What will Stripe ask me when I set up payouts?
When you ask Bernard to set up payouts, the link he hands you goes to Stripe — the payment company that will hold your account and pay your bank. Stripe has legal duties a website doesn't: it must know who it's paying. So it asks real questions, once. Ten minutes with the right things to hand and you're through.
Have these ready
- Your bank details — the account your takings should land in. Sort code and account number; a personal account is fine for a sole trader.
- Proof of who you are — Stripe usually asks for a photo ID (passport or driving licence) and sometimes a photo of you holding it. This is identity verification, required of every payment provider by law.
- What your business is — sole trader or limited company, what you sell, and your address. Plain answers are right answers; you're describing yourself, not passing an exam.
What to expect
The page is Stripe's own — your bank and identity details go to Stripe, never through bernard. The link is single-use and short-lived; if it expires mid-form, ask for payouts again and the new link resumes where you stopped.
Most accounts are approved on the spot. Occasionally Stripe takes a little longer to review — hours, sometimes a day or two. Your shop simply stays "opening soon" until the yes comes through, then opens by itself. While you wait, set your postage so checkout is ready to go (How do I charge for postage?).
One more thing worth knowing: the Stripe account is yours. Your payment history, your buyers' receipts, your payouts — all of it stays with you, on your own Stripe login, even if you ever leave bernard.
The prompt
“I'm about to set up payouts. Before you give me the Stripe link, tell me what I'll need to have ready.”
The [bracketed] parts are yours to fill in. First time? Connect bernard to your AI over MCP — a one-time setup in bernard → your site → Use your own AI — then paste the prompt above.
Questions people ask
- Do I need to be a limited company to sell on my site?
- No. Stripe is happy with sole traders — 'individual / sole trader' is a standard choice in their setup. Pick what honestly describes you; if you're not sure what you are, that's an accountant question, not a website one.
- Why does Stripe want my passport or driving licence?
- It's the law, not nosiness — payment companies must verify who they're paying (the same 'know your customer' checks a bank runs). The details go to Stripe, never to bernard.
- The link expired before I finished — have I lost my progress?
- No. The link is single-use for security, but your answers are saved with Stripe. Ask for payouts again and the fresh link drops you back where you left off. Your shop and drafts are untouched either way — nothing goes live without your approval.