Connect Stripe

Good Times uses Stripe Connect Express so that money players pay flows directly into your own bank account. We never hold your funds. We also never take a percentage on top — the only fee you pay is Stripe's standard rate (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the US). That saves most organizers about 2.5% compared to Ultimate Central.

Before you start

Have these ready:

• A photo of the owner's government ID
• Your organization's EIN or SSN (for tax reporting)
• A bank account in the organization's name
• The phone number attached to your Stripe account (for 2FA)

Connecting

1. In the admin sidebar, open Payments, under Manage organization. Only the organization's owner (or a platform admin) can connect a Stripe account.
2. Click Create new Express account. If the page also offers Connect existing Stripe account, use that one to link a Stripe account you already have.
3. You'll be handed off to Stripe's hosted onboarding. Fill in business details, verify identity, and link a bank account.
4. Stripe redirects you back to the Payments page. When it says Connected — receiving payments directly, you're ready to sell.

If it says Onboarding incomplete instead, Stripe is still waiting on something, and the box says whether charges and payouts are on yet. Click Complete Stripe onboarding to see exactly what Stripe wants, then Refresh status.

What if Stripe asks for more info later?

Stripe does rolling verification. If they flag an issue mid-event (unusual volume, ID mismatch, etc.), the Payments page will display an action item and an email will land in the organizer's inbox. Respond within a few days — Stripe is reasonable but strict.

Test mode vs. live mode

Each organization has a Test mode toggle. Use test mode while you're building out the site and doing dry runs — you'll get a Stripe test card (4242 4242 4242 4242) and no real money moves. Flip to live mode the moment you're ready to sell, and don't flip back unless the event is finished.

Common issues

• "Charges are off": Stripe is waiting on a document. Open Payments and click Complete Stripe onboarding.
• Refund failed: Usually a disputed charge. See Handle refunds.
• Missing payout: Check your Stripe dashboard for payout status; Good Times only shows the last 30 days of transactions.