To accept payments through Bookingbird, you need a "digital wallet." That’s your Stripe account. Stripe acts like a bank for your online business: it securely processes your customers' payments and transfers the money to your bank account.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the Stripe registration process step-by-step, so you can get your account "green-lit" as quickly as possible.
Checklist: Before You StartStripe is a financial service provider and is legally required to verify your identity (KYC - Know Your Customer). Have these items ready so you don’t have to search for them mid-process:
Your IBAN: Where you want your money to be deposited.
ID Document: Passport or Driver’s License (for identity verification).
Your Tax ID: (or VAT number, if you have one).
Your Smartphone: For Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and potentially for scanning your ID.
Link to your Website: If you don't have a website, use the link to your Bookingbird Profile.
Enter your email address, your full name, and choose a strong password.
Click on Create account.
Stripe will send you a confirmation email. Click the confirmation link inside immediately. This is crucial; otherwise, you won't be able to enter your bank details later.
After logging in, you will see the Stripe Dashboard. Look for a banner or button that says "Activate payments" or "Complete your profile."
Click on Activate payments. [SCREENSHOT: Stripe Dashboard highlighting the "Activate payments" button]
Business Location & Type:
Select your country.
Important: Choose the correct "Type of business."
Are you a freelancer or a one-person show? Choose Individual or Sole Proprietorship.
Do you have a registered company (e.g., LLC, Ltd.)? Choose Company.
Personal Details:
Enter your legal name, date of birth, and home address. These must match your ID exactly.
Business Details:
Industry: Choose the category that fits best (e.g., "Consulting services" or "Education").
Website: Copy and paste the link to your Bookingbird booking page here (e.g., bookingbird.io/your-name).
Product description: Briefly describe (1-2 sentences) what you offer.
Example: "I offer online coaching and consulting sessions which clients book via Bookingbird."
Statement Descriptor:
This is the text that will appear on your customers' bank statements. Choose something your clients will instantly recognize (e.g., your name or brand name).
Payout Details:
Enter your IBAN. This is where Stripe will send your earnings.
Security (2FA):
Stripe requires Two-Factor Authentication for your security. Use the SMS code option or an Authenticator app on your phone.
[SCREENSHOT: Overview of completed steps in the activation form]
Click Submit or Done at the bottom.
Sometimes, submitting the form isn't quite enough. If Stripe needs more info, you will see a notice in your Dashboard under "Settings" or a banner at the top.
Click on the Review information notification.
If Stripe asks to see an ID, select Continue on mobile.
You will get a link/QR code sent to your phone. Use it to snap a photo of your ID and a selfie. This is usually much faster than uploading files on a PC.
As soon as your status switches to Active, your "digital wallet" is ready! Now you can connect it to Bookingbird (see our guide: Connecting Stripe to Bookingbird).
Troubleshooting (Help, it’s not working!)Stripe is asking for a "Company Registration Number," but I don't have one. If you are a freelancer or sole proprietor, you often don't have a commercial register number.
Solution: Make sure you selected Individual or Sole Proprietorship in Step 2. This field is usually optional for individuals, or you can enter your personal tax ID.
I don't have a VAT ID. No problem. If you are a small business owner (Kleinunternehmer), this field is often optional in Stripe. If Stripe insists on it, look for a dropdown option like "I don't have a VAT number" or enter your local tax number depending on your region's rules.
My account status is "Pending". This is normal. Sometimes the review takes 5 minutes, sometimes 24 hours. As long as you don't see a red error message, just sit back and relax.
