Hosting · Payouts5 min read

Stripe payouts — onboarding 101 (common roadblocks & fixes)

Faby pays hosts through Stripe Connect Express. The signup is short — usually five minutes — but a small percentage of hosts get stuck on the same handful of steps. This guide walks you through what to expect, what most often goes wrong, and exactly how to unblock it.

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Before you start The walkthrough "Verification pending" forever SSN / ITIN issues ID document rejected Address mismatch Bank account / routing errors Individual vs Business?Tax info / W-9 "Restricted" or "Rejected"Where is my first payout?Still stuck?

Before you start

You'll move faster if you have these handy before tapping Start onboarding:

• Your legal name exactly as it appears on your government ID.
• Your date of birth and the last 4 digits of your SSN (Stripe may ask for the full 9 digits if it can't verify with the last 4).
• A photo or scan of a government-issued photo ID (US driver's license or passport) — both sides if it's a card.
• Your bank routing & account number, or a US-issued debit card for instant linking.
• A working email and a phone number that can receive an SMS code.

Heads up

Faby is US-only at launch. Your bank account and ID need to be US-issued.

The walkthrough

1. Open Faby → Settings → Payouts → Start onboarding. Faby launches a secure Stripe page in your browser.
2. Verify your phone & email. Stripe sends a code; enter it within 5 minutes.
3. Personal info. Legal name, DOB, US address, last-4 SSN. Match your ID exactly — see the SSN and address sections below.
4. Bank account. Either link instantly with debit card details or type your routing & account number from a check.
5. ID document (if requested). Some hosts can verify with SSN alone; others need to upload an ID and a quick selfie.
6. Confirm & return to Faby. Stripe redirects you back. Pull-to- refresh the Payouts screen — status flips to Active when verification clears.

How long does it take?

Most hosts are Active within a few minutes. If Stripe needs to review your ID or address it can take up to 24 hours. We'll notify you in the app when status changes.

"Verification pending" for hours

Pending isn't the same as broken. Stripe runs automated checks; some accounts get flagged for a human to glance at. If it's been more than 24 hours:

Open Faby → Settings → Payouts. If you see a yellow Action required banner, tap Continue onboarding. Stripe will tell you what's outstanding.
If the banner says Pending verification with no action listed, give it 24 hours. The Faby app will refresh status automatically every minute.
Still stuck after 48 hours? Email support@getfaby.com with your Stripe account id (it starts with acct_, visible in your Stripe Express dashboard) and we'll escalate.

SSN / ITIN issues

By far the most common stumble. Stripe asks for the last 4 digits of your SSN first. If it can't verify with the last 4 alone, it asks for the full 9 digits.

Common gotchas

• Typo in SSN — start over and enter slowly. Even a transposed digit fails the check.
• Recent name change (marriage, etc.) where the SSA hasn't been updated. Use the legal name on your Social Security card, not your ID, if they differ.
• ITIN holders can use an ITIN in the SSN field — Stripe accepts both. If verification fails with the ITIN, you may need to upload an ID document.

Fix

Tap Continue onboarding in Faby → Payouts. Stripe will let you re-enter the SSN and request an ID upload as a fallback if the SSN keeps failing.

ID document rejected

If Stripe couldn't read your ID photo, or thinks it doesn't match what you typed, you'll be asked to retry.

Why uploads usually fail

• Glare on the laminate. Tilt the ID to remove the reflection.
• Edge cropped. All four corners must be visible in the frame.
• Expired ID. Stripe rejects expired documents — use a current passport or renewed license.
• Front + back required. Driver's licenses always need both sides; passports just the photo page.
• Selfie mismatch. The selfie liveness check needs even lighting and your full face. Take it again somewhere brighter.

Fix

Open Faby → Payouts → Continue onboarding. Stripe gives you a fresh upload slot. Take the photo with your phone, not a webcam — phone cameras pass the readability check far more often.

Address mismatch

Stripe checks your address against public records and your ID. Mismatches block verification.

Common causes

• Apartment / unit number missing. Stripe expects "Apt 5" or "#5" on the same line — not on a "line 2".
• PO Box instead of a residential address. Stripe wants the address where you actually live.
• Recently moved and the ID address is stale. Use the address from your ID, not your new one, if your ID hasn't been updated yet.
• State abbreviation typos ("Cali", "PA " with a trailing space). Pick from the dropdown.

Fix

Re-enter the address letter-for-letter from your ID, with the apartment number on line 1. If your real address differs from the ID, request the address change with the DMV/USPS first, then come back.

Bank account / routing errors

"Invalid routing number" or "could not link account" almost always means one of these:

Common causes

• You typed the routing number from a deposit slip instead of a check. Some banks use different routing numbers for ACH vs. wire — Stripe needs the ACH one.
• The account is a joint account in someone else's primary name. The Stripe account holder must own (or co-own) the bank account.
• You picked savings when the account is actually checking, or vice versa.
• Account number includes a leading zero you trimmed.
• Your bank doesn't support ACH (rare in 2026, but some credit unions still don't).

Fix

Use the debit card instant-link option if your bank supports it — it skips the routing/account-number step entirely. Otherwise grab the routing & account number from your bank's online portal (not a deposit slip), and double-check the account type.

Individual vs Business — which one?

For most Faby hosts, Individual is the right choice. Pick Business only if you're hosting under an LLC or registered business and want payouts to a business account, with a business EIN.

Either way, it's reversible

You can change it later from your Stripe Express dashboard. Switching mid-flow re-runs verification, so try to pick the right one first.

Tax info / W-9

If you cross $600 in payouts in a calendar year, US law requires Stripe to issue you a 1099-K. Stripe collects W-9 info during onboarding so this just works at year-end.

What you'll see

Your name, address, and SSN/EIN are pre-filled from earlier steps. Just confirm and sign electronically.

If you're under $600 / year

You still complete the form. Stripe just won't issue a 1099-K unless you cross the threshold. You're still responsible for reporting the income — talk to a tax pro.

"Restricted" or "Rejected"

Restricted means Stripe needs more info to keep your account in good standing — usually one missed verification step. Open Faby → Payouts → Continue onboarding and clear the items Stripe lists.

Rejected is rarer and means Stripe declined the account, often due to identity verification failing repeatedly or the account category being on Stripe's restricted list. If you believe this is a mistake, email support@getfaby.com with your Stripe account id and any context you have.

Where's my first payout?

Even after Stripe says you're Active, your first payout from Faby is held for 7 days from the day you finish onboarding. This is standard new-host policy across Stripe Connect platforms — it gives both sides a window to catch fraud or mistakes.

After the first payout lands, the normal schedule kicks in:

• Each per-event payout is eligible 2 days after the event ends.
• Once eligible, Faby releases the transfer; Stripe deposits to your bank in ~2 business days.
• Disputes, refunds, or admin holds can pause a specific event's payout. The Payouts screen tells you which.

Tip

The Payouts screen shows Pending payout and Released separately so you can see what's on the way.

Still stuck?

Send us:

• Your Faby account email.
• Your Stripe account id (starts with acct_, visible in your Stripe Express dashboard).
• A screenshot of the screen you're stuck on, with any error message visible.

Email support@getfaby.com. We aim to reply within one business day.

Faby uses Stripe to process payments and payouts. Stripe is a regulated US financial services provider; their Connected Account Agreement governs your Stripe account. Faby is not a bank and does not hold your funds.