Connecting Stripe to Zest enables payment processing for your corporate gifting Storefront and Concierge invoices. Because Concierge orders are paid with an invoice (not within Shopify's checkout), a separate payment processor is required.
Stripe is the recommended payment processor for most brands and is the same technology that powers Shopify Payments under the hood. The connection process takes 10-15 minutes and is one of the first tasks you’ll complete during onboarding. Without an active Stripe connection, you cannot place orders.
How to Connect Your Stripe Account to Zest
Step 1: Navigate to payment settings in Zest
Log in to your Zest partner portal.
Ensure you're viewing the Zest Partners account, not an individual Storefront dashboard. Click your name in the bottom left corner and switch to "Zest Partners" from the dropdown if needed.
Navigate to Settings > Payments > Connect your Stripe account.
Click the Connect button.
Step 2: Choose to use an existing account or create a new one
If you have an existing Stripe account:
Select Use an Existing Account.
Authenticate with your Stripe credentials.
Authorize Zest to connect to your Stripe account.
You'll be redirected back to Zest once the connection is complete.
If you need to create a new Stripe account:
Select Create a New Account.
Follow the prompts to set up your Stripe account through Zest.
Complete the required information.
Authorize Zest to connect to your new Stripe account.
You'll be redirected back to Zest once the connection is complete.
Note: Always initiate the connection from within Zest. Do not register directly on Stripe's website, as this may cause integration issues. Do not follow extra Stripe prompts for invoices or other products after connecting.
Step 3: Verify the connection
Once connected, the payment settings page in Zest should display Manage your Stripe account instead of the Connect button. This confirms the integration is active.
Setting Up a New Stripe Account Through Zest
If you're creating a new Stripe account, you'll need to provide detailed business information during setup. Stripe requires this information for compliance and fraud prevention.
For the latest business information requirements, always check Stripe before setup.
Examples of required information:
Business representative: Name, last 4 digits of SSN, and email for an executive or senior manager.
Business structure and EIN: Your legal business entity type and tax identification number.
Business address and phone number: Physical business location and contact information.
Industry classification: Your business category and a description of what you sell.
Banking information: Routing and account numbers for receiving payouts from Stripe.
Payout schedule: How often you want Stripe to transfer funds to your bank account (daily, weekly, monthly).
Statement descriptor: The business name customers see on their credit card statements (see below for details).
Remember: You can update most of these details after the initial setup if needed by logging into your Stripe dashboard.
Configuring Your Statement Descriptor
The statement descriptor is what appears on customers' credit card statements when they make a purchase through your Zest storefront. This should be set to your brand name or a recognizable variation of it to avoid customer confusion or chargebacks.
How to set your statement descriptor
Log in to your Stripe dashboard.
Go to Settings > Business > Business Details > Public Details.
Update the Public descriptor field with your brand name.
Click Save.
Important: Zest does not control the statement descriptor. It is configured entirely within Stripe. If you use one Stripe account for multiple brands, you'll need to decide on a descriptor that works across all of them or use separate Stripe accounts for each brand.
Configuring Payment Methods
Payment methods available for an invoice are determined by what you enable in your Stripe account.
Additional payment methods you can enable
Apple Pay: Allow customers to pay using Apple Pay on compatible devices.
Google Pay: Allow customers to pay using Google Pay.
ACH Direct Debit: Allow customers to pay directly from their bank account (particularly useful for high-dollar corporate orders where credit card fees would be significant).
How to enable additional payment methods
Log in to your Stripe dashboard.
Go to Settings > Payment methods.
Enable the payment methods you want to offer.
Click Save.
Stripe will tokenize and save payment methods so repeat customers don't need to re-enter their card information on future orders.
Connecting Stripe in Sandbox and Production Environments
If you're using both sandbox (test) and production Zest accounts, you must connect Stripe separately in each environment.
The person managing your Stripe account will need to complete the connection process twice:
Sandbox environment: Connect your Stripe test account to your Zest sandbox.
Production environment: Connect your Stripe live account to your Zest production instance.
This allows you to test payment processing without affecting live transactions or financial records.
How Zest Orders Appear in Stripe
Storefront orders with payments All orders processed through Zest will show "Zest" in the Stripe description field, along with the Zest order number. This makes it easy to identify and reconcile Zest transactions in your Stripe dashboard.
Concierge Invoices with payments processed through Zest will show “Zest Concierge” in the Stripe description field, along with the Concierge Project number.
