How to build connect marketplace integrations on Stripe

Navigate to your Stripe Dashboard and go to Connect → Settings. Choose your integration type: Standard (easiest), Express (balanced), or Custom (full control). Enable OAuth under platform settings and add your redirect URIs. Set up your branding and application information that connected accounts will see during onboarding.

Create connected accounts using the Stripe API:

stripe.accounts.create({
  type: 'express',
  country: 'US',
  email: 'seller@example.com',
  capabilities: {
    card_payments: {requested: true},
    transfers: {requested: true}
  }
});

Store the returned account_id in your database linked to the seller's profile.

Create account links for seller onboarding:

stripe.accountLinks.create({
  account: 'acct_connected_account_id',
  refresh_url: 'https://yourapp.com/reauth',
  return_url: 'https://yourapp.com/return',
  type: 'account_onboarding'
});

Redirect sellers to the returned url to complete their verification process. Handle the return flow to check account status using stripe.accounts.retrieve().

Set up webhook endpoints in Developers → Webhooks. Create separate endpoints for account events (account.updated, account.application.deauthorized) and Connect events. Enable events like account.updated, payment_intent.succeeded, and transfer.created. Verify webhook signatures using:

stripe.webhooks.constructEvent(
  payload, signature, endpointSecret
);

Create payments on behalf of connected accounts using destination charges or separate charges and transfers:

// Destination charge method
stripe.paymentIntents.create({
  amount: 2000,
  currency: 'usd',
  transfer_data: {
    destination: 'acct_connected_account_id',
    amount: 1800 // minus platform fee
  }
});

Set your stripe_account header when creating charges directly on connected accounts.

Configure your fee structure by either collecting application fees or using Stripe's application_fee_amount parameter. For manual payouts, create transfers:

stripe.transfers.create({
  amount: 1000,
  currency: 'usd',
  destination: 'acct_connected_account_id'
});

Monitor payout schedules in Connect → Accounts and handle failed transfers through webhooks.

Use Stripe's test mode with test connected accounts. Test the complete flow: account creation, onboarding, payments, and payouts. Monitor your integration using Connect → Activity and set up alerts for failed transfers or account issues. Implement proper error handling for declined payments and account verification failures.