The Recording Club ยท JMI statusBack to the status page

Plain-language Stripe steps for Darryl, written Sep 16, 2026. Copied as written.

Setting up Stripe for the shop

Right now the shop runs on a test account in my name, so it can take pretend money but not real money. This moves it onto your own account, where the money lands in your bank.

About 40 minutes total, and you can stop and come back between any two steps.

Have these on hand before you start:


1. Make the account

https://dashboard.stripe.com/register

Use an email you check. This account is yours and stays yours.

About 5 minutes.


2. Activate it

https://dashboard.stripe.com/account/onboarding

This is the part with the EIN or SSN and the bank account. Stripe has to verify who you are before it will move money, same as a bank would. Answer everything and submit.

About 15 minutes. Stripe usually approves within a few minutes, sometimes a day.


3. Add me to the account

https://dashboard.stripe.com/settings/team

Click Add member, enter info@therecording.club, and pick the Developer role.

That role lets me connect the site, set up the payment plumbing, and fix things when they break. It does not let me touch your bank account, change where payouts go, or add anyone else. You stay the owner.

About 2 minutes.


4. Fill in the business details buyers see

https://dashboard.stripe.com/settings/public

The last one is what shows up on a customer's card statement. Getting it right is how you avoid someone seeing a charge they do not recognize and disputing it.

About 5 minutes.


5. Turn on sales tax

https://dashboard.stripe.com/settings/tax

Set the head office address to wherever the instruments ship from. Stripe uses it to work out what tax to charge.

About 5 minutes.


6. Add your California tax registration

https://dashboard.stripe.com/tax/locations

Add California. Stripe will ask for your seller's permit number from the CDTFA. If you already have one, this takes two minutes. If you do not, that is worth a call to your accountant, and it is the one thing here that can take a while.

Until this is in, Stripe charges no sales tax on California orders, which is a problem for you at tax time, not for the buyer.


7. Turn on two-factor login

https://dashboard.stripe.com/settings/user

Use a passkey rather than text messages. This account can move money, so it is worth the extra minute.


When the invite lands I connect the site and run a one-dollar test purchase, then refund it.


Three small things in the console

Separate from Stripe, and no rush. These are the last bits of data only you can fill in. Console is here, and I will text you the login:

https://jmi.gregspero.com/admin

1. Option prices on the configurator. 137 of them. https://jmi.gregspero.com/admin#/builds Until these are filled in, the custom builder tells people "Options are priced in the quote" instead of showing a number. Pricing them is the single biggest thing that would help custom orders close on their own.

2. Sale dates on 13 instruments. https://jmi.gregspero.com/admin#/inventory?lane=sold The registry shows them as sold but with no date, so their history pages have a gap.

3. The Chatham Matte Black duplicate. https://jmi.gregspero.com/admin#/inventory There are two rows for one bass. Tell me which one to keep and I will delete the other, or delete it yourself.