How RentalBeam guest payments work with Stripe Connect
If you like to understand what is happening before money moves, the short version is this: RentalBeam is the workflow you use day to day, while Stripe Connect sits underneath card processing and payouts. This guide focuses on the host questions that matter most: what the payout setup requires, how to assign it to the right calendar, and what to do when the account says needs action, pending review, or ready.
RentalBeam is the workflow. Stripe Connect is the rail underneath it.
RentalBeam is the host-facing booking layer you actually use. It is where you decide which calendar accepts direct bookings, how guests pay, and which payout account belongs to which property. Stripe Connect sits underneath that flow and handles the connected-account onboarding, the card transaction itself, and the payout to the bank account on file.
RentalBeam handles
- Booking form widget and calendar assignment
- Inquiry-first, bill-later, or pay-in-widget flow selection
- Secure host review and guest payment surfaces
- Calendar-specific payment settings and account assignment
Stripe Connect handles
- Connected-account onboarding and verification
- Card processing and payment capabilities
- Payout delivery to the bank account on file
- Refund and payout status lifecycle
Why verification exists at all
The payout account needs the right payment and transfer permissions active before it can actually collect charges and receive payouts. Those permissions often require business, identity, or bank information. More payment capability usually means more information is needed up front.
What this means inside RentalBeam
If more details are still needed, the payout account can exist inside RentalBeam but still not be fully ready to collect guest payments. That is why the dashboard talks about statuses like Action required, Pending review, and Ready.- Ready means the account can support the payment path you configured
- Action required means Stripe still needs something from the payout owner
- Pending review means Stripe is reviewing submitted information
- Disabled means the account cannot currently be used for guest payments
The host-facing lifecycle
- 1
Create the payout account
Start in the Payments tab. Create a payout account for the owner or business that should receive funds for that property.
Use the guided setup all the way through
The setup flow asks only for what is currently required. Work through it completely rather than skipping steps, because more details may still be needed before payments and payouts can stay active. - 2
Complete any currently due items
RentalBeam shows the current account status. If you see Action required, Stripe still needs more information before payments and payouts can go live with confidence.
- Business information can affect transfer readiness
- Identity details can affect card-payment readiness
- Bank or payout details affect where the money actually lands
- 3
Assign that account to the right calendar
In booking settings, each calendar chooses which payout account it should use. This matters for multi-property setups, multi-owner setups, and any business where different properties should pay out to different people.
If you want the full calendar-level setup flow, continue with the guest payment setup guide.
- 4
Choose how the guest actually pays
- Inquiry only: no guest card payment at submission time
- Request now, bill later: the host reviews the stay first and sends the payment request later
- Pay in widget: the guest completes the payment step right after booking submission
- 5
Track payouts, refunds, and follow-up
The payout docs explain that payout status moves through states like pending, in transit, and paid. Standard payouts typically arrive in about 1 to 2 business days after submission, though the full lifecycle can take several days.
Refunds and disputes still need operational attention
A connected account being ready does not remove the need for host operations. Refunds, payout failures, and disputes still need clear host follow-up and good record keeping.
What guests see versus what hosts see
Guest experience
- Reservation context first
- Amount due and next step clearly shown
- Pay now only when that calendar\'s flow actually asks for it
- Card payment at booking time or through a follow-up payment link when enabled
Host experience
- Choose the payout account per calendar
- See whether the payout account still needs more setup
- Open payout account details or payment workspaces when needed
- Confirm the account is ready before enabling card payments on the site
If your payout account is stuck, check this first
Action required
Pending review
Disabled
What this means for fee decisions
Stripe Connect explains the payment plumbing, but it does not answer which RentalBeam fee model fits your business. Once your payout account is working and you have real website payment volume, use the monthly-vs-transaction-fee guide and the No application fee guide to decide whether keeping the Standard Pro fee model or switching to No application fee makes more sense for your volume.