1. Why connect Stripe?
Stripe powers managed checkout for eligible Comstein listings. Buyers pay through Stripe Checkout on your connected account. Comstein attaches the approved partner’s referral information so payment activity can be matched to the listing and partnership.
2. What Comstein and Stripe each do
Comstein manages your listing, partner applications, tracked checkout links, and attribution records. Stripe processes customer payments and manages your Stripe balance and bank payouts. Customer funds go to your Stripe account. Comstein does not automatically split those funds with partners; you settle partner commissions separately. See the payment flow and commission guide.
3. Before you start
- Create or choose the company for your listing.
- Know which business and Stripe account should receive customer payments.
- Have access to that account and its products and prices.
- Prepare your listing’s pricing and commission terms.
If you need an account, follow Stripe’s account setup process. Business, identity, and bank requirements depend on your account and country; Stripe tells you what is needed.
4. Use your existing Stripe account
You can authorize an existing Stripe account. If you manage several accounts, select the one that sells this listing and check its business name before continuing. Comstein currently uses one founder Stripe connection across your companies, while each listing selects its own prices. Switching that connection can affect multiple listings.
5. Connect from Comstein
- Open Company billing or the listing editor’s payment setup.
- Choose Connect Stripe.
- Sign in on Stripe, select the correct account, and review the authorization request.
- Authorize the connection and return to Comstein.
- Check the connected account shown, then return to the listing to choose prices and save.
If Comstein says the connection is unavailable, contact support with your listing link. Connecting alone does not finish the listing’s checkout setup.
6. Your Stripe password stays with Stripe
Enter your Stripe credentials only on Stripe’s sign-in page. Comstein receives the authorization result and connected account reference, not your Stripe password. You do not need to paste secret API keys, bank details, or identity documents into a Comstein listing or support message.
7. Check account readiness
Open your Stripe Dashboard and confirm that business details are complete, customer charges are enabled, and payouts to your bank are enabled. Complete any requirements Stripe shows. A connected badge only confirms an account link; it is not proof of a completed customer payment or partner settlement. Refresh Comstein after changes, and use Stripe’s current account status if a check is unavailable or appears out of date.
8. Load products and prices
The listing’s Stripe price picker loads available active prices from your connected account, including product names, amounts, currencies, and billing intervals. Selecting a price links it to the listing; it does not create or copy a product in Stripe. Create or change products and prices in Stripe, then reload the listing’s payment setup. If a price is missing, check the account, mode, product, and price status. Contact support if it still does not appear.
9. Choose one-time or recurring pricing
A one-time Stripe price is used for a single payment. A recurring Stripe price is used for a subscription with the interval defined in Stripe. Choose prices that match what your listing promises. Adding a price does not move existing subscriptions to it or change their billing terms.
10. Select prices, save, and refresh
Choose one or more prices in the listing editor and review the amount, currency, and billing interval. Save successfully, then refresh Review and the dashboard to confirm the saved setup. A preview can include unsaved edits. If saving fails, resolve the error before treating the price as configured.
11. Keep test and live mode separate
Stripe test mode uses simulated payments and separate prices. It does not make a listing ready for real customer payments. Real sales need the correct live account and its live prices. If your workspace or account appears to be in the wrong mode, stop the checkout setup and contact support. Do not use real card data in a test checkout.
12. How attribution and commissions work
After approval and activation, a partner uses the listing’s tracked link. Managed checkout carries referral context to associate payment activity with that partner. Agree on the rate, eligible sales, duration, review period, and settlement method. Review Comstein’s records against Stripe’s actual payment and invoice status before paying a commission. A checkout visit, success page, or commission record alone is not proof of collected funds.
13. How partners receive their commission
You pay the partner separately using the method and timing you agreed. Comstein does not currently initiate partner transfers, hold commission funds in escrow, or guarantee a settlement date. A Stripe payout moves your Stripe balance to your bank; enabling it does not pay a partner. Keep evidence of settlements and read the payments guide.
14. Refunds, disputes, and failed payments
Manage customer refunds and disputes in Stripe. They can affect the commission owed, so check the payment, refunded amount, and dispute outcome before settling. Do not rely on a commission record alone to prove that every adjustment has been reconciled. A failed or unpaid transaction should not be treated as an earned commission. Agree with partners how you will handle refunds or disputes after a commission has already been paid.
15. If you cancel or leave setup incomplete
Canceling Stripe authorization does not complete a new connection. Return to Comstein and start Connect Stripe again when ready. If you authorized the account but still have verification requirements, finish them in Stripe; the account may be connected while unable to take payments. Your listing can remain public while checkout is incomplete. Check the saved Applications setting separately in the listing status guide.
16. Disconnecting or switching accounts
Disconnect marks your founder connection as revoked in Comstein and prevents new managed checkout sessions through that connection. It does not unpublish your listings, change the saved Applications switch, or cancel subscriptions already created in Stripe. Existing subscriptions and customer obligations must be managed in Stripe. Previously created checkout sessions are not canceled by this action either.
Comstein also requests removal of its Stripe authorization. Confirm the authorized-app status in your Stripe Dashboard if you need to verify that access has been removed. After disconnecting, do not rely on continued Comstein tracking for existing payments or renewals. Before switching accounts, review affected listings and subscriptions; after reconnecting, reselect prices from the correct account and save.
17. Final checklist before inviting buyers
- The listing is linked to the correct company, its public page is Live, and Agent promotion setup is saved and Ready. These states are independent of payment setup.
- The connected Stripe account belongs to the business selling the listing.
- Stripe shows completed requirements, enabled charges, and enabled bank payouts.
- The account and selected prices are in live mode for real sales.
- The selected product and prices are active, and amounts, currencies, and intervals match the listing.
- You saved successfully and checked the refreshed listing.
- Applications is intentionally On or Off. Opening requires ready setup; leaving it Off is a valid choice. Approve partners only when you intend to work with them.
- The partner uses the tracked link, and you agreed on commission terms and separate settlement.
- You know how to verify paid transactions, refunds, and disputes in Stripe before settlement.
For unresolved setup issues, contact support with the listing link and the status or error shown. The founder checklist covers the rest of the listing lifecycle.
Stripe references
Read Stripe’s guidance on existing Standard connected accounts, account authorization and revocation, and direct charges.