Stripe Connect is how MoveMentors links card payments to hosts. Each host connects their own Stripe account (a Standard account, with the full Stripe Dashboard), and card payments go straight into it. MoveMentors never holds the money and takes no commission on class payments.
The model: Direct Charges
There are three ways a marketplace can use Stripe Connect:
| Model | Money goes to | Platform holds funds? |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Charges | The host's own Stripe account | No |
| Destination Charges | The platform's account first, then passed on to the host | Yes (briefly) |
| Separate Charges and Transfers | The platform's account, passed on later | Yes |
MoveMentors uses Direct Charges. The advantages:
- We never hold host money.
- Chargebacks are handled on the host's own Stripe account.
- Refunds are made by the host, straight from their Stripe Dashboard.
- Hosts can disconnect from us at any time and keep their Stripe balance.
The flow
When a student pays for a class by card:
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MoveMentors creates a Stripe checkout on the host's Stripe account and holds the student's seat for 30 minutes.
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The student pays on Stripe's secure checkout page. Card details go to Stripe, never to MoveMentors.
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The payment goes through. The money becomes part of the host's Stripe balance, minus Stripe's processing fee.
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MoveMentors confirms the booking and sends the confirmation email.
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Stripe pays out to the host's bank on the host's payout schedule.
If the student doesn't pay within 30 minutes, the seat is released and nothing is charged. At no point does the money pass through a MoveMentors account.
Who Stripe sees as the merchant
The host. Their Stripe account is the merchant for every card payment. This means:
- Bank statements show the host's business name.
- Stripe sends any tax forms (such as the 1099-K in the US) to the host.
- The host responds to chargebacks.
- The host deals with Stripe support directly.
MoveMentors is not on the statement or on the tax forms.
Your Stripe Dashboard
Because hosts connect a Standard Stripe account, they use the full Stripe Dashboard at dashboard.stripe.com. There you can:
- See your balance and upcoming payouts.
- See each payment, refund and fee.
- Refund a payment, fully or partly.
- Respond to chargebacks.
- Change your payout schedule and bank account.
- Find your tax forms.
MoveMentors can't sign in to your Stripe Dashboard. It is your own account with Stripe.
Identity verification
Stripe checks the identity of everyone who takes card payments. When you connect, Stripe may ask for:
- Your legal name, date of birth and address.
- A tax ID.
- Your bank account details.
- Sometimes a photo of your ID.
This is Stripe's process, not ours. Stripe tells you what it needs, and you sort it out with Stripe directly. It is separate from the optional ID verified badge on teacher profiles.
See Stripe Connect verification stuck for what to do when verification stalls.
Capabilities
Stripe turns on two things for your account:
- Charges: you can take card payments.
- Payouts: Stripe can send money to your bank.
Sometimes Stripe turns on charges before payouts while it finishes its checks. You can still take card bookings; the money waits in your Stripe balance until payouts are on.
Teachers can see both on /mentor/settings/payments, marked live or pending, along with anything Stripe still needs.
Stripe fees
The host pays Stripe's standard processing fee on each card payment: about 2.9% plus 30 cents for a US card in the US. Fees vary by country and card type, so check Stripe's pricing for your country.
MoveMentors takes nothing from the payment. The price the student paid, minus Stripe's fee, is what the host receives.
Refunds via Stripe
Cancelling a booking on MoveMentors doesn't refund the student by itself. To refund a card payment, open it in your Stripe Dashboard and refund all or part of it.
Good to know:
- Stripe usually keeps its original processing fee when you refund.
- Refunds usually reach the student's card within 5 to 10 business days, depending on their bank.
- Partial refunds are possible.
See Refunds for the full picture.
Chargebacks
A chargeback is when a student disputes a card payment with their bank. Because the payment was made on your Stripe account:
- The disputed amount is taken from your Stripe balance while the bank decides.
- Your Stripe Dashboard shows the dispute and lets you send evidence before Stripe's deadline.
- Stripe usually charges a dispute fee.
Respond in your Stripe Dashboard as soon as you can; MoveMentors can't respond for you.
See Disputes and chargebacks for the full discussion.
Disconnecting
A host can disconnect their Stripe account from MoveMentors at any time with Disconnect in their payment settings:
- Students can no longer pay you by card on MoveMentors until you connect again.
- Your Stripe account keeps working on its own, with its balance and payouts.
- Past card payments stay in your Stripe Dashboard, where you can still refund them.
To reconnect later, connect again from the same page and sign in to your Stripe account.
Common questions
Why does the bank statement show the host's name, not "MoveMentors"? Because the host is the merchant for the payment. Check the host's name on your booking to match the charge.
Can students get a single receipt for all their MoveMentors bookings? No. If you have an account, My Bookings lists your bookings in one place.
Can a host see other hosts' Stripe data? No. Each host connects their own Stripe account and sees only their own payments, refunds and payouts.
What if a host commits fraud? Email support@movementors.com, and contact your bank about any card payment. We look into reports and can suspend a host's profile. Money already paid to the host is a matter between the host, Stripe, your bank and, if needed, the police.
Next steps
- Stripe Connect setup for hosts ready to connect.
- How payments work for the overall picture.
- Refunds for the refund steps.