Stripe Connect onboarding
To receive payment when you sell on ScentSell, you must connect a Stripe account. This is a one-time setup that takes about 5 minutes. This page covers every question a seller typically has — from why we use Stripe Connect through to tax obligations and closing your account.
1. What Stripe Connect is and why ScentSell uses it
Stripe Connect is Stripe's multi-party payments system — it lets a platform (ScentSell) facilitate transactions between two parties (buyer and seller) without holding the money itself.
ScentSell specifically uses the destination charges model (not "direct charges" or "separate charges and transfers"). In plain English: when a buyer pays, Stripe splits the money at the moment of checkout. 85% goes straight to your Stripe Connect account, and 15% stays with ScentSell as a platform fee. Neither ScentSell nor the buyer needs to do anything extra — the split is automatic and instantaneous.
This is the fairest and fastest model available. You don't wait for ScentSell to manually transfer you money after delivery. You don't wait for a payout batch at the end of the month. By the time the buyer's order confirmation email lands in their inbox, your Stripe balance is already credited.
2. Before you start — what you need
Have the following ready before you click Connect Stripe:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Australian residency | Stripe Australia requires this. International sellers cannot connect. |
| Australian bank account | BSB (6 digits, e.g. 062-123) plus account number. |
| Age 18+ | Stripe's legal requirement for account holders. |
| Mobile phone | Stripe sends 2FA verification codes via SMS. |
| Government-issued ID | Driver's licence or passport. Needed in roughly 50% of verifications. Have it scanned or on hand. |
| ABN (if applicable) | Only required if you're registering as a business. Hobby sellers don't need one. |
Before starting, make sure your residential address matches what's on your ID exactly. Address mismatches are the most common cause of verification failure.
3. Individual vs Business — which to pick
When Stripe asks "Tell us about your business," you choose between Individual and Business (company).
Individual (sole trader)
- Easier and faster to set up
- No ABN required
- Correct for hobby sellers and casual second-hand fragrance traders
- Works unless your annual fragrance sales exceed approximately $75,000 (GST threshold — see section 10)
Business (company)
- Required if you have a registered ABN and sell regularly at volume
- Stripe will ask for your ABN, business name, and registered address
- Provides cleaner separation between business and personal finances
You cannot easily switch between Individual and Business after onboarding. Pick the right option the first time. If you're unsure, start as Individual — you can always set up a new Connect account later if your business grows.
4. The onboarding flow, screen by screen
Stripe's onboarding has six main screens. Here is what to expect on each:
Screen 1 — Tell us about your business Pick Individual or Business (see section 3). Enter your business or trading name. If you're an individual, your own name is fine.
Screen 2 — Personal details Full legal name (must match your ID exactly), date of birth, and residential address. PO Boxes are rejected — you need a physical street address. If you live in a unit or apartment, include the unit number.
Screen 3 — Identity verification Stripe's automated system may ask you to upload a photo of your driver's licence or passport. Tips for a clean upload:
- Good lighting, no glare on the ID surface
- All four corners of the document visible
- The photo in focus — blur will trigger a re-submission request
If Stripe doesn't ask for ID, it means the automated check passed. Approximately half of accounts are verified without needing a document.
Screen 4 — Tax details Stripe may ask for your Tax File Number (TFN) and/or ABN for ATO compliance reporting. If you have an ABN, enter it. TFN entry is optional but recommended — it avoids withholding tax being applied to your earnings.
Screen 5 — Bank account Your BSB (6 digits) and account number. This is where Stripe sends your payouts to your bank. Double-check these numbers before proceeding — an incorrect BSB will cause payouts to fail.
Screen 6 — Mobile verification A one-time SMS code sent to your registered mobile. This is required for account security and cannot be skipped.
5. What ScentSell sees vs what Stripe sees
This is a common question. Here is the exact split:
ScentSell can see:
- Your Stripe Connect account ID (an internal identifier like
acct_1234...) - Whether onboarding is complete (
charges_enabledandpayouts_enabledflags) - Whether new charges can be created
ScentSell cannot see:
- Your bank account BSB or account number
- Your TFN or ABN
- Your ID documents
- Your date of birth
- Your residential address
All KYC (Know Your Customer) data lives entirely within Stripe's systems. ScentSell has no access to it.
