Stripe Connect lets you collect client payments on your Stripe account while Elevale runs subscriptions and AI wallet top-ups through the platform. Use this guide alongside Reselling → Stripe in the reseller admin.
What Stripe Connect does in Elevale
Client seat subscriptions: when a workspace uses Stripe Connect (Automated) billing, clients subscribe through your Stripe account. Elevale deducts a platform application fee equal to the base seat price per user.
AI wallet card top-ups: clients can add a card and top up their workspace AI wallet. Payment goes to your Stripe account at your marked-up price.
Hybrid setup: many resellers keep Self-Billing for seats and connect Stripe only for AI wallet payments. See Billing models: licenses vs AI wallet.
When you need to connect
Required for automated client seat subscriptions (Stripe Connect workspaces).
Required for client self-serve AI wallet card top-ups (recommended even on Self-Billing workspaces).
Optional if you invoice clients entirely offline and approve AI credits manually.
Not required for buying your own license pool from Elevale. That bills on Elevale's platform account under Billing.
Before you connect
Create or sign in to a Stripe account for your agency (standard or Express Connect via OAuth).
Have your business legal name, address, and bank account ready. Stripe will ask for identity verification (KYC).
Decide your billing approach: hybrid (AI only), full Connect (seats + AI), or manual billing without Connect.
Review Reselling pricing and fees so you understand base prices, your markup, and application fees.
Step 1: Connect your Stripe account (OAuth)
Open Reselling → Stripe.
Click Connect with Stripe. You are redirected to Stripe's secure login.
Log in to an existing Stripe account or create one, then authorize Elevale.
When you return to Elevale, the page should show your connected account ID.
Elevale never stores your Stripe secret keys. Authentication uses Stripe OAuth only.
Step 2: Finish Stripe account onboarding
In the Stripe Dashboard, complete any outstanding onboarding steps (business details, directors, bank account).
Charges may fail until Stripe marks your account as able to accept payments.
Use the same Stripe account you want client subscription and wallet revenue to land in.
If onboarding is incomplete, Stripe may show a restricted or pending status until resolved.
Step 3: Enable Stripe Tax on your connected account
Elevale enables automatic tax on new client subscriptions and checkouts created by the platform.
You must also turn on Stripe Tax in your Stripe Dashboard for your connected account.
Add your tax registrations (for example UK VAT) under Stripe Tax settings.
Catalogue prices synced from Elevale are ex-VAT. Stripe Tax adds VAT or sales tax at checkout based on the customer's billing address.
You are responsible for tax compliance on charges to your clients. See Reseller Terms of Service section 5.
If you edit subscriptions or invoices manually in the Stripe Dashboard, tax and amounts are your responsibility.
Step 4: Set markup and sync prices
Under Reselling → Pricing, set your seat markup % per tier (Foundation, Business, Professional).
Client price must stay at or above Elevale's base wholesale floor.
Click Save & Sync to Stripe to create or update products and prices on your Connect account.
Re-sync after you change markup or after Elevale publishes base price changes.
Public signup links and automated subscriptions use these synced Stripe prices.
Step 5: Choose billing per workspace
Self-Billing: you assign licenses from your pool and invoice clients yourself. Stripe Connect can still power AI wallet top-ups.
Stripe Connect (Automated): client seats bill through subscriptions on your Stripe account. Requires Connect and synced prices.
Set the billing model when creating a workspace in Workspaces or when editing workspace settings.
Full walkthrough: Onboarding your first client.
Client subscriptions and application fees
When a client subscribes, the checkout runs on your connected account.
The client pays your full marked-up seat price (monthly or annual, ex-VAT plus tax at checkout).
Elevale's application fee (equal to the base seat price per user) is deducted automatically.
You keep the markup portion minus Stripe processing fees, refunds, and disputes.
Failed payments, dunning, and refunds on client subscriptions are primarily your responsibility as the merchant of record.
AI wallet payments
Once Connect is active, clients on your workspaces see Top Up Wallet on Workspace Settings → Billing → AI Wallet.
Card payments for AI top-ups are processed to your Stripe account.
You still fund your agency AI wallet separately so Elevale provider costs are covered. See Billing → Wallet.
Without Connect, clients use Request credits and you approve top-ups manually from Workspaces.
Public signup links (optional)
When Connect is active and public signup is enabled under Reselling → Stripe, referral links can onboard new clients directly.
Manage links from Reselling → Overview or your agency marketing settings.
New signups use your synced Stripe prices and standard Elevale trial rules where applicable.
Stripe Dashboard: manual edits
You can open the Stripe Dashboard for your connected account at any time.
Manual changes to subscriptions, prices, tax settings, or invoices may diverge from what Elevale shows in-app.
Elevale is not responsible for billing state you change directly in Stripe.
Prefer plan changes, seat updates, and billing period switches inside the client workspace Billing tab when possible.
Disconnecting and troubleshooting
Disconnecting in Elevale stops new Connect checkouts. Existing Stripe subscriptions are not automatically cancelled.
If Connect shows connected but checkouts fail, check Stripe onboarding status and whether charges are enabled.
If tax does not appear on invoices, confirm Stripe Tax is enabled and registrations are active on your account.
If synced prices look wrong, re-run Save & Sync to Stripe from Reselling → Pricing.
For platform issues, contact Elevale reseller support with your organization name and connected account ID.