices** — half-finished Stripe accounts can't accept live charges
2. **Keep your Stripe contact email up to date** — Stripe sends verification and payout alerts to this address
3. **Review warnings promptly** — Stripe requirements left unresolved can pause your ability to take payments
4. **Enable ACH for larger invoices** — bank transfers reduce processing fees on higher-value bookings
5. **Use your Stripe dashboard for disputes** — respond to chargebacks directly in Stripe with the evidence Stripe requests
6. **Don't disconnect mid-billing-cycle** — finish processing any open checkout sessions or refunds before disconnecting

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quotes" icon="paper-plane" href="/guides/quotes">
    Learn how quotes become invoices once accepted.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Email" icon="envelope" href="/guides/integrations/email">
    Connect Gmail to send invoices and quotes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>