# Stripe & payments

> Connect your Stripe account to take card bookings, choose deposit or full payment, understand EZDZ plans and platform fees (Starter 4%, Pro $199/mo + 2%), and use fee pass-through.

Source: https://ezdzskydive.com/docs/stripe-and-payments · Last updated: 2026-11-03 · Audience: DZ admins · Support: door@ezdz.xyz

EZDZ uses **Stripe Connect**. Customer payments go straight to **your own Stripe account**, and EZDZ's platform fee is taken automatically. You must connect Stripe before you can take card bookings.

## Connect Stripe

Only DZ Admins and DZ Owners can do this. It takes about 3 minutes.

1. Go to **DZ Admin → Settings → Booking System Config → Payment Settings**.
2. In the **Stripe Connect** card, click **Connect with Stripe**.
3. In **Connect Stripe Account**, choose your **Country** and confirm the **Currency** (it fills in from the country).
4. Click **Continue to Stripe**.
5. Finish Stripe's hosted form: business details, bank account, and identity verification.
6. Stripe sends you back to EZDZ. Open the same card and check the status.

> **Country and currency are permanent**
>
> Stripe can't change the country or currency after the account is created. Check them before you continue.

### Check your status

Once connected, the card shows your account ID and two tiles:

| Tile | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| Payments | **Enabled** means you can charge cards. **Pending verification** means Stripe still needs something |
| Payouts | **Enabled** means money can reach your bank account |

If either tile says **Pending verification**, a yellow box lists what Stripe still needs. Click **Resume Onboarding** to finish. Use **Refresh** to re-check, and **Open Stripe Dashboard** to see payments, payouts, and disputes in Stripe.

> **You're set when**
>
> Both tiles read **Enabled**.

### If Stripe isn't connected

A booking can still be created, but online payment fails. The customer sees "Online payment is not available" or a **Retry payment setup** button, and the booking stays unpaid. Connect Stripe before you share your booking page.

## Payment options

Still under **Payment Settings**, the **Payment Options** panel controls what customers pay at checkout. Click **Save Payment Options** after changing it.

**Collect deposit now, balance on arrival** (Where: Payment Options · Default: Selected · Admins only)
Customers pay the **Deposit Amount** online and the rest at the dropzone. Collect the balance with **Charge Balance** on the bookings desk. See [Bookings desk](https://ezdzskydive.com/docs/bookings-desk).

**Collect full amount upfront** (Where: Payment Options · Default: Not selected · Admins only)
Customers pay the full price when they book.

**Deposit Amount** (Where: Payment Options · Default: 50 · Admins only)
Only shown in deposit mode. This is what customers pay up front.

**Let customers choose deposit or pay in full** (Where: Payment Options · Default: Off · Admins only)
When on, your current setting stays the default and customers can pick the other option.

**Pass platform fee to customers** (Where: Payment Options · Default: Off · Admins only)
Adds a surcharge at checkout instead of taking the fee out of your payout. See the next section.

**Fee Label** (Where: Payment Options · Default: Booking Fee · Admins only)
The text customers see for the surcharge on checkout and receipts. Examples: "Booking Fee" or "Service Fee".

## Plans and fees

Two plans, both with no setup fees or contracts. Standard Stripe processing (2.9% + $0.30 per card payment) is separate and is paid from your own Stripe account.

| | Starter | Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly price | $0 | $199 |
| EZDZ platform fee | 4% of each payment | 2% of each payment |
| Best for | Seasonal or lower-volume dropzones | Busy dropzones |

See [pricing](https://ezdzskydive.com/pricing) for the full comparison. A flat-rate plan with no percentage fees is available on request.

### What customers pay with pass-through

If you turn on **Pass platform fee to customers**, the customer pays a surcharge and you keep the whole booking amount. **Customers pay 4% by default on both plans.** Your EZDZ contact can set a custom lower rate (up to 4%) for you.

Example on a $100 booking, before Stripe's processing fee and any tax:

| Plan | Pass-through | Customer pays | EZDZ platform fee | You receive |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Starter | Off | $100.00 | $4.00 | $96.00 |
| Starter | On | $104.00 | $4.00 | $100.00 |
| Pro | Off | $100.00 | $2.00 | $98.00 |
| Pro | On (default 4%) | $104.00 | $2.00 | $102.00 |

The platform fee is calculated on the amount before tax. On Starter with pass-through, the [$0 EZDZ Guarantee](https://ezdzskydive.com/guarantee) covers the fee if a payment doesn't cover it.

> **Which plan?**
>
> Pro pays for itself when lowering the fee from 4% to 2% saves you more than $199 a month. Use the calculator under **Subscription Plan** in Payment Settings to compare with your own numbers. Its pass-through checkbox is only a what-if toggle and doesn't change your settings.

### Switch plans

In **Payment Settings → Subscription Plan**:

- **Upgrade to Pro:** you need a billing card first. Click **Add Subscription Payment Method**, save a card, then **Upgrade to Pro**. The $199 is charged right away and renews monthly.
- **Switch to Starter:** your Pro plan runs to the end of the current period, then drops to Starter. A banner reads "Scheduled to downgrade to Starter."
- **Resume Pro Plan:** cancels a scheduled downgrade.

The billing card is separate from customer payments. It's how you pay EZDZ for the Pro subscription. If that card fails, the plan shows **past_due**; update it with **Update Subscription Payment Method**.

## Stripe Terminal (in-person payments)

If you take cards at the desk, connect a Stripe Terminal reader from **Payment Settings → Stripe Terminals**.

1. On the reader, open **Settings → Register** to find its registration code.
2. In EZDZ, enter a **Terminal Label** (like "Front Desk") and the **Registration Code**.
3. The first time only, enter your dropzone address.
4. Click **Connect Terminal**. It then appears under **Connected Terminals** with an online or offline status.

Use **Remove** to unregister a reader. Terminals are used for balances and custom charges on the bookings desk.

## Next

- Did a customer pay, or did a card decline? [Checking payments](https://ezdzskydive.com/docs/checking-payments)
- Taking balances and refunds: [Bookings desk](https://ezdzskydive.com/docs/bookings-desk)