Why Stripe

CrowdSpeaker uses Stripe to pay guides safely. Stripe checks your identity, as banks are required to do, and sends money to your bank.

Is Stripe safe for my banking details?

Yes. Stripe is an established payment provider with independently audited security safeguards. Stripe encrypts sensitive information while it is sent and while it is stored, and protects bank account information using tokenization, which replaces sensitive account numbers with tokens in its systems.

You enter your banking and identity details directly on Stripe's hosted setup page, not in the CrowdSpeaker assistant. The assistant does not need or collect your bank account numbers, passwords or identity documents. Asking for these details during Stripe setup is a normal part of verifying your identity and connecting payouts, not a sign that something is wrong.

For peace of mind, start from Earnings and check that the setup page belongs to Stripe before entering details. Never send banking details in chat. No online service can promise zero risk, but Stripe provides strong protections for this information. See Stripe's security documentation for its encryption, tokenization and independent audit details.

Start or continue

Tap Get Booked, Get Paid to open Earnings, then tap Get Booked, Get Paid there to start or continue Stripe setup. You return to CrowdSpeaker when done.

What each Stripe screen asks

Phone or email code: Stripe confirms it's you.
Business type: most guides choose Individual / sole proprietor.
Personal details: legal name, date of birth, home address and, in the US, the last 4 digits of your SSN.
Business details: an industry (tours or entertainment) and a website. You can use your CrowdSpeaker profile link.
Bank account: where payouts go. You can link it by signing in to your bank or by typing the routing and account numbers.
Identity document: sometimes Stripe asks for a photo of an ID. This is normal.
Review and submit.

After you submit

Status shows as under review, usually for minutes and sometimes a day or two. If Stripe needs more information, Earnings shows Continue setup. Once approved, you can sell tickets.

When you get paid

CrowdSpeaker holds ticket money until after the tour, then releases it no earlier than 26 hours after it ends. The 26-hour wait gives customers a short window after the tour to open a refund case before the money moves to your bank. If a case is open, that booking's money waits until it is resolved.

The release is when funds become available, not necessarily when they reach your bank. Stripe sends the payout right after, and banks take their own time to post it.