How to Set Up Online Registration with Stripe Payments: Step-by-Step Guide

Paper checks and cash are dying. Today's hockey families expect to register and pay online—and your organization should expect faster payments, fewer errors, and less administrative work.

This guide walks through setting up online registration with Stripe payment processing.

Key Takeaways

Stripe setup takes 30-60 minutes including verification

Standard fees are 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

You can pass fees to registrants or absorb them

Funds deposit to your bank in 2-3 business days

Why Stripe?

Industry Standard

Stripe is the most popular payment processor for registration software. RocketHockey, TeamSnap, SportsEngine, and most alternatives use Stripe or Stripe-like processing.

Key Features

**Fast deposits**: 2-3 business days to your bank

**Low fees**: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

**Fraud protection**: Built-in security

**Reporting**: Detailed payment and payout reports

**Refunds**: Easy to process, funds return to card

What You Need

Before starting:

EIN (tax ID) or SSN for sole proprietorship

Bank account for deposits

Organization address and contact info

Authorized representative information

Step-by-Step Stripe Setup

Step 1: Create Stripe Account

Go to stripe.com

Click "Start now"

Enter email, create password

Verify email

Step 2: Activate Account

Stripe requires business verification:

**Organization Information**:

Legal business name

EIN or SSN

Business address

Phone number

Business type (nonprofit, LLC, etc.)

**Representative Information**:

Name, DOB, SSN of authorized representative

This person must have authority to manage payments

**Bank Account**:

Routing number

Account number

Account type (checking)

Verification typically takes 24-48 hours.

Step 3: Connect to Your Registration Platform

If using RocketHockey:

Go to Settings > Payments

Click "Connect Stripe"

Log in to Stripe when prompted

Authorize connection

Test mode available for verification

Similar process for other platforms—each has a "Connect Stripe" option in settings.

Step 4: Configure Payment Settings

**What to Configure**:

**Statement Descriptor**: What appears on credit card statements

Keep it recognizable (e.g., "ANYTOWN HOCKEY")

Max 22 characters

**Payment Methods**:

Cards (always enabled)

ACH bank transfers (optional, lower fees)

Apple Pay / Google Pay (optional)

**Payout Schedule**:

Default: 2-day rolling

Options: Daily, weekly, monthly

Fee Strategies

Standard Stripe Fees

| Transaction | Fee |

|-------------|-----|

| Card payment | 2.9% + $0.30 |

| ACH bank transfer | 0.8%, capped at $5 |

| Failed payment | $0 |

| Dispute (chargeback) | $15 if lost |

Who Pays Fees?

Option A: Organization Absorbs

Registration price includes fees

Simpler for families

Budget for 3% reduction in revenue

**Example**: $300 registration, you receive ~$291.30

Option B: Pass to Registrant

Add ~3% to registration price

Common practice, families expect it

Full registration amount received

**Example**: $300 registration + $9.30 fee = $309.30 charged, you receive $300

Option C: Hybrid

Absorb card fees, pass ACH fees (lower)

Encourage cheaper payment method

Fee Calculator

For a $500 registration with card payment:

Stripe fee: ($500 × 0.029) + $0.30 = $14.80

You receive: $485.20

If passing fee: Charge $515.43, receive $500

Managing Payments

Payment Dashboard

Stripe Dashboard shows:

Successful payments

Failed payments

Pending payouts

Disputes

Handling Failed Payments

Common causes:

Card declined (insufficient funds, expired)

Bank block (unusual activity)

Incorrect information

**Process**:

System notifies registrant automatically

Registrant updates card or tries again

If repeated failure, contact directly

Consider alternative payment method

Processing Refunds

Through Stripe Dashboard:

Find the payment

Click "Refund"

Choose full or partial

Funds return to card in 5-10 days

**Or through your registration platform**—most have refund buttons that trigger Stripe refunds.

Payout Tracking

Stripe groups payments and sends to your bank:

Default: Rolling 2-day payouts

See payout details in Dashboard

Match payouts to bank statements for reconciliation

Payment Plans

Setting Up Installments

Most registration platforms support payment plans:

**Example Structure**:

50% due at registration

25% due 30 days later

25% due 60 days later

**Automatic Billing**: System charges saved card on schedule

**Failed Installment**: Notification sent, grace period, then blocked from play

Best Practices

Require first payment at registration (no "pay later" only)

Send reminders before automatic charges

Define consequences for missed payments

Complete payment before first game

Reporting and Reconciliation

Key Reports

**Daily**:

Transactions received

Failed payments to follow up

**Weekly**:

Payouts received vs expected

Outstanding balances

**Monthly**:

Revenue by product (registration, tournament, etc.)

Fee analysis

Refunds processed

Reconciliation Tips

Match Stripe payouts to bank deposits

Stripe groups multiple transactions per payout

Download CSV reports for detailed matching

Investigate discrepancies immediately

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: Account Verification Stuck

**Cause**: Missing or incorrect information

**Solution**: Check Stripe Dashboard for verification requirements, provide additional documents if requested

Issue: Payout Delayed

**Cause**: New account, high-risk transaction

**Solution**: Contact Stripe support, provide requested verification

Issue: High Dispute Rate

**Cause**: Unclear descriptor, forgotten charges

**Solution**: Improve statement descriptor, send payment confirmations, document policies

Issue: Integration Broken

**Cause**: Expired API keys, permissions changed

**Solution**: Reconnect Stripe in platform settings

Security Best Practices

For Your Organization

Enable two-factor authentication on Stripe account

Limit Stripe Dashboard access to essential personnel

Review authorized users quarterly

Never store card numbers outside Stripe

For Registrants

All payment pages should show HTTPS (secure)

Card data goes directly to Stripe, never to your servers

PCI compliance handled by Stripe

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we accept checks alongside Stripe?

A: Yes, but track separately. Consider adding checks to Stripe manually as "offline payments" for unified reporting.

Q: What about payment disputes (chargebacks)?

A: Stripe handles dispute process. Provide documentation (registration confirmation, policies). Win rate depends on evidence quality.

Q: Do we need a separate business bank account?

A: Recommended but not required. Separate accounts simplify accounting.

Q: Can families save cards for future payments?

A: Yes, if your platform supports it. Useful for payment plans and returning registrations.

Q: What if Stripe isn't available in my country?

A: Stripe operates in 40+ countries. If unavailable, alternatives include PayPal, Square, or local processors.

Conclusion

Online payment processing transforms registration from an administrative burden into a streamlined experience. Stripe makes setup accessible and ongoing management straightforward.

Invest the time to set up properly, and you'll save dozens of hours over the season chasing payments and reconciling records.

For more registration guidance, see our [registration best practices](/blog/youth-hockey-registration-best-practices) or [league management guide](/hockey-league-management-software).