Last updated: February 19, 2025

Waived fees

What does “waived fees” mean?

Some Stripe users that have backing by institutional investors may be eligible for Stripe benefits including waived fees. “Waived fees” means that Stripe won’t charge you payment processing fees, up to your approved discount amount.

Are there any fees that aren’t covered?

Yes, the discount doesn’t cover some fees, including but not limited to:

• Currency exchange fees (e.g., converting USD to EUR)
• Manual card fees
• Stripe Terminal fees
• Stripe Atlas fees
• Professional services fees
• Product fees for any Stripe product

Waived fee discounts:

• Are not limited by geography.
• Apply only to payment processing fees for cards and local payment methods, including Buy Now Pay Later and ACH.

Eligibility and application

Am I eligible?

You’re eligible if all of these are true: 

• Your application to the Stripe Startups program was approved.
• You have an active Stripe account.
• You are on Stripe’s standard pricing.
• Your account is located in a supported country.
• You haven’t already received a discount equal to or greater than this one.
• You have access to your Stripe Dashboard and are not connected to any other platform that controls your pricing.

Not sure if you’re eligible? Contact support through your Dashboard.

Can I apply if I already use Stripe?

If you meet the requirements, you can apply.

How do I apply for the Stripe Startups discount?

Here’s how to apply:

1. Access the application:
   • Use the private referral link provided by your investor or startup partner. (If your company has raised funding from an institutional investor, you can check if they have joined Stripe’s startup partner program and request a referral link.)
2. Complete the form
3. Verify your Stripe account:
   • Make sure your Stripe account is active and fully verified.
4. Submit your application:
   • Once your application is submitted, you’ll see a confirmation message in your dashboard and email inbox.

What if I have multiple Stripe accounts tied to one email?

Discounts apply to individual accounts, not all accounts tied to one email. Make sure you’re logged into the correct account when applying.

Don’t know which account you are logged into?

• Head to your Stripe Dashboard.
• Click on the Settings icon and navigate to Profile.
• Scroll down to the Accounts section where you’ll see your Account ID.

Can I apply if I’m associated with multiple investors or startup partners?

Yes, you can still apply if you’re associated with multiple investors or startup partners. Please apply with the partner that has the best offer.

What happens after I apply?

Once you’ve submitted your application:

• We’ll review it and respond within 2-4 business days.
• If approved:
  • You’ll get an email with instructions on how to accept your offer and details about your approved discount amount.
• If declined:
  • You’ll get an email explaining why.

If you don’t hear back within the expected timeframe, contact us through your Dashboard.

Using your discount

How long does the discount last?

The discount lasts 12 months from when you activate it or until you reach your fee-free processing limit—whichever comes first.

How do I activate it?

Log in as an admin or owner. Look for the banner or setup guide task in your dashboard to accept the offer.

If you don’t see your offer, make sure that your account is active and that there are no outstanding verification banners. You can also check the Fee Credits section under Balances—though, this section will only appear if your offer has already been activated and your fee-free processing limit has not expired or reached its maximum.

Can I wait to activate the discount?

Yes! The 12-month period starts only after you activate it. Activate it when you’re ready to process payments.

How do I track my discount usage?

Check your remaining balance in the Fee Credits section under Balances in your Dashboard. Fee Credits show how much of your discount you’ve used so far. If you manage multiple accounts with discounts, each account’s balance is tracked separately in their respective Dashboards.

Can I apply a discount to multiple accounts or startups?

A startup can only redeem one discount in its lifetime, even if you have multiple Stripe accounts (e.g., one in Mexico and one in the US). The discount applies to one account, so you’ll have to decide which one to use it on. Though, if you manage multiple eligible startups, each one that is affiliated with a Stripe referral partner can receive its own discount, even if you are the founder of or associated with all of them.

Does the discount apply retroactively if I forget to activate it?

No, the discount only starts after activation. Be sure to activate it only when you’re ready to process payments.

