Stripe onboarding

To become visible to pet parents on Petme, you need to complete three steps:

1. Set up your sitter profile
2. Complete Stripe onboarding (this article)
3. Add your services and rates

Once all three are complete, your profile will be activated. You’ll see a green dot and “Your account is live and ready for bookings” under Account status on your dashboard. You can also check how your profile looks to others by tapping View as on your profile page.

Properly setting up your Stripe account is essential for receiving payments as a Petme sitter. Without completing this process, you will not be able to get paid. This guide walks you through the most common steps, with a focus on individual sitters (the majority of Petme users). Business accounts are also supported, but these steps primarily cover individual registration.

Step 1: Select Your Business Type

When starting Stripe onboarding, you will be asked to select a business type. Most Petme sitters select “Individual”, since they do not operate an incorporated company. If you have a registered business or nonprofit, you can select “Company” or “Nonprofit” as appropriate.

💡 Tip: If you’re unsure, consider whether you have filed paperwork to register your business. If not, “Individual” is almost always correct.

Step 2: Verify Personal Details

Provide your:

• Full legal name
• Business name (if applicable)
• Address
• Contact information

These details are used to verify your identity and ensure your account can receive payouts.

Step 3: Enter Tax Information

Stripe requires tax details to comply with local regulations. For most individual sitters, this includes:

• Social Security Number (SSN) or local tax ID
• Any additional tax-related information required in your country

🤓 Stripe uses this information to issue tax forms and ensure compliance with tax authorities.

Step 4: Enter Business Details

Even as an individual, Stripe asks for information about your business activities. You can:

• Provide a website URL that describes your services
• If you don’t have a website, tap “Don’t have a website?” and provide a short product/service description, or insert ‘petme.social’
• Specify your business activity – the type of products or services you will be offering through the platform
• Select an MCC (Merchant Category Code) that best describes your activities. Pet sitting typically falls under Personal Service Providers. If there isn’t a specific category for pet sitting, choose the closest match, such as Professional Services or Miscellaneous Personal Services

This helps Stripe understand the nature of your services and ensures smooth processing of payments.

Step 5: Add Bank Details for Payouts

Enter your bank account information to receive payouts:

• You can enter account details manually, or
• Use Stripe’s instant bank verification if available

⚠️ Important: This step must be completed correctly – without valid bank details, your payouts cannot be processed.

Step 6: Review and Finalize

Stripe will provide a summary of all information entered. Carefully review everything before finalizing.

• Accept the Stripe service agreement
• Accept the Petme terms

Once submitted, your Stripe account is connected and ready to receive payments.

Additional Information for Certain Locations

Depending on your country, Stripe may request:

• Representative details: Information about the account owner
• Representative documents: Government-issued ID for verification
• Support details: Customer-facing contact info
• Business verification: Documentation for registered companies
• Owner/director info: Details of beneficial owners for companies

The onboarding form is dynamic. You may only see fields relevant to your location or what’s currently required.

Determining Your Business Type

• Individual: Most Petme sitters. You haven’t registered a business entity. No business structure selection is needed.
• Registered business: If you filed documents with a government agency. Consult a professional if unsure.
• Nonprofit organization: If your legal entity is registered as a nonprofit or charity.

Completing Stripe onboarding correctly ensures your earnings flow smoothly into your bank account and avoids delays or issues with payouts. If you encounter errors, double-check your details or contact Petme support for guidance.