This makes it easy to identify and reconcile Zest transactions in your Stripe dashboard.
You can also click the payment link within a parent order in Zest to go directly to the corresponding Stripe transaction for detailed payment information.
Important: Money flows directly from the customer’s payment method, i.e., credit card or ACH into your Stripe merchant account. Zest does not hold funds or act as a middleman in the payment flow. You are the merchant of record and Zest cannot change or configure Stripe settings for you.
Switching or Changing Your Connected Stripe Account
If you need to switch to a different Stripe account (for example, moving from a test account to a production account, or consolidating multiple brand accounts), contact Zest support. The engineering team can disconnect the old account and connect the new one.
Important considerations before switching
Orders placed before the switch must be refunded through the original Stripe account, since those funds remain there.
Orders placed after the transition flow through the new account.
Historical data may be impacted, so Zest's engineering team will review potential impacts before making the switch.
It's better to set up the correct account from the start to avoid complications. If you're unsure which account to use, discuss with your finance team before connecting.
Using One Stripe Account vs. Separate Accounts for Multiple Brands
If you operate multiple brands, you'll need to decide whether to use:
One shared Stripe account: Simpler to manage but means the statement descriptor will be the same for all brands, which may confuse customers.
Separate Stripe accounts: Each brand gets its own descriptor and cleaner financial separation, but requires more management overhead.
This is a business decision that depends on your organizational structure. Stripe accounts can be swapped later if needed, so this isn't a permanent decision. Discuss with your finance team before proceeding.
Troubleshooting Common Connection Issues
I can't find the Stripe connection option in my Zest dashboard
Make sure you're viewing the Zest Partners account, not an individual storefront dashboard:
Click your name in the bottom left corner.
Switch to "Zest Partners" from the dropdown.
Navigate to Settings > Payments.
The Connect button for Stripe will appear there. If you've already connected, it should say "Manage your Stripe account."
SSO authentication loops during connection
If your organization uses Single Sign-On (SSO) for Stripe, the connection flow may get stuck in an authentication loop or spinning loading screen.
The workaround is to:
Have a different team member with direct Stripe access (not through SSO) complete the connection.
Request an alternative OAuth link from Zest support that may bypass the SSO loop.
Stripe blocks my bank account during setup
Stripe may flag a bank account if they were previously unable to debit from it. This requires uploading proof of debit/credit capability to Stripe and may block account completion until resolved.
Contact Stripe support directly with a case number to resolve this issue.
I accidentally created a new Stripe account instead of connecting my existing one
Stripe occasionally changes their connection flow UI, which can cause confusion where brands accidentally create new Stripe accounts instead of connecting existing ones.
If this happens, work with Zest support—they can monitor their connected accounts list on the backend to confirm which account was linked and help you connect the correct account.
My organization restricts payment gateways
Some parent organizations restrict brands to approved payment gateways. Verify internally that Stripe is an approved processor before beginning Zest setup. If Stripe is not approved, contact Zest support to discuss alternative options like Adyen.
I've lost access to my Stripe account
If you lose access to your Stripe account (for example, the previous account owner left the company), Zest can attempt to work with their Stripe contact to recover access. However, Stripe requires a case number to investigate.
Alternatively, you can disconnect the old account in Zest and connect a new one (keeping in mind the implications for refunding historical orders).
Why Connecting Stripe Is Required Before Test Orders
Stripe must be connected before you can place any test orders during onboarding because all storefront and Concierge transactions require a payment processor. Without an active Stripe connection, the checkout flow cannot be completed.
This is typically one of the first setup tasks and is a common blocker if delayed. If you're stuck, email Zest support with "blocked on connecting Stripe" in the subject line for immediate priority assistance.
Can I Use My Existing Stripe Account From Another System?
Yes, brands can use their existing Stripe account for Zest—there's no need to create a separate one. However, you should verify with your finance team that using the same account won't create reconciliation issues with your other systems (for example, point-of-sale systems, affiliate programs, or other ecommerce platforms).
If you need cleaner financial separation between Zest and other channels, consider creating a dedicated Stripe account for Zest.
Getting Help
If you need assistance connecting Stripe:
For technical issues: Contact Zest support if you encounter authentication loops, integration errors, or need help switching accounts.
For Stripe-specific questions: Contact Stripe support directly for issues related to account verification, banking information, or payment processing policies.