Stripe's position as a payment processor gives it access to detailed transaction-level data about your customers, and the terms of data use — including Stripe's ability to use aggregated data for its own purposes — have significant privacy and competitive implications for businesses.
Businesses using Stripe may have their payouts withheld or placed in reserve for up to 180 days based on Stripe's unilateral risk assessment, potentially disrupting cash flow with limited recourse. Stripe can terminate or suspend accounts immediately, cutting off access to payment processing and potentially funds held in reserve. You can review and negotiate reserve terms before signing, and should maintain alternative payment processing arrangements as a contingency.