This is Stripe's master legal agreement that governs how businesses use Stripe to accept payments online or in person. The most important thing to know is that Stripe can immediately suspend your account or withhold your funds — potentially for up to 180 days — if it suspects fraud, policy violations, or excessive chargebacks, which can be devastating for a small business that depends on those funds to operate. Before signing up, read Stripe's Prohibited and Restricted Businesses list carefully to ensure your business type is permitted, and keep your account information current to avoid unexpected suspensions.
The Stripe Services Agreement (SSA) General Terms governs the contractual relationship between Stripe, Inc. and business users ('Users') accessing Stripe's payment processing, financial, and technology services, forming a binding contract upon registration or continued use of those services. Users bear significant obligations including accurate identity and business disclosure, compliance with Stripe's Acceptable Use Policy and applicable laws, indemnification of Stripe for losses arising from User conduct, and responsibility for all actions of their customers ('Buyers') transacting through Stripe-powered integrations. Notable provisions include Stripe's unilateral right to terminate or suspend accounts immediately, withhold funds for extended periods (up to 180 days or longer pending dispute resolution), and modify agreement terms upon 30-day notice — all of which deviate materially from standard bilateral commercial contract norms and create acute cash-flow risk for dependent merchants. The SSA engages payment card network rules (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), FinCEN Bank Secrecy Act/AML obligations (31 U.S.C. § 5311 et seq.), CFPB oversight of payment services, FTC Act Section 5 unfair and deceptive practices standards, GDPR (for EU/EEA users), CCPA (for California residents), and state money transmission licensing regimes; material compliance considerations include KYC/AML verification requirements, data processing obligations under Stripe's separate DPA, and the elevated risk of fund withholding during disputes for high-volume merchants.
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