How to Sign up for a Stripe Account

4 weeks ago
docsmaster
3 minutes

Stripe is a leading payment solution trusted by startups, digital entrepreneurs, and online educators around the world. Whether you’re collecting donations, offering memberships, running a crowdfunding campaign, or selling courses and downloads — Stripe makes managing payments simple and secure.

If you’re using tools like the ChamaWP plugin for WordPress, Stripe integration gives you everything you need to accept payments directly from your site.

✅ Step 1: Sign Up for a Stripe Test Account

  1. Head over to Stripe.com
  2. Click on the “Start now” button at the top of the page.
  3. Fill in your:
    • Email address
    • Full name
    • Password
  4. Click Create account
  5. On the Welcome screen, add:
    • Your business name
    • Business website (optional)

💡 You can skip the How do you want to start? screens.

🎉 Once you complete this, Stripe will automatically create a test (sandbox) account, allowing you to simulate payments with fake card numbers — perfect for safely testing your setup.

✅ Step 2: Confirm Your Email

  • Check your inbox for a confirmation email from Stripe.
  • Click “Verify email address”
  • You’ll be redirected back to the Stripe dashboard with your account confirmed.

✅ Step 3: Activate Your Live Stripe Account

Once your test account is ready and your email is verified, follow these steps to switch to live mode:

  1. In your Stripe dashboard, click “Get your live account”
  2. Fill out the Stripe onboarding form, including:
    • Business type (individual, company, nonprofit, etc.)
    • Personal details (full name, date of birth, address, phone)
    • Business details  (website, industry, and description of services)
    • Public details for payment statements, invoices and receipt
    • Bank details for receiving payouts
    • 2FA setup to protect your account

You can skip the extras for now.

📌 Stripe may also ask for:

  • A government-issued photo ID
  • Date of birth and SSN (U.S. users)
  • Any pending items will appear as a banner in your dashboard.

To double-check your setup, go to:
Settings → Business Settings → Account Status

🛠️ Pro Tips for Using Stripe Effectively

  • 🔐 Enable two-factor authentication for stronger security
  • 💬 Set a clear statement descriptor so your customers recognize charges
  • 👤 Use the Team Members section to add collaborators with the right permissions
  • 📩 Enable email alerts for failed payments or chargebacks
  • 🚫 Be sure to check Stripe’s list of restricted industries before going live

🚀 Wrapping Up

Stripe is designed for flexibility — giving you the ability to test everything before collecting real payments. With sandbox access, detailed onboarding, and secure features, it’s ideal for launching a digital product, service, or online business.

Here’s what to remember:

✅ Test mode is available by default when you first sign up
✅ You must click “Get your live account” to begin onboarding
✅ Verifying your identity and business info is required to go live

Once your Stripe account is activated, you’ll be ready to start receiving global payments with full control over payouts, receipts, and customer experience.