Stripe Connect Integration

Master Stripe Connect for marketplace and platform payments with proper webhook handling, charge patterns, and Connect account management.

When to Use This Skill

• Building a marketplace where sellers receive payments
• Implementing platform payments with fees
• Onboarding vendors/sellers to your platform
• Setting up multi-party payment flows
• Handling payouts to connected accounts
• Managing Connect webhooks (especially for Direct Charge!)

⚠️ Critical: Charge Type Selection

The #1 Connect Gotcha: Direct Charge Webhook Gap

When using Direct Charge, checkout sessions are created ON the Connected Account, NOT the platform!

❌ Platform webhook only - PAYMENTS WILL BE MISSED!
   /webhooks/stripe → Does NOT receive Direct Charge checkout.session.completed

✅ Both webhooks required:
   /webhooks/stripe         → Platform events (account.updated, etc.)
   /webhooks/stripe/connect → checkout.session.completed for Direct Charges!

Quick Start: Direct Charge with Correct Webhooks

1. Create Checkout Session (Direct Charge)

import Stripe from 'stripe';

const stripe = new Stripe(process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY!);

async function createDirectChargeCheckout(
  connectedAccountId: string,
  amount: number,
  platformFee: number,
  metadata: Record<string, string>
) {
  const session = await stripe.checkout.sessions.create(
    {
      mode: 'payment',
      line_items: [{
        price_data: {
          currency: 'usd',
          product_data: { name: 'Service Booking' },
          unit_amount: amount,
        },
        quantity: 1,
      }],
      payment_intent_data: {
        application_fee_amount: platformFee, // Platform takes this
        metadata,
      },
      success_url: `${process.env.APP_URL}/success?session_id={CHECKOUT_SESSION_ID}`,
      cancel_url: `${process.env.APP_URL}/cancel`,
      metadata,
    },
    {
      stripeAccount: connectedAccountId, // CRITICAL: Creates on connected account!
    }
  );

  return session;
}

2. Platform Webhook Endpoint

// /webhooks/stripe - Platform events only
app.post('/webhooks/stripe',
  express.raw({ type: 'application/json' }),
  async (req, res) => {
    const sig = req.headers['stripe-signature']!;
    const event = stripe.webhooks.constructEvent(
      req.body,
      sig,
      process.env.STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET!
    );

    switch (event.type) {
      case 'account.updated':
        await handleAccountUpdated(event.data.object);
        break;
      // Note: checkout.session.completed does NOT come here for Direct Charge!
    }

    res.json({ received: true });
  }
);

3. Connect Webhook Endpoint (CRITICAL for Direct Charge!)

// /webhooks/stripe/connect - Connected account events
app.post('/webhooks/stripe/connect',
  express.raw({ type: 'application/json' }),
  async (req, res) => {
    const sig = req.headers['stripe-signature']!;
    const event = stripe.webhooks.constructEvent(
      req.body,
      sig,
      process.env.STRIPE_CONNECT_WEBHOOK_SECRET! // Different secret!
    );

    const connectedAccountId = event.account;

    switch (event.type) {
      case 'checkout.session.completed':
        // THIS is where Direct Charge payments complete!
        await handleConnectCheckoutComplete(event.data.object, connectedAccountId);
        break;

      case 'checkout.session.expired':
        await handleConnectCheckoutExpired(event.data.object, connectedAccountId);
        break;

      case 'payout.paid':
        await handlePayoutPaid(event.data.object, connectedAccountId);
        break;

      case 'payout.failed':
        await handlePayoutFailed(event.data.object, connectedAccountId);
        break;
    }

    res.json({ received: true });
  }
);

async function handleConnectCheckoutComplete(
  session: Stripe.Checkout.Session,
  connectedAccountId: string
) {
  // Retrieve full session from the connected account
  const fullSession = await stripe.checkout.sessions.retrieve(
    session.id,
    { expand: ['line_items', 'payment_intent'] },
    { stripeAccount: connectedAccountId } // CRITICAL!
  );

  // Idempotent confirmation
  await confirmPayment(fullSession.id);
}

4. Stripe Dashboard Setup

1. Platform webhook: Developers → Webhooks → Add endpoint

   • URL: https://yourdomain.com/webhooks/stripe
   • Select: "Account" events
   • Events: account.updated

