What is Stripe?
Stripe is a digital payment processor Hometown uses to collect and transfer funds. Before you can receive payments, you'll need to create a Stripe account and connect it to your Hometown Box Office.
Step 1: Determine Your Account Type
Organizations mostly follow the same onboarding and account setup process. The one exception: if your organization qualifies as a government entity, you have the option to submit the "SSN Bypass", which is a letterhead that can replace the SSN during account creation. You will complete one additional verification step before going live (see Step 3).
You are responsible for appropriately representing your organization when signing up for a Stripe account. Our customers most often identify as either a non-profit or a government entity.
If you are unsure of your entity type, please consult your principal, business manager, or district finance office. For booster clubs or parent organizations, your treasurer is the best point of contact. They can confirm your organization's tax status and legal classification before you proceed.
Know the Difference: Non-Profit vs. Government Entity
A non-profit can be recognized as an incorporated non-profit or an unincorporated non-profit. An incorporated non-profit is a formally incorporated organization that pursues objectives other than profits, such as social causes, and typically has tax-exempt status. An unincorporated non-profit is similar but hasn't formally incorporated, although it may still have tax-exempt status under US law, such as 501(c)(3).
A government entity is an organization directly controlled by, or an integral part of, a federal, state, or local government. It operates with public funds, serves public interests, and is subject to governmental oversight.
The key determining factor is your TIN/EIN:
If your organization files taxes under a government unit’s EIN (e.g., a school athletic program under the school district’s EIN), you classify as a government entity.
If your organization has its own separate EIN and files taxes independently (e.g., a Booster Club incorporated as its own 501(c)(3)), you are a non-profit.
Here are some example scenarios for informational purposes:
Tip: Not sure which applies to you? Please consult your principal, business manager, or district finance office. For booster clubs or parent organizations, your treasurer is the best point of contact. They can confirm your organization's tax status and legal classification before you proceed.
Note: If you are not a government entity, complete Steps 2 and 4 and skip Step 3.
Step 2: Create Your Stripe Account
Log in to your Hometown Box Office using your URL and username.
Go to Settings > All Settings > Sales & Payment Processor > Add Sales Account > Connect with Stripe (at the bottom center of the page).
Enter the email address you would like to associate with your Stripe account and create a unique password.
Scan the QR code and complete the verification.
Select your account type:
Non-government entities: select the appropriate type (Nonprofit, Company, or Individual). K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and most organizations select Government Entity or Non-Profit. If you are unsure, see the government entity guidance below.
Government entities: select Government Entity.
When prompted for your SSN:
Non-government entities: enter your SSN as prompted.
Government entities: you may enter the last 4 digits of your SSN, or enter a placeholder (e.g., 1111) and complete identity verification via the letterhead process in Step 3. You do not need to provide an SSN.
Enter your business information:
Legal name must match exactly what appears on your tax documents.
PO Boxes and private addresses are not accepted.
Product Description: We sell tickets to events for schools
Enter your Account Owner Information.
Stripe verifies this info to prevent fraudulent activity and identity theft.
Enter your Bank Account Information.
Click on the link where it says to manually enter your info. This will allow
you to directly type in your bank account and routing numbers
Type in your Statement Descriptor: [School Name] tickets. This is what donors and fans will see on their bank statement.
Enter your bank account information. Click the manual entry link to type in your
routing and account numbers directly.
Review and submit your application.
Note: Your account will have outstanding verification requirements until Stripe reviews your documentation. a red banner will appear at the top of your Stripe Dashboard. Click “Review details” to see what is needed.
Step 3: Government Entities Only — Submit the "SSN Bypass"
Skip this step if you are not a government entity, or if you entered the last 4 digits of your real SSN during account creation.
After creating your Stripe account, you must complete the "SSN Bypass" by submitting the below SSN Bypass Letterhead Form. This form generates a virtual letterhead that is submitted directly to a designated Stripe review queue specifically for Hometown customers.
The form must be completed by an authorized employee confirming the Account Representative’s authority to act on behalf of the organization. This person cannot be the Account Representative themselves.
The form collects:
Authorizing Employee (the signatory - cannot be the Account Representative): name, job title (e.g., Principal, CFO, Superintendent), and email
Account Representative: account representative name and title
Stripe Account Information: Stripe Account ID
Organization/Business Information: business name(s), website URL(s), business tax ID/EIN
Before submitting, we recommend you confirm:
Both the account representative and the authorizer are publicly listed on the school or organization website. Stripe will check for verification purposes.
You have the correct account representative. To check, follow these steps:
Log in to your Stripe account. Use the credentials associated with your organization’s primary Stripe login.
Go to the Settings menu. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of your Stripe dashboard.
Navigate to "Team and Security." Under the "Business Settings" section, select "Team and Security."
Locate the account owner. Within the list of team members, look for the individual with the "Owner" tag next to their name. This person is the current account owner and holds administrative permissions and should be referenced for the final step of this process.
Tip: To find your Stripe Account ID, log into your Stripe Dashboard, click your profile icon in the top right corner, and scroll to the bottom of the page. Your Account ID will be listed in the format acct_XXXXXXXXX.
All verification decisions are made solely by Stripe. Hometown facilitates the JotForm submission but does not make verification decisions. You are solely responsible for the accuracy of any information submitted.
What to expect after submitting
Your account will have outstanding verification requirements, until Stripe reviews your documentation. a red banner will appear at the top of your Stripe Dashboard. Click “Review details” to see what is needed.
Stripe will review your documentation and respond within 5 to 10 business days. If you have not heard back within 10 business days or need urgent approval, contact us.
Use our form - don't submit a letterhead to Stripe directly. If you reach out to Stripe support, they may direct you to create your own letterhead and email it in. This is their standard guidance for all Stripe customers and does not account for our partnership with Hometown. Submissions made through Stripe's general process enter a slower review queue, and our team will have limited visibility to assist you. Submitting through our form ensures the fastest review and keeps your account on track.
Step 4: Complete Your Account Setup
Add a Secondary Administrator
After connecting your Stripe account, add the Hometown primary contact as a secondary user. This ensures continued access if the primary administrator ever loses access or is out of office. In your Stripe Dashboard, go to Settings > Team and Security to manage your team. See Stripe support guidance here.
Configure your Payout Schedule
Stripe defaults to daily payouts. You can update this anytime in your Stripe Dashboard under Settings > External Payout Accounts and Scheduling. Options are Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.
Helpful Tips
Bookmark both accounts. Save your Hometown Box Office and your Stripe Dashboard in your browser for easy access going forward.
Getting back to Stripe. Visit stripe.com and log in with the credentials you created during setup.
Contacting Stripe support. From your Stripe Dashboard, go to Settings > Support Articles > Contact Stripe. You can chat, request a callback, or send an email.
Outstanding verification. If a red banner appears at the top of your Stripe Dashboard, click "Review details" to see what Stripe needs from you.
Payout schedule. Stripe pays out daily by default. You can change your schedule anytime under Settings in your Stripe Dashboard.
Questions? Our team is here to help. Visit our customer knowledge base or contact
us by calling (614) 896-3004 or emailing [email protected].