# Stripe Setup · Step-by-Step for TOJ

**Time to complete: ~30 minutes.** Result: You can accept $17,000 from Hooks + auto-charge $2,000/mo forever after.

Do this BEFORE the walkthrough call. Everything downstream assumes Stripe is live.

---

## Prerequisites · gather these first

- [ ] **Business info** for Trail of Joy Player Management Group, LLC
  - EIN (Employer Identification Number)
  - LLC registration state + date
  - Business address
  - Business phone number
- [ ] **Bank account** for the business (or personal + sole-prop for now)
  - Routing number
  - Account number
- [ ] **Personal info** as controller/owner
  - SSN or ITIN
  - Full legal name
  - Date of birth
  - Home address
- [ ] **Government ID** (driver's license or passport photo)

If you don't have an EIN → get one free at [irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online) · takes 15 min · immediate.

If you don't have a business bank account → for now use personal + operate as sole prop. Move to a real business account within 60 days. Chase Business or Mercury (no min balance) are the two easiest.

---

## Step 1 · Create Stripe account · 5 min

1. Go to [dashboard.stripe.com/register](https://dashboard.stripe.com/register)
2. Sign up with `Kyron.Cumby.1@icloud.com`
3. Set a strong password · save to password manager
4. Verify email (click link Stripe sends)
5. Log in

**You now have a Stripe account. It's in test mode until you activate.**

---

## Step 2 · Activate the account · 10 min

1. Click **"Activate payments"** in the left sidebar
2. Select **United States** as country
3. Select **LLC** as business type (or Sole proprietorship if not yet incorporated)
4. Enter business info:
   - Business name: **Trail of Joy Player Management Group, LLC**
   - EIN: `xx-xxxxxxx`
   - Business address (same as LLC registration)
   - Website: `https://tojcampaign.com`
   - Business category: **Professional services**
   - Business subcategory: **Consulting**
5. Enter personal info (as controller):
   - Full legal name · DOB · SSN · home address
   - Upload government ID
6. Enter bank account for payouts:
   - Routing + Account number
7. Enter statement descriptor: `TOJ TRAINER OS` (this is what shows on customer's card statement)
8. Submit for review

**Stripe typically approves within 24 hours. You can create payment links immediately even before approval — you just can't accept payments until approved.**

---

## Step 3 · Create the $17,000 one-time payment link · 5 min

1. In Stripe dashboard, click **Payment Links** in left sidebar
2. Click **"+ New"** button
3. Fill in:
   - **Product name:** `Trainer OS · Setup + Month 1 · Coach Margin Hooks`
   - **Description:** `Setup fee $15,000 + Month 1 recurring $2,000. Formalizes hooks-os platform + Premium snapshot rebuild + Optimum Grading + Prospect Edge + College Directory integration + monthly Personal LLM tuning + case study publication. See engagement agreement for full terms.`
   - **Price:** `$17,000.00`
   - **Currency:** USD
   - **One-time payment** (radio button)
4. Under **Payment methods:**
   - ✅ Card
   - ✅ US bank account (ACH — recommended for large payments)
   - ✅ Cash App Pay (optional · Hooks might use this)
5. Under **After payment:**
   - Redirect to: `https://fbtrainer.tojcampaign.com/hooks-onboarding/thanks` (create this page later)
   - Success message: `Payment received. Kyron will confirm within 24 hours + send calendar invite for kickoff. #CoachHooksTrained`
6. Under **Advanced options:**
   - Limit uses: **1** (this link is for Hooks only)
   - Expiration: **7 days from creation**
7. Click **Create link**
8. Copy the link · save it to send Hooks after the walkthrough call

**The link looks like:** `https://buy.stripe.com/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx`

---

## Step 4 · Set up the $2,000/mo subscription · 10 min

Two ways to do this. **Method A** (simpler) — send a second payment link for the subscription starting Month 2. **Method B** (cleaner) — set up a subscription that starts immediately with a 30-day trial (so first charge happens Month 2).

Use **Method B**. Cleaner for accounting.

