What is Stripe and Stripe Connect?
Stripe is a payment processing platform used by millions of businesses to securely accept and send payments online.
Onward Returns uses Stripe Connect to route money that customers pay during a return directly to your bank account. Onward never holds your funds; payments go straight to your connected Stripe account.
Why do I need this?
A payment processor is needed to receive any sorts of payments from customers from within your return flow. This includes:
customer-paid label fees
restocking / handling fees
higher-priced exchanges
new items purchased in Shop Now
We require connecting a Stripe Account even if you have set Deduct fees from resolution because customer exchanges and purchases may exceed the value of returned goods.
Before you start...
If you already have a Stripe account, connecting it to Onward is a one-click process once you're logged in.
If you don't already have a Stripe account, don't worry — setting it up only takes 3–5 minutes. Make sure you have the following before getting started:
Email address to use for Stripe
Information about your business:
Type of business (LLC, Corporation, etc)
EIN (or SSN/ITIN)
Bank account information (where you want to receive payouts)
Step-by-step setup guide
Step 1: Click through to Stripe from Onward
On the Onward Setup Guide, you'll see an item under the "Returns setup checklist" called "Setup Stripe Connect." Follow that link to Stripe.
Step 2: Log in or create an account
You'll be redirected to Stripe Connect. If your company already has a Stripe account, log in. If not, it's simple to create one:
Step 3: Secure your account
Step 4: Enter your business information
Step 5: Connect your bank account
Step 6: Define how charges appear on statements
Add a public descriptor for your company that will appear on your customers' credit card or bank statements. If you're not sure what to use, we recommend "[Your Brand Name] - Returns."
Optional Steps
Stripe may offer additional services during the flow, including Climate Pledge, Fraud Prevention, and Tax Management. These are all entirely optional and not required for Onward Returns.
A note on taxes
Onward already calculates and charges taxes on Shop Now and Exchange items per your Shopify settings. It is your responsibility to register and remit the sales tax to the appropriate state agencies. Stripe's service can help you track this for any revenue generated on your returns.
