Taking cards at your market, step by step
Your Markets keeps track of your inventory, prices, and profit. Stripe — our payment partner — handles the money side: card payments, your card reader, and paying you. This guide walks you through setting all of that up, and every link below goes to Stripe's own documentation so you're always seeing current information.
Before you start
- A phone (iPhone or Android) — that's where the payment app lives
- Your bank account and routing numbers
- Your Social Security number or EIN (Stripe needs one to verify you)
- About 10 minutes
1Create your Stripe account
Go to Stripe's sign-up page and register with your email address.
- Check your inbox and verify your email.
- Turn on two-factor authentication when prompted — it keeps your money safe.
- Fill in your business details exactly as Stripe asks (your name, business name if you have one, and address).
2Get a card reader
Websites can't tap or swipe cards directly — that's a security rule on Apple's and Google's side, not a Your Markets limit. So physical cards are taken through Stripe's own reader hardware.
Browse readers and prices on Stripe's card reader page. Readers start around $59. Models and prices are set by Stripe and can change, so check their page for what's available in your country.
3Pair your reader with the free Stripe app
Download the free Stripe Dashboard app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store (search "Stripe Dashboard").
Sign in with the Stripe account you just made, then follow Stripe's step-by-step pairing guide: Setting up your card reader. It walks you through turning on the reader, connecting it over Bluetooth, and confirming it works.
4Take a card payment, then record it here
When a buyer taps or swipes a card, charge them on the reader through the Stripe app — the app prints or emails a receipt automatically.
Then record the sale in Your Markets like any other sale. That's the key habit: the reader moves the money, Your Markets keeps your stock counts and profit totals correct.
No reader for that sale? No problem — the Collect payