Stripe is one of the most popular payment processes for businesses of all kinds. As a payment processor that supports over 100 payment methods, it helps automate finance operations and capture recurring revenue.
Like most payment platforms, however, itâs possible to run into some issues along the way. If your account has been restricted, this will prevent the processing of payments to and from your Stripe account. Thankfully, this is an easy fix.
If your account has been closed, there are a few steps you can follow to resolve this issue. Take a look below, as we guide you step by step to get your account working again.
Reasons why your Stripe account has been closed
If your Stripe account has been closed, there are a few different reasons why this may be the case.
đRestricted Business List
Your account might be on the Restricted Business List. Some industries, products, and businesses canât use Stripeâs services. Prohibited categories include adult content and services, debt relief companies, government services, gambling, and identity services.
𼸠Fraudulent activity
If Stripe suspects any fraudulent activity on your account, it will be suspended while they investigate.
đ´ Inactivity
If youâve not processed any payments on Stripe for 90 consecutive days, then Stripe will close your account.
đ° Insufficient funds
Your account might be overdrawn, and you have inadequate funds to cover transactions.
đŤ Violations
You may have unknowingly violated Stripeâs Terms of Service, Acceptable Use Policy, or some of the other policies they have in place.
âšď¸ Inaccurate information
Stripe will disable your account if the documentation required for verification has not been provided.
Check out our full Stripe guide that tells you everything you need to know, including how it works and whether or not itâs the best option for your business.
How to prevent your Stripe account from being restricted
If your Stripe account has been restricted, chances are itâs because of inaccurate information. Itâs integral that you provide the appropriate documentation while signing up, so the platform can confirm your business is really what it claims to be.
Documents youâll need to supply include:
- Home address verification: So that Stripe can confirm where you live
- Identity verification: This might include a driver's license, state ID card, or passport.
- Business verification: This could include a certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, certificate of nonprofit registration, or company constitution.
What happens if my Stripe account is restricted?
If youâve not supplied Stripe with these items, Stripe may apply one or two different types of restrictions on your account.
- Charges disabled: Stripe prevents you from processing customer payments.
- Payouts disabled: Stripe prevents payouts from your Stripe account from being linked to your bank account.
5 Steps to fix a restricted Stripe account
If your Stripe account has been restricted, there are a few steps you can follow to get it up and running again.
1. Log in to your Stripe account

To begin the process of restoring your account, sign in to your Stripe account via the dashboard. After youâve done this, navigate to the 'View Stripe Payments Dashboard' button located in the Online Booking and Payments section.
2. Examine the reason for suspension
On the online booking and payments section, youâll find a Restricted icon. Click on this, and it will tell you the reason why your account has been closed.

If itâs because of unsupplied documentation, Stripe will simply state âIdentity documentation requiredâ under âInformation needed.â
It wonât, however, tell you the exact documentation you need.
3. Provide the required documentation
To supply Stripe with the proper documents, navigate the Settings page on your dashboard. Scroll down to find âBusiness settings,â and click on Verifications.

Youâll find a button named âReview details,â which you can click on to continue the verification process. This will ask you to fill in your personal details, including name, address, and social security number.

Click âUpdate Personâ at the bottom of the screen to confirm your details.
4. Check your emails
If Stripe requires more information about your business, youâll be sent an email asking for further documentation.
If this is the case, return to the Business settings page, and click âReview details,â where youâll be prompted to upload the required information. Bear in mind that your documents will need to meet some specific requirements in order to be accepted. These include:
- Clarity: The documents must be large and clear enough to read easily.
- Validity: All documents must be valid and up to date according to your businessâs registration.
- Matching information: Make sure the information supplied in the form, for example, company registration number, VAT number, business address, business name etc⌠all match the information youâve supplied on your Stripe account.
- Comprehensive documentation: If the documents you supply consist of PDFs with multiple pages, make sure you include all of the relevant pages.
5. Wait for confirmation
Once youâve provided the relevant documents, allow Stripe at 3-5 business days to review your documents.
Stripe has a support team that you can contact via support.stripe.com/contact, so if you want to check on the status of your application, you can reach out here.
Once your details have been checked, Stripe support will email you to notify you about the outcome of your review.
Looking for a comprehensive list featuring the best payment processing companies for ecommerce? Weâve got the full low-down
Advantages and disadvantages of using Stripe as your PSP
Thereâs no doubt that Stripe is one of the top payment service providers out there. This doesnât mean, however, that it doesnât have some disadvantages compared to some other payment services out there.
Pros:
â Well-established in over 45 countries, with over 135 total currencies
â Developer-friendly a wealth of customization options
â Top-notch security measures for both businesses and customers
Cons:
â It might not be the best option for physical stores
â Stripe is only available in 135 countries, so it might not be accessible for businesses registered elsewhere.
â You wonât get the full benefits of the platform if youâre not a developer
Top Stripe alternatives
Whop đ

Our top Stripe alternative spot goes to Whop, which combines the security and convenience provided by Stripe, with several additional features which make up for the latterâs shortcomings.
For one, Whop boasts an ETH gateway, which means that you can get paid in crypto, a feature that simply isnât an option on Stripe.
Whop Payments allows you to get paid even if Stripe isnât available in your country with the help of a Tipalti integration.
Whop comes complete with a full suite of tools to help you start, run, and grow your digital business. When you join Whop, you can sell almost everything digital, including:
- Community access
- ChatGPT Plugins
- EBooks
- SaaS products
- Webinars
- Masterminds
- Coaching
- Sports betting communities
- ⌠and much more!
Itâs completely free and easy to get started, allowing you to join up and browse all the features offered by the platform to find out if it works for you or not.
PayPal

This is one of the most common ecommerce payment processing apps that Stripe is compared with. Theyâve both been around for a similar length of time, but PayPal has several advantages over its competitors.
As we mentioned above, Stripe is only supported by 135 countries, whereas PayPal supports 200 - a substantial jump.
Along with this, PayPal is much easier to set up than Stripe, making it a more convenient option for smaller businesses without any developers on the team.
Square

Square is one of the best payment processing options for physical stores. Gradually taking over the US in-person transaction market, Square has established its dominance and authority over this area of commerce.
Stripe, on the other hand, is more geared toward the international online market.
Choosing the perfect SaaS payment gateway for your business
For businesses looking to sell subscription-based products and conduct recurring payments, Whop Payments is undoubtedly the best processor out there. With a competitive fees, a wealth of payout alternatives, plus top-notch security, it makes selling a dream.
Whop is also one of the few payment platforms out there that allows prospective customers to pay you in crypto via an ETH gateway directly to your blockchain wallet.
Plus, should your account be shut down for any reason, Whop houses the best-in-class customer service with 24/7 availability and a sub-3-minute response time, so you wonât be left hanging around.
Setup on Whop is also incredibly easy, taking just a few minutes. This means you donât have to be too tech-savvy to start running a digital business
Whop provides your customers with the smoothest journey possible.
FAQ
What payments do Stripe support?
Stripe supports a variety of different payment methods to make each transaction as easy as possible for you and your customers. These include:
- Debit cards
- Google Pay
- Apple Pay
- Buy now, pay later
- Credit cards
- Bank transfers
Bear in mind that the first payout on new Stripe accounts can take up to 7 days. So, if youâre still waiting for this to be processed, donât worry - this is completely normal and your account hasnât been closed.
Will Stripe reactivate my account?
If your Stripe account has been closed for reasons other than missing documentation, it wonât usually be reactivated. This is because you donât have much control over how Stripe views your business and the products youâre offering.
According to the official terms of service, "Stripe may terminate this Agreement (or any part of it) or close your Stripe Account at any time for any or no reason (including if any event listed in Sections 6.2(a)-(i) of these General Terms occurs)."
So basically, Stripe doesn't need to provide you with a reason why your account has been suspended.
If itâs due to fraudulent activity, or selling restricted products, then you wonât be able to create any future accounts on the platform. If itâs simply due to inactivity, Stripe will usually allow you to make a new account.
What are some of the limitations of Stripe?
Despite its popularity, Stripe does have its limitations. With a 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction fee, plus the monthly costs and some hidden fees, Stripe can be a very expensive option for new and smaller businesses.
Can Stripe legally hold your money?
Depending on your situation, it can be difficult to get money back from Stripe. Oftentimes, you wonât be given any information on why your funds have been held, or when youâll get them back. However, legally, Stripe is only able to hold funds for a total of 180 days.
Is Stripe 100% safe?
Stripe has some of the best security features out there. With EMVCo Level 1 and Level 2 certifications, it meets the highest standards in the industry.
- Level 1: Covers the physical security between the credit cards and terminals
- Level 2: ensures the software processes EMV transactions safely and smoothly
What are the differences between Stripe and PayPal?
Stripe and PayPal share many similarities. Theyâre both payment processing platforms that allow businesses to accept payments in person, via social media, or in an app.
However, there are also some key differences between the two. While PayPal is customizable to a certain degree, Stripe has almost unlimited scalability when it comes to customization features.
The checkout experience also differs. With PayPal, users are redirected to PayPal to complete their payment, which can create a more time-consuming shopping experience. Stripe, on the other hand, directly integrates payments into the web store.
Who uses Stripe?
Stripe is one of the top payment processing platforms in the industry, used by big brands such as Amazon, Shopify, Lyft, Pinterest, and FreshBooks. The company even attests that almost 90% of all personal credit cards have been processed via the Stripe software.
Some of the most popular businesses that use Stripe include:
- Nonprofits and fundraisers
- Software as a service
- Retail online stores
- eCommerce sites
- B2B Platforms
- B2C Marketplaces