Section 5.1: Freelancer Stripe Express Setup

This guide explains how solo freelancers and prime freelancer organizations onboard to Stripe Express through the ABRAM Network to verify their identity and configure bank accounts or debit cards for payout routing.

1. Overview of Stripe Express Onboarding

ABRAM uses Stripe Connect (Express) to route invoice payments securely and directly to freelancers. When a producer pays an invoice or authorizes a Purchase Order (PO), Stripe splits the platform processing fee and immediately routes the remaining funds to the freelancer's connected bank account or debit card.

[!IMPORTANT]

• Onboarding is mandatory to receive automatic payouts.
• If you have not completed Stripe setup, invoices can still be saved locally and sent, but payment routing will only activate once onboarding is complete.
• Solo freelancers onboard as Individuals; agencies, studios, or production companies onboard as Companies.

Onboarding Payout Safety Net

If a contractor has not completed their Stripe onboarding, clients can still pay their invoices. The system automatically processes the client's payment and holds the funds securely on the ABRAM platform account. Once the contractor completes their Stripe setup, the platform automatically releases and routes the held funds to the contractor's connected bank account.

2. Step-by-Step Setup Instructions

Step 1: Navigate to Payouts

1. Log in to your ABRAM freelancer workspace.
2. Payout setup lives in the Payouts area. You can reach it either from Settings → Payouts, or from the Financials section's Payouts tab.
3. Look for the Payout Setup (or Organization Payout Setup) widget.

Step 2: Initialize Stripe Account Creation

1. Click Get Started on the setup card.
   • Note: Only organization owners or admins can manage the organization's payout account. Other members can't initiate or edit this setup.
2. ABRAM will securely register your profile with Stripe in the background. A loading spinner will appear briefly.
3. You will be redirected automatically to the Stripe-hosted onboarding wizard in the same browser tab, where you complete a Stripe Express account setup.

Step 3: Complete the Stripe Express Form

On the Stripe-hosted onboarding portal, you must provide:

1. Verification Details: Enter your phone number and email to receive a Stripe verification code.
2. Business Details:
   • Individual / Sole Proprietor: Provide legal name, SSN (or tax ID), and date of birth.
   • Company (Studio/Agency): Provide legal entity name, EIN, and business address.
3. Payout Destination: Enter your Bank Account details (Routing and Account Number) or link a Debit Card for instant payouts.

Step 4: Verification and Return to ABRAM

1. Once you review and submit your details, Stripe will redirect you back to the ABRAM Payouts page.
2. ABRAM will automatically retrieve and update the setup status.
3. Your Payout Setup card will update to show one of three statuses: Active, In Review, or Setup Required.

3. Understanding Account Statuses

The Stripe Connect Status card indicates your verification state:

[!WARNING] If Stripe is unable to verify your identity with the initial details provided, your status will show Setup Required or In Review. Stripe may request additional documentation (e.g., a photo of a government-issued ID). Click Continue Setup to upload these directly to Stripe.

4. Managing Your Stripe Dashboard

Once your Stripe Connect account status is Active, the setup card shows an Open Stripe Dashboard button.

Clicking this button takes you to Stripe Express where you can:

• View pending and historical payout transfers.
• Track the exact arrival date of payouts in transit.
• Update your bank account or debit card information.
• View and download annual tax documents (such as Form 1099-NEC).

Minimum Balance for Payout Requests

To request a payout, your available balance must be at least $10. If your balance is below this threshold, keep accumulating earnings from paid invoices until you reach the minimum before requesting a transfer.

5. Multi-Organization Context (Prime Freelancers)

If your user account is an Owner or Admin of a registered Production Company organization:

• Org-Bound Setup: ABRAM binds Stripe Connect accounts to organizations rather than individual users. Setting up Stripe here configures the bank account for the entire organization's billings.
• Role Restrictions: Only organization owners or admins can manage the organization's payout account. Standard team members see a read-only view of the Payouts area asking them to contact their organization admin.
• Personal vs. Organization View: If you operate as both an individual freelancer and run a company, you can toggle between your Personal and Organization payout balances on the Payouts tab. Ensure you configure Stripe for both if you expect payments in both roles.

Payout Destination Resolution

When a producer pays an invoice, the platform automatically routes the payout to the contractor's correct connected Stripe account using a strict priority order:

1. Payee Organization: If the invoice is billed by an organization, the funds are routed directly to that organization's Stripe account.
2. Contractor Workspace Ranking: If the invoice is billed by an individual contractor, the system resolves the organizations owned by that contractor and routes the payout to the most appropriate business account based on their organizational roles (favoring corporate production company accounts first, followed by contractor company accounts, and falling back to personal setups).
3. Submitter Fallback: If no organizational accounts can be resolved, the payout is routed to the individual Stripe account of the member who submitted the invoice.