What is Stripe?

In plain words

When a client pays a deposit, they type their card into a secure page run by Stripe. Stripe checks the card, takes the money, keeps it safe for a couple of days, and then sends it to your bank account. That last step is called a payout.

Stripe is used by millions of businesses, from corner shops to very large companies. It handles the parts that are hard to do safely — storing card numbers, fraud checks, card-network rules — so neither you nor we ever see a client’s card number.

What you need

• A Stripe account in your business’s name. If you don’t have one, you create it while connecting — it takes a few minutes.
• Your business details and a bank account for payouts. Stripe asks for these because banks require it (this is called “know your customer”, or KYC).

What it costs

Stripe charges a small fee on each card payment, taken out before the money reaches you. Those fees are Stripe’s, charged to your Stripe account. Tornaly doesn’t add anything on top and takes no cut of your payments.

Where to go next

• How Stripe Connect works here — who owns what, and where the money goes.
• Deposits flow — step by step, from booking to payout.