Stitch Storage collects rent by card or bank account (ACH) through Stripe Connect Express, so rent lands in your own Stripe account. Stitch adds a flat 0.3% platform fee on rent processed, and Stitch never stores card data.
How the money moves
Setting up takes about the time of a coffee.
- Create your Stripe Express account. Stripe runs the signup, identity checks and the account dashboard.
- Tenants pay in Stripe Elements. Card and bank details are typed into a Stripe-built form, which tokenizes them. Stripe's docs state this keeps sensitive details from touching the app's own server.
- The payment is made to your account. Rent is paid to your connected account, and Stitch's 0.3% is taken as an application fee. Stripe's docs describe application fees as moving to the platform's balance when the connected account collects the payment.
- Stripe pays out to your bank on your payout schedule.
The fee, in plain numbers
The Stitch fee is 0.3% of rent processed. Stripe's own card and bank fees are separate and set by Stripe. Check them in your Stripe account before you start, since they are not set by Stitch.
Worked example: say you have 120 units at $95 average rent. You collect $11,400 in a month. The Stitch fee is 0.3% x $11,400 = $34.20. Add Pro at $99 and you pay Stitch $133.20.
| Rent collected | 0.3% fee |
|---|---|
| $3,000 | $9.00 |
| $6,000 | $18.00 |
| $11,400 | $34.20 |
| $20,000 | $60.00 |
Autopay
When a tenant agrees to autopay, Stitch bills their saved card or bank account on their due date. They get receipts, can update their card in the tenant portal, and can see what they owe. Autopay is the best defense against late rent, since the tenant no longer has to remember. See autopay and the guide on reducing delinquency.
Cards versus bank payments
| Card | Bank (ACH) | |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation | Fast | Up to 4 business days, per Stripe |
| Failure risk | Declines and expired cards | Insufficient funds, closed accounts |
| Dispute window | Set by card network | Up to 60 days on personal accounts, per Stripe |
| Good for | First month, quick moves | Recurring autopay |
Bank customers must authorize the debit. In Stripe Elements, the mandate language and acceptance are handled for you.
When a payment fails
The failed charge shows in the tenant ledger. A late fee posts on your schedule. The tenant appears in your delinquency view, aged 0 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90 and 90+ days. If the account stays unpaid, the gate code can turn off, and a lien timeline starts for your state.
Checklist for choosing a payment setup
| Ask | Why |
|---|---|
| Whose account receives rent? | It should be yours |
| Is the platform fee public? | Surprise fees are common in quote-only deals |
| Is card data stored by the vendor? | Better if it is not |
| Do you get receipts and a ledger? | Needed for disputes and taxes |
| Can you leave and keep your Stripe account? | It is yours |
Cost
Starter $39 a month, Pro $99 a month, additional facility $59. 0.3% platform fee on rent processed. Price lock, no contracts, 30-day free trial. See pricing.
Setting up your Stripe account
Stripe Connect Express is the account type Stitch uses. According to Stripe's documentation, Express accounts let the platform manage payouts and branding while Stripe handles onboarding, account management and identity verification. In practice you will:
- Click connect in Stitch.
- Fill in Stripe's form about you and your business.
- Add the bank account where you want payouts.
- Return to Stitch when Stripe says you are done.
Stripe may ask for more information later. If your account has an open requirement, you will see a prompt. Keep your business details current.
Refunds and disputes
Refunds come out of your Stripe balance, since the money was paid to you. Stripe says ACH refunds take up to 3 business days and cannot be canceled once started. A tenant can dispute a bank debit through their bank. Stripe says personal-account holders can generally do this for up to 60 days, and that those disputes are final. Keep your lease and autopay authorization on file, and talk with the tenant first, since a dispute costs you a fee.
Getting tenants to use autopay
A few moves lift sign-ups:
- Ask at move-in, when they are already paying.
- Offer a small perk, such as a waived admin fee, in your own terms.
- Show the date and amount in plain words.
- Remind existing tenants by text or email with a one-tap link.
- Tell them they can update their card in the tenant portal.
What happens with expired cards
Cards expire. When one fails, the tenant sees a request to update it, and your ledger shows the failure. Reach out within a day or two, before the late fee date, and many problems end there.
Questions to ask any payment vendor
Ask how fees are shown, who holds funds, how long payouts take, what happens in a dispute and how you leave. Stitch answers these on the pricing page and in this page. For ideas on cutting late rent, read the guide on reducing delinquency.