Stripe document checklist + backup processor comparison (DRAFT)
Researched 2026-10-29 (MDT). The decision belongs to Trevor and Shane. No accounts were opened, nothing was signed up for, and $0 was spent. Fees are US list rates as published on each source page today. Confirm them before acting.
Part 1: What Stripe typically requests (public docs)
Upload only via Dashboard → Settings → Business → Account status. Stripe says not to email documents. Source: https://docs.stripe.com/acceptable-verification-documents - [ ] Tax ID match: the legal name and EIN must exactly match the IRS records. Accepted documents are IRS Letter 147C, the SS-4 confirmation letter (the application itself is not accepted), an IRS fax transmission letter, or an EIN Assistance letter. Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs are checked against the owner's SSN instead. Check your latest W-9 or tax return to see which applies. (same source) - [ ] Company entity document: business registration or incorporation papers showing the legal name, tax ID and address that match your settings. (same source) - [ ] Representative identity: passport, driver's license or government ID. Must be in color, unexpired, not cropped, and not a screenshot (PDF scan or original JPEG/PNG). (same source) - [ ] Proof of address: a utility bill or bank statement from the last 6 months. One document can't satisfy two requirements. (same source) - [ ] Bank account ownership: a bank statement showing the account holder's name and account number. (same source) - [ ] Beneficial owners / directors: names and positions. (same source) - [ ] Nonprofit/charity registration (if the entity claims that status). (same source) - [ ] Website review: the site loads publicly with no password; it shows the business name and what you sell; it lists contact info and refund/cancellation/privacy terms; the URL is updated in the Dashboard. Sources: https://docs.stripe.com/get-started/account/set-up and the summary at https://okaytoship.com/checklist/payments-stripe (third party) - [ ] For a risk or payout review: itemized customer invoices, recent bank statements, and prior-processor statements. Source: https://okaytoship.com/checklist/payments-stripe (third-party summary of Stripe support pages. Unverified against Stripe directly) - [ ] Statement descriptor and public business info are clear enough that donors recognize the charge, which reduces disputes. Source: https://docs.stripe.com/get-started/account/set-up - [ ] Explanation of the volume spike (~700 → 1,111) with real counts and dates. Wait for Shane's data (F39) and the screenshot (A2).
Part 2: Backup processors
| Processor | Published fee (US) | Monthly | Donations | Lifetime one-time | Bulk business seats | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | Donate Button / Checkout for Donations 2.89% + $0.49. Cards 2.99% + $0.49. PayPal Checkout 3.49% + $0.49. Confirmed charity 1.99% + $0.49 (pre-approval required). Invoice ACH 1% (max $10) | $0 | Yes, dedicated donation pricing | Yes | Yes, via invoicing | Can raise fees up to 5% for high-risk accounts; PayPal itself has volume-related holds risk | https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/merchant-fees |
| PayPal Braintree | Cards 2.89% + $0.29. 501(c)(3) 2.19% + $0.29. ACH 0.75% (max $5). Chargeback $15 | unverified (none listed) | Yes | Yes | Yes (API) | Requires application and approval; dev integration | https://www.braintreepayments.com/pricing |
| Square | Online 2.9% + $0.30 (Free plan 3.3% + $0.30 per the page's columns; plan mapping unverified). Card present 2.6% + $0.15. ACH invoice 1% | $0 Free plan | Yes (payment links) | Yes | Yes (invoices) | In-person is useful for nursing-home events | https://squareup.com/us/en/payments/our-fees |
| Authorize.net | All-in-one 2.9% + $0.30. eCheck 0.75% | $25 | Yes | Yes | Yes (invoicing, ACH) | Dedicated merchant account; underwriting takes 1-5 business days | https://www.authorize.net/sign-up/pricing.html |
| Donorbox | Standard platform fee 2.95-3.95% plus Stripe/PayPal processing | $0 Standard / $150 Pro | Yes (built for it) | Memberships supported | Unverified | Built for nonprofits; runs on Stripe or PayPal, so it may not help while Stripe is down. Nonprofit eligibility unverified | https://donorbox.org/pricing |
| Paddle | 5% + $0.50, all-inclusive merchant of record | $0 | Unverified (built for software) | Yes | Yes (seats/invoicing) | Paddle carries the tax liability; suitability for "donations" is unverified | https://www.paddle.com/pricing |
| Lemon Squeezy | 5% + $0.50 (some extra fees possible) | $0 | "Pay what you want" listed | Yes | Per-seat supported | Merchant of record for digital products | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/pricing |
Things Trevor and Shane need to answer first
- Is the entity a registered 501(c)(3)? That unlocks the PayPal/Braintree charity rates (unknown).
- Are "donations" legally donations, or sales of lifetime access? This matters for tax and processor terms. Get accountant/legal input (unverified).
- Run one primary and one backup processor so a single shutdown can't pause revenue again.
Decision card for Trevor + Shane: see stripe-recovery.md → DECISION CARD.