Help guide

Set Up Card Payments

Card deposits and pay links run through your own Stripe account. You set it up once, in about 10 minutes.

Stripe asks the questions on its own page. Here is what it asks, in order, and what to pick.

Before you start

• Inkperch Pro, or your 30 days free.
• Your bank account number and routing number, or your online banking login.
• Your Social Security number if you're in the US.
• Your phone, for the code Stripe texts you.

Start in the app

In Inkperch, go to Settings, then Deposits and payment, and tap Set up next to Card payments. Stripe's page opens in your browser. Inkperch passes along your name, email and booking page, so you type less.

What Stripe asks

Stripe changes its page now and then, so the order can shift. The questions stay the same.

1. Email and password. This is your own Stripe login. Stripe texts a code to your phone to confirm it's you.
2. Type of business. If you work for yourself, pick Individual or sole proprietor. If you've set up an LLC or company, pick Company and have its EIN ready.
3. About you. Your legal name as it reads on your ID, not your artist name. Then your date of birth, home address, phone and the last 4 of your Social Security number.
4. Industry. Pick Personal services, then Other personal services.
5. Website. If you've set up your booking page, its link is already there. If not, your Instagram works.
6. What you sell. "Tattoo deposits and sessions" is enough.
7. Name on card statements. This is what clients see on their bank statement. Use the name they know you by, like your artist name or your shop. A name they don't recognize can lead to a disputed charge.
8. Bank account. Where Stripe sends your money.
9. Review and submit.

Back in the app

Go back to Inkperch. Next to Card payments you'll see one of these:

Under it, Take cards reads ON. Turn it off to stop taking cards for a while. Stripe stays set up.

Once it's on

• Deposits: clients pay by card as they pick a date, or before they pick a time, and paying confirms it.
• Balance: when you wrap up a session, show the pay link or its QR code. Clients pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Turn on Pay over time, the last row in Deposits and payment, and they can split it with Affirm, Klarna or Afterpay, while you're paid in full.
• Your numbers: every card payment is logged as income for you, and Stripe's fee as an expense.

Questions

Why does Stripe need my Social Security number?

Anyone who takes card payments has to prove who they are, by law. You give it to Stripe on Stripe's page. Inkperch never sees it.

Does Inkperch take a cut?

No. Card payments go to your own Stripe account and Inkperch takes nothing. Stripe charges its usual card fee. See Stripe's pricing page for the current rate.

When does the money reach my bank?

Stripe pays out on its own schedule, and the first payout can take longer. Tap STRIPE next to Card payments to open your dashboard and see when each payout lands.

I already have a Stripe account.

Inkperch sets up a new account for your tattoo payments. If Stripe knows your email, it asks you to sign in, and the new account sits next to your old one in your dashboard.

Stripe asked for more later.

Stripe sometimes asks for more, like a photo of your ID. Card payments shows FINISH SETUP until it's done. Tap it to go straight there.

Stripe runs the setup page and makes the calls on your account. For anything Stripe asks that isn't covered here, Stripe support can help.