DJfindr uses **Stripe Express** — the industry-standard payment platform — to securely handle all financial transactions. DJfindr never views, stores, or has access to your bank account details. All sensitive financial data flows exclusively through Stripe.

## Why Stripe Onboarding Is Required

Before you can:
- Accept a deposit on an Event Proposal
- Send a PayLink
- Receive any payout

...you **must** complete Stripe onboarding. This is a legal requirement under Stripe's Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance rules.

## Completing Stripe Onboarding

1. Navigate to **Finance → Settings** (or **Settings → Payouts**).
2. Under **Payout Settings**, click **Connect Stripe Account**.
3. You are redirected to a Stripe-hosted onboarding flow. Provide:
   - Your legal name and date of birth
   - The last 4 digits of your SSN (or full SSN, depending on your state)
   - Your bank account routing and account number (or link your bank via Plaid for instant verification)
4. Review and accept Stripe's terms.
5. Once completed, you are redirected back to DJfindr.

## Verifying Your Stripe Status

Under **Finance → Settings**, check your **Stripe Connect Status**:
- **Connected & Active** — Stripe has approved your account. You can accept payments.
- **Verification Required** — Stripe needs additional documentation (e.g., a government-issued ID photo). Follow the secure link Stripe provides.
- **Charges Disabled** — Your account cannot process charges. Contact Stripe support via your Express Dashboard.

## Stripe Express Dashboard

At any time from **Finance → Settings**, click **View Stripe Express** to open your external Stripe dashboard. From there you can:
- View and download 1099 tax forms at year-end
- Change your bank account on file
- Update your legal business name
- View your payout history in Stripe's interface

## Payout Schedules by Plan

| Plan | Payout Frequency | Processing Delay |
|---|---|---|
| **Lite** | Weekly (every Monday) | 6-day rolling delay |
| **Pro** | Weekly (every Monday) | 4-day rolling delay |
| **Platinum** | Daily | 0-day delay |

The "processing delay" is the standard Stripe ACH transfer window from when a payment clears to when it lands in your bank account.

## Identity Verification

Pro and Platinum subscribers can complete **Stripe Identity Verification** — a government ID + selfie check. Upon successful verification:
- A **Verified** badge appears on your public DJ profile.
- This builds significant trust with clients and increases booking conversion rates.

Initiate verification from **Finance → Settings → Identity Verification**.