CONNECTING STRIPE

Connecting Stripe lets BandBrain see your band's transactions and payouts, and create invoices on the band's behalf via SMS or dashboard.

The model

BandBrain uses Stripe Connect Standard:

• The band keeps full ownership of their Stripe account
• BandBrain has scoped API access to read transactions, payouts, and create invoices
• Money flows direct: buyers → band's Stripe → band's bank account
• BandBrain never touches a dollar — the platform itself takes zero fees and has no merchant of record exposure
• Compliance (1099s, tax forms, KYC) stays with the band

Connecting an existing Stripe account

Most bands already have Stripe. Linking it gives BandBrain your real sales and payout history.

1. Go to /dashboard/connectors
2. Find Stripe in the list and click Connect
3. Sign in to the band's Stripe account. Stripe asks you to install the BandBrain app and shows exactly what it can access: payments, payouts, balance, customers, and invoices.
4. Click Install. You land back on BandBrain with Stripe showing as Connected

This works even if the band's Stripe is also used by other services (Squarespace, a merch company, etc.). BandBrain links to the real account with its full history.

Creating a new Stripe account

No Stripe yet? Under Stripe in the list, click Create a Stripe account. You go through Stripe's hosted signup (identity check + bank link), then return to BandBrain. If you leave partway, BandBrain shows a Finish setup in Stripe link.

Can it take payments yet?

If Stripe says the account can't take payments yet (setup unfinished, or Stripe still reviewing), BandBrain shows a note under Stripe on the connectors page — and tells you setup is unfinished rather than reporting $0 in sales. Stripe emails the account owner with whatever's missing.

What BandBrain can do once connected

• Read transactions: agent can answer "how much merch did we move last week?", "did the deposit hit?"
• Read payouts: "when's the next payout to the band account?"
• Create invoices: text the agent "send an invoice to John Smith for $500 for last night's guarantee" → BandBrain calls Stripe API → Stripe emails John the invoice → he pays → money lands in the band's Stripe → next payout cycle hits their bank

See Using Stripe from SMS for examples.

What BandBrain CAN'T do

• Touch the band's money
• Change payout schedules or bank info
• Issue refunds without explicit per-request confirmation
• Access transactions on accounts other than the connected one

Disconnecting

Click Disconnect next to Stripe. BandBrain stops using the account and deletes its stored access. To fully revoke access at Stripe's end, also remove the BandBrain app in Stripe (Settings → Installed apps). If you only remove the app in Stripe, BandBrain notices and shows Stripe as not connected. Either way, the band's Stripe account is untouched — all transactions, payouts, and history stay.

To reconnect later, click Connect again.