How SwingMatch Handles Payments
SwingMatch does not process payments directly or take a cut of your lesson fees. Instead, we use Stripe Connect to help you set up your own payment account.
What this means for you:
Your money goes directly to you — Payments from students are deposited straight into your bank account via Stripe.
SwingMatch never touches your funds — We simply facilitate the connection between you and Stripe.
You control your pricing — Set your own rates with the ability to take home what you advertise.
Stripe handles security — All payment processing is handled by Stripe, a trusted global payment platform.
Our role is to make accepting online payments as easy as possible so you can focus on teaching golf.
Before You Start
Make sure you have the following ready (estimated setup time 5-6 minutes):
Phone for SMS verification.
Personal information (Legal name, DOB, home address).
Bank account details (For receiving payouts).
Government-issued photo ID (Driver's license or passport).
Step 1: Start Stripe Setup
Go to the Settings → Payment tab.
You'll see "Online Payments (via Stripe)" with a yellow SETUP INCOMPLETE badge.
Select your Business type:
Individual or sole proprietorship — Most instructors choose this.
Company — If you operate as a registered business.
Non-profit — For non-profit organizations.
Step 2: Verify Your Phone
Enter your email address (use your existing Stripe email if you have one).
Enter your phone number and click Submit.
Enter the 6-digit verification code sent to your phone.
Click Continue.
Step 3: Enter Personal Details
Complete the following fields exactly as they appear on your documents:
Field | What to Enter |
Legal name | Exactly as shown on your government ID |
Email address | Your contact email |
Job title | Golf Instructor, Golf Coach, or PGA Professional |
Date of birth | Must match your ID |
Home address | Your current residential address |
Phone number | Your contact number |
Step 4: Enter Business Details
Field | What to Enter |
Industry | Select "Health and wellness services" or "Sports and recreation" |
Website | Your personal website or your SwingMatch profile link |
Product description | A brief description of your services (see sample below) |
Sample product description:
I provide private and group golf lessons for players of all skill levels. Students book lessons online through SwingMatch and pay securely via credit card. Lesson packages and individual sessions are available.
Step 5: Add Bank Account for Payouts
This is where your lesson earnings will be deposited.
Currency: Select CAD (Canadian Dollar) or USD (US Dollar). Note: This affects how your prices display.
Transit number: 5 digits (found on your cheque or online banking).
Institution number: 3 digits.
Account number: Enter and confirm.
Step 6: Set Statement Descriptor
This is what appears on your students' credit card statements.
Field | Default | Recommendation |
Statement descriptor | SWINGMATCHGOLF.COM | Customize to your business name (e.g., "SMITHGOLFPRO") |
Shortened descriptor | SWINGMATCH | Optional (2-10 characters) |
Customer support phone | — | Enter your phone number for charge inquiries |
Tip: A recognizable statement descriptor prevents students from accidentally disputing charges they don't recognize.
Step 7: Review and Submit
Review all information carefully.
Use the Edit buttons to correct any mistakes.
Read the Connected Account Agreement and click Agree and submit.
Step 8: Refresh and Enable Online Payments
You'll see "Information submitted" — click Refresh Status.
Turn the Online Payments toggle ON (top right of the card).
If you see "Action required," click Update to continue to verification.
Step 9: Verify Your Identity
Stripe requires identity verification to process payments. Your photo ID must match the legal name and date of birth you entered.
Method | What You Need | Verification Time |
Liveness verification | Photo ID + selfie | Immediate |
ID and home address | Photo ID + proof of address | 1-2 business days |
Step 10: Final Confirmation
Review your details one final time and click Confirm.
Ensure the Online Payments toggle is set to ON.
After Setup
Payouts on hold: Your payouts may be temporarily on hold for 2-3 business days while Stripe completes verification.
Processing fee option: In your Stripe settings, you can choose to add a 3.5% + $0.30 booking fee to your services. This offsets Stripe's processing fees so you keep your full lesson rate. By default, this fee is TURNED ON.
Need Help?
If you encounter issues during setup, contact us through the chat widget or email [email protected].