6. How long does verification take?
| Scenario | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Automated pass (most common) | Instant — you're approved immediately |
| Manual review triggered | 1–2 business days |
| ID document unclear — re-upload requested | Up to 1 week (Stripe emails you) |
If you're waiting more than 2 business days without hearing from Stripe, check your email (including spam) for a message from Stripe asking for additional information.
7. Verification failed or stuck
"Payouts disabled — please update your information" A Stripe requirement is outstanding. Go to Dashboard → Seller settings → Manage Stripe account. Stripe will show you exactly which field needs updating.
Common issues and fixes:
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Address doesn't match ID | Update your address in Stripe Express to match your ID document exactly |
| Bank account rejected | Check the BSB format — it must be 6 digits. Some banks display it with a hyphen (062-123) but you should enter it without (062123) |
| ID photo rejected | Re-upload with better lighting. All four corners must be visible, with the photo in focus |
| "Your account can't accept payments yet" | Wait for Stripe's review to complete. Check your email for any requests from Stripe. |
8. Updating details later
If you change your bank account, phone number, or address after onboarding:
- Go to ScentSell Dashboard → Seller settings → Manage Stripe account
- You'll be redirected to the Stripe Express dashboard
- Update your details directly in Stripe
ScentSell automatically reflects any changes to your charges_enabled and payouts_enabled status the next time you load the seller dashboard.
9. Transfer caps and holds on new accounts
Stripe applies standard risk screening to newly connected accounts. This is normal and not unique to ScentSell.
What to expect:
- Your first payout to your bank is typically delayed by 7 days from the transaction date
- Subsequent payouts follow your normal Stripe payout schedule (usually 2 business days)
- Stripe may place a temporary hold on large or unusual transactions while it reviews them
These holds are applied by Stripe's risk systems, not by ScentSell. If you believe a hold is incorrect, contact Stripe support directly from your Stripe Express dashboard.
10. Australian tax and GST
GST threshold If your total fragrance sales across all platforms exceed $75,000 in any 12-month period, you must register for GST and charge it on your sales. This is an ATO requirement, not a ScentSell requirement. ScentSell does not track your total sales across other platforms — you are responsible for monitoring this.
ScentSell's 15% commission ScentSell's commission is inclusive of any GST applicable on our platform fee. We do not charge additional GST on top of the 15%.
Annual statements Stripe provides annual earnings statements via the Stripe Express dashboard. These show your total earnings received through ScentSell and can be used for tax preparation. You are responsible for declaring these earnings to the ATO.
TFN withholding If you did not provide a TFN during Stripe onboarding, Stripe may apply withholding tax to your payouts at the highest marginal rate. To avoid this, log in to Stripe Express and add your TFN under Settings → Tax information.
ScentSell cannot provide tax advice. For questions about your specific tax situation, consult a registered tax agent or the ATO.
11. Closing your Stripe Connect account
To disconnect and close your Stripe Connect account:
- Log in to Stripe Express → Settings → Delete account
- Follow Stripe's confirmation steps
Important: Closing your Stripe account removes your ability to accept new orders on ScentSell. Any outstanding balance must be paid out to your bank before the account can be closed. Your existing ScentSell order history is preserved on our platform, but your listings will be deactivated until you reconnect a new Stripe account.
12. Fees summary
| Fee | Amount | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|
| ScentSell commission | 15% of final sale price | ScentSell |
| Stripe processing fee | 2.9% + A$0.30 per transaction | Stripe (deducted from your 85%) |
Example on a $100 sale:
- Buyer pays: $100.00
- Your Stripe balance: $85.00 (after 15% ScentSell commission)
- Stripe processing fee on your 85%: $2.77 (2.9% + $0.30)
- Net to you: approximately $82.23
Your exact net amount varies slightly depending on the Stripe fee calculation. Check your Stripe Express dashboard for the precise split on each transaction.
Related pages: