Appearance
How to Set Up a New Stripe Account for Your Club or Organisation
This guide explains how a sports club, community group, charity, or volunteer-run organisation can correctly set up a Stripe account to accept online payments.
Important before you start
Most setup problems happen when the wrong organisation type is selected in Stripe.
Pay particular attention to Step 3 before submitting the account setup.
You will learn:
- what you need before starting
- how to choose the correct organisation type
- how to complete onboarding and verification
- how to avoid the most common setup mistakes
- troubleshooting steps if verification fails
1. What You Need Before You Start
Before opening a Stripe account, gather the following information. This prevents delays or verification failures.
Organisation Details
- official club or organisation name
- organisation address
- contact email and phone number
Bank Account Details
Stripe will deposit funds into your organisation's bank account.
You will need:
- account holder name
- sort code or routing number
- account number or IBAN
Tip: The bank account should belong to the organisation, not to an individual.
Responsible Person Verification
Stripe must verify one individual associated with the organisation, for example the treasurer or chairperson.
You will need:
- full name
- home address
- date of birth
- photo ID such as a passport or driving licence
Why Stripe asks for personal ID
Financial regulations require Stripe to verify one real person connected to the organisation (KYC - Know Your Customer).
2. Go to the Stripe Register Page
Visit the Stripe register page:
Why Stripe?
Stripe enables secure online card payments, ideal for fundraising services, ticketing, memberships, and donations.
3. Choosing the Correct Organisation Type
This is the step organisations get wrong most often.
Important
This is the step where most clubs make mistakes.
Choosing the wrong organisation type can delay verification or cause Stripe to ask for documents your club does not have.
Most clubs should select
- Non-profit or Charity
- Unincorporated Association, if available in your country
These options usually apply to:
- GAA clubs
- football or rugby clubs
- youth sports clubs
- community sports groups
- volunteer-run organisations
- recreational groups
Do not select
- Individual or Sole Trader
- Company or Corporation unless your organisation is actually registered that way
Common mistake
If your organisation is not a registered company, do not choose Company.
4. Step-by-Step Stripe Setup
Step 1. Start Stripe Onboarding
Go to Stripe's registration page and enter your email address. You will create a login.
Step 2. Enter Organisation Details
Stripe will request:
- organisation name
- organisation address
- industry or category
- a short description of what your organisation does
Example description:
A volunteer-run community sports club providing youth and adult training programmes.
Step 3. Add the Responsible Person
Provide the committee member's:
- full name
- home address
- date of birth
- photo ID
Stripe may ask for proof of address if required.
Step 4. Add Your Bank Account
Enter your organisation's bank account information.
Stripe uses this for payouts.
Step 5. Submit the Information
Stripe will review the information. Most accounts are verified within minutes.
Official Stripe Guidance
Stripe provides detailed guidance on setting up and managing an account on their website.
You can view Stripe's official getting started guide here: Getting started with Stripe
This documentation explains Stripe onboarding, verification, and account management in more detail.
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Selecting the wrong organisation type
This is the most common error and can lead to verification failure or requests for documents you do not have.
Using a personal bank account
Even if the treasurer manages finances, Stripe expects an organisation-owned account.
Uploading unclear or incomplete ID
Blurry photos or cut-off IDs will fail verification.
Using mismatched names
The name on the ID must match the name entered exactly.
Stripe Screen Flow
If you want to see the registration process screen by screen, use the guide below.