### Method B · Recurring subscription with 30-day trial

1. In Stripe dashboard, click **Products** in left sidebar
2. Click **"+ Add product"**
3. Fill in:
   - **Product name:** `Trainer OS · Recurring · Coach Margin Hooks`
   - **Description:** `Monthly platform maintenance · Optimum Grading unlimited · Prospect Edge unlimited · College Directory unlimited · monthly Personal LLM tuning · quarterly strategy review · priority support. 12-month minimum term.`
4. Under **Pricing:**
   - **Recurring** (radio button)
   - **Monthly** billing period
   - Price: `$2,000.00 USD / month`
5. Save product
6. From the product page, click **"+ Create payment link"** for this product
7. Under **After payment:** same as Step 3
8. Under **Trial period:** enable · set to **30 days**
9. Under **Advanced options:**
   - Limit uses: **1**
   - Expiration: **7 days from creation**
10. Click **Create link**
11. Copy this second link

**Now you have two links to send Hooks:**
- Link 1: $17,000 one-time (setup + Month 1)
- Link 2: $2,000/mo starting Day 30 (auto-charges monthly starting Month 2)

---

## Step 5 · Test the links · 5 min

Before sending to Hooks, verify both links work.

1. Open Link 1 in a private browser window (incognito)
2. Confirm the page shows:
   - Product name: Trainer OS · Setup + Month 1
   - Price: $17,000.00
   - Payment options: Card + ACH (+ Cash App if enabled)
3. **Do NOT complete the payment.** Just verify the page loads correctly.
4. Same test for Link 2 · should show $2,000/mo · 30-day trial · Card + ACH

If anything looks wrong → back to Stripe dashboard · edit the product/link.

---

## Step 6 · Zelle backup (5 min)

Some clients prefer Zelle (no fees · instant). Set up as backup.

1. Log into your bank's Zelle
2. Confirm receiving email: `Kyron.Cumby.1@icloud.com`
3. Confirm your bank supports business Zelle (Chase · Bank of America · Wells Fargo all do)
4. Verify daily/weekly send limits — some banks cap Zelle at $2,500-5,000/day. If yours does, Hooks may need to split the $17K into multiple transfers OR use ACH.

**When to offer Zelle vs Stripe:**
- **Stripe first** — professional · Hooks gets a receipt · easier for TOJ accounting
- **Zelle only if:**
  - Hooks explicitly asks
  - Stripe ACH is delayed
  - Hooks bank doesn't support ACH via Stripe

---

## Step 7 · Send the links to Hooks

**In the walkthrough call**, after signature confirmed:

```
Sending Stripe link now. Two links coming in the next 60 seconds:

  Link 1: $17,000 · setup + Month 1 · pay in next 5 days
  Link 2: $2,000/mo · auto-starts Month 2 · you approve once, runs forever

Check your email. If Stripe isn't your speed, Zelle to Kyron.Cumby.1@icloud.com
works same-day too — just let me know which route.
```

Send both links via:
- Email (formal record)
- SMS (immediate access on his phone)
- DocuSign attached (belt-and-suspenders — some clients pay from within DocuSign)

---

## What happens after payment clears

**Instant (Card):**
- Stripe emails you confirmation within 5 min
- Notify Hooks: "payment received · welcome to Tier 03 · kickoff on the calendar"
- Update Money Tracker (`/money`): move Hooks to Active · MRR +$2,000 · Cash +$15,000

**ACH (2-3 business days):**
- Stripe emails you "pending" confirmation immediately
- Notify Hooks: "payment initiated · will confirm when ACH clears · kickoff still on the calendar"
- When it clears: same as Card notification above

---

## Troubleshooting

### ❌ "Card declined"
Hooks tries card, gets declined. Common causes:
- Card limit exceeded (some cards cap $10K)
- Suspicious activity flag from card issuer
- International card

**Fix:** Have him call his card issuer to authorize, or switch to ACH.

### ❌ "ACH authorization failed"
- Stripe couldn't verify his bank account
- Usually a routing/account number typo

**Fix:** Ask him to double-check and re-enter.

### ❌ "Link expired"
- 7-day expiration hit before he paid
- **Fix:** Create a new link in 60 seconds from the same product · send new link

### ❌ "Where's my subscription?"
- Sometimes clients don't realize the second link is a subscription
- **Fix:** Send follow-up email explicitly: "Second link is auto-recurring $2K/mo starting Day 30 · one-click authorization · you're done after that."

---

## Ongoing · after Hooks

Once Hooks is live, use the same pattern for future customers:

- **Basic tier ($1,500):** create one-time payment link
- **Premium tier ($4,500 + $350/mo):** create one-time link + monthly subscription
- **Trainer OS ($15K + $2K/mo):** clone Hooks template · rename per customer

**Rule:** One payment link per customer. Never a generic "pay us" link that anyone can hit. Each link = specific engagement = clean accounting.

---

## Change log

| Date | Change | By |
|------|--------|-----|
| 2026-07-14 | Step-by-step Stripe setup for TOJ · Hooks first customer | Kyron + Claude |