2. Connect webhook: Developers → Webhooks → Add endpoint

   • URL: https://yourdomain.com/webhooks/stripe/connect
   • Select: "Connected accounts" (NOT "Account"!)
   • Events: checkout.session.completed, checkout.session.expired, payout.paid, payout.failed

Account Onboarding

Express Account (Recommended for Most Cases)

async function createConnectAccount(email: string, businessType: string) {
  const account = await stripe.accounts.create({
    type: 'express',
    email,
    business_type: businessType,
    capabilities: {
      card_payments: { requested: true },
      transfers: { requested: true },
    },
    metadata: {
      internal_user_id: 'user_123',
    },
  });

  return account;
}

async function createOnboardingLink(accountId: string) {
  const accountLink = await stripe.accountLinks.create({
    account: accountId,
    refresh_url: `${process.env.APP_URL}/onboarding/refresh`,
    return_url: `${process.env.APP_URL}/onboarding/complete`,
    type: 'account_onboarding',
  });

  return accountLink.url; // Redirect user here
}

Checking Account Status

async function isAccountReady(accountId: string): Promise<boolean> {
  const account = await stripe.accounts.retrieve(accountId);

  return (
    account.charges_enabled &&
    account.payouts_enabled &&
    !account.requirements?.currently_due?.length
  );
}

Destination Charge Pattern

Use when platform controls the customer relationship:

async function createDestinationCharge(
  amount: number,
  destinationAccountId: string,
  platformFee: number
) {
  const paymentIntent = await stripe.paymentIntents.create({
    amount,
    currency: 'usd',
    transfer_data: {
      destination: destinationAccountId,
    },
    application_fee_amount: platformFee,
    metadata: {
      booking_id: 'booking_123',
    },
  });

  return paymentIntent;
}

Separate Charges & Transfers

For maximum flexibility (e.g., split payments to multiple sellers):

async function chargeAndTransfer(
  amount: number,
  transfers: Array<{ accountId: string; amount: number }>
) {
  // 1. Create charge on platform
  const paymentIntent = await stripe.paymentIntents.create({
    amount,
    currency: 'usd',
    metadata: { type: 'multi_transfer' },
  });

  // 2. After payment succeeds, create transfers
  // (Usually in webhook handler)
  for (const transfer of transfers) {
    await stripe.transfers.create({
      amount: transfer.amount,
      currency: 'usd',
      destination: transfer.accountId,
      source_transaction: paymentIntent.latest_charge as string,
    });
  }
}

Handling Refunds with Connect

async function refundDirectCharge(
  paymentIntentId: string,
  connectedAccountId: string,
  refundApplicationFee: boolean = false
) {
  const refund = await stripe.refunds.create(
    {
      payment_intent: paymentIntentId,
      refund_application_fee: refundApplicationFee, // Return platform fee too?
    },
    {
      stripeAccount: connectedAccountId, // CRITICAL for Direct Charge!
    }
  );

  return refund;
}

Pre-Implementation Checklist

Webhook Setup

• Platform webhook configured for account.updated
• Connect webhook configured for checkout.session.completed
• Connect webhook configured for checkout.session.expired
• Connect webhook configured for payout.paid, payout.failed
• Two different webhook secrets stored in env vars
• Stripe Dashboard shows "Connected accounts" for Connect webhook

Account Onboarding

• Account creation flow with proper type (Express/Standard/Custom)
• Onboarding link generation
• Return/refresh URL handling
• Account status checking before allowing charges

Charge Flow

• Decided on charge pattern (Direct/Destination/Separate)
• Platform fee calculation implemented
• Idempotent payment confirmation
• 100% promo code handling (if applicable)

Testing

• Test onboarding with test account
• Test checkout with Stripe CLI forwarding
• Test Connect webhook receives checkout.session.completed
• Test refund flow
• Test payout events

Common Mistakes

1. Missing Connect webhook for Direct Charge - #1 cause of "payments not working"
2. Same webhook secret for both endpoints - They MUST be different
3. Not specifying stripeAccount when retrieving session - Gets wrong data
4. Assuming account is ready without checking - Always verify charges_enabled
5. Hardcoding platform fee - Should be configurable per transaction

Resources

• Stripe Connect Overview
• Direct Charges
• Destination Charges
• Connect Webhooks