Does the discount apply to my connected accounts if I use Stripe Connect?

It depends on how you’re using Stripe Connect.

• Standard Connect: The discount does not apply to your connected accounts. However, if your platform processes charges directly (like subscription fees), you’ll get the discount.
• Custom or Express Connect: If you use destination charges or separate charges and transfers, the discount applies to charges processed by your platform. Keep in mind that the discount doesn’t cover Stripe Connect fees.

Will the discount work if my payments are in a different currency than my bank account?

Yes! The discount will convert to the currency of your default bank account, so you can still use it even if your customers pay in a different currency. That said, if you have more than one bank account with different settlement currencies (e.g., one for EUR, another for USD), the discount will only apply to payouts sent to the account in your default currency (e.g., EUR if that was the default). For details on supported currencies, head here.  

Keep in mind that the discount doesn’t cover currency exchange fees (e.g., converting USD to EUR)

Where can I see fee adjustments once the discount is applied?

You’ll still see a fee listed on each charge, but they'll be combined and credited back to you as an adjustment. That happens when we calculate the total for each payout.

Here’s where you can find the details:

• Fee adjustments: You can view all discount adjustments here.
• Remaining discount: To check this, go to the Fee Credits section under Balances > Overview.

Troubleshooting

What happens if the activation banner isn’t there or it disappears?

If the banner isn’t there:

• Verify that your account is active, with no outstanding verification banners.
• Make sure you have administrator access permissions. If not, the banner won’t be visible.
• If you don’t have the necessary permissions, reach out to your company’s internal administrator or account owner.
• Look in the Fee Credits section under Balances.
• Check your email for the acceptance email.

What should I do if my discount isn’t applied correctly?

If your discount isn’t working as expected, double-check your activation status in the Fee Credits section under Balances. The discount processes when payouts are calculated, not immediately after transactions. You’ll still see fees listed on each charge, but they’ll be combined and credited back to your account as an adjustment in your payout total.

What should I do if my account isn’t activated yet?

Your account needs to be fully verified to use the discount. Check your Stripe Dashboard for any pending steps.

What if my investor or startup partner doesn’t provide me with a link or application details?

Contact them directly and ask for the link. Venture capital firms and startup accelerators can apply for Stripe benefits for their portfolio companies at https://stripe.com/startups/partners

What if my application takes longer than 2-4 business days?

Reach out to support in your account dashboard.

After the discount ends

What happens when my discount runs out or expires?

If your startup processes over $150,000 in payments for two consecutive months, you can request a pricing review. Otherwise, standard fees will apply.

How do I request a pricing review?

1. Log in to your Stripe account and contact support.
2. Let us know you’d like a review of your current processing fees.
3. Our team will review your account and, if eligible, share a new fee proposal with you.

Need more help? Contact sales directly here.

What happens during a pricing review?

Stripe evaluates your payment volume, card mix, and other factors to decide if you qualify for custom pricing. Note that not all Stripe users who receive a pricing review qualify for custom pricing.

Can I pause my discount if I’m not processing payments for a while?

No, the discount starts once you activate it and can’t be paused. If you’re not ready to start processing payments, it’s a good idea to wait before activating it.

Can I request an extension?

Extensions are only granted in specific cases, such as receiving investor funding after redeeming a discount. For instance, if you redeem a $20,000 discount from your current investor but later get funding with a $50,000 discount, you can request an update to the higher amount. Need to request an extension? Contact our support team, and we’ll look over the details of your situation.

How will I know if my discount is about to expire?

We don’t send reminders for expiring discounts right now, but you can track your remaining balance in the Fee Credits section of your dashboard.

Can I get another discount later?

Usually, we can only offer one discount per startup. If your case is unique, feel free to contact us.

Have more questions?

We’re here to help. Visit Stripe Support to explore resources, guides, or to connect with our support team. For any Support questions, the Stripe Developers channel on Discord is a great resource as well.