How to set up online payments

In the sidebar, under Money, choose Online Payments. Before you are set up, the page shows a step-by-step guide of everything you are about to do.

You need to be the business owner to set this up, because Stripe needs details about the business and the person who runs it.

Choose Set up your business at the bottom of the page. This opens Stripe's secure onboarding, where you enter your details directly with them. You do not need an existing Stripe account, and you never enter these details into PawLoop.

You will be asked what type of business you are (most dog walkers are a sole trader), your trading address and contact details.

When it asks for an industry, choose Other personal services if you are unsure which one fits. Dog walking does not have its own category, and this is the right general fit.

Stripe asks for a website so it can see what you sell. If you do not have one, use the option to enter a short description instead.

A sentence is enough, for example: dog walking, daycare and home boarding for local clients, invoiced after each week of walks.

Stripe is required by law to check who is behind the account. You confirm your name, date of birth and home address, and may be asked to upload photo ID.

This is standard for anyone taking card payments and is handled entirely by Stripe.

Enter the sort code and account number for the business bank account you want your payouts paid into. This is the account the money will land in after each payment.

Stripe reviews your details. It is usually quick, sometimes instant, and occasionally they will ask for one more document.

Once you are approved, come back to Online Payments and tick Let clients pay by card. The page now has tabs for Card payments, Set up and How it works.

Every client starts switched off, so nothing changes for anyone until you say so. Scroll down the Set up tab to Who can pay by card and switch clients on as you wish.