Selling ebooks: setting up Stripe, step by step

3. Two-step sign-in: choose text messages

Stripe first shows a QR code for an authenticator app. If you don’t use one, don’t scan anything: click the small “your phone” link at the bottom (“Use your phone or a security key instead”).

4. Your mobile number and the code

Enter your mobile number and click “Send text”, then type the 6-digit code from the text message.

5. Save your backup code

Click “Download code” or “Copy code” and keep it somewhere safe. It’s the only way back into your Stripe account if you lose your phone. Click “Next”.

6. Location and business type

Business location: your country. Business type: “Individual” (unless you’ve registered a company for your writing). Click “Continue”.

7. Your personal details

Your legal name (as on your tax records), date of birth, home address, phone and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. Stripe uses these to check who you are; readers don’t see them. Click “Continue”.

8. Business details

LocalBooks fills in most of this for you. If anything is empty: industry “Digital products”, then “Books”; your website is your LocalBooks author page (My books › Author profiles); and a short description, such as “I’m an author and I sell my ebooks on LocalBooks.app.” Click “Continue”.

9. Your bank account

Search for your bank and sign in to it, or choose to enter your routing and account numbers yourself. If Stripe shows several accounts, tick only the one you want to be paid into. Saving your details with Link is optional: “Finish without saving” is fine.

10. Payouts: keep “Automatic”

Make sure “Automatic” is selected. LocalBooks sets it to every week; if Stripe shows “Manual”, change it, or your money stays in Stripe until you log in and send it to your bank yourself.

11. What readers see on their receipts

Keep LOCALBOOKS.APP as the statement descriptor, so readers recognize the charge on their card statement. Stripe copies your personal phone number and home address in as customer support details, and readers who buy can see them. Switch off “Show phone number on receipts” if you don’t want readers to have your number, and use a business address or PO box if you’d rather not share your home address.

12. Fraud protection: choose Lite (free)

Stripe offers paid fraud protection (Standard, Plus, Pro) that charges a fee on every sale. If you can, click “Use baseline protection with Lite (included)”, which is free. If Stripe puts you on a paid plan anyway, switch to Lite afterwards (see the end of this page).

13. Climate contribution (optional)

Stripe pre-selects 1% of your revenue for carbon removal. If you don’t want to give that, click “No thanks” under the big button.

14. Sales tax (optional, free to watch)

Choose “Digital goods” and click “Opt in to Stripe Tax”. Stripe watches your sales for free and tells you if you need to register for sales tax somewhere. Once you register, LocalBooks’ checkout adds the tax for you.

15. Review and submit

Check everything: “Payout details” should show your bank, and “Climate commitment” should say “Off” unless you chose it. Click “Agree and submit”.

Stripe sends you back to Earnings. It usually needs a few minutes to check your details: reload the page until it says “Stripe is connected”.

Still checking after 10 minutes? Click “Continue on Stripe”. Stripe sometimes asks for your full Social Security number at this point. Enter all nine digits and submit.