Connect Stripe to get paid
Connect your own Stripe account so you can take card payments and deposit holds online, paid straight into your bank. No API keys to copy.
Rental Pilot uses Stripe to take card payments and place refundable deposit holds. You connect your own Stripe account, so money from bookings is paid directly into your bank — Rental Pilot never holds your funds and takes no cut of your transactions.
Connect your account
- Open Settings → Payments.
- Choose Connect with Stripe.
- You’ll be taken to Stripe’s own secure onboarding to enter your business details and the bank account where you want to be paid.
- When you’re done, Stripe sends you back to Rental Pilot.
You never enter or copy any API keys — connecting is handled entirely through Stripe’s hosted flow.
When online payments turn on
After you finish onboarding, Stripe reviews your details and enables charges on your account (this is usually quick, but can take a little longer if Stripe needs more information). Once Stripe says you’re ready, online card payments switch on for your booking site automatically — there’s nothing else to flip.
You can check your status any time on Settings → Payments.
Before you’re connected
Until your Stripe account is connected and ready, your booking site shows a notice that online payments aren’t set up yet. You can still take reservations and collect payment in person — connecting Stripe simply adds the option for customers to pay by card online.
Deposits and refunds
With Stripe connected, deposit holds at pickup and any refunds (for example, a cancellation) are processed through your connected account, alongside the rental charge. Your payouts and full transaction history live in your own Stripe dashboard.
Having trouble connecting? Contact us and we’ll help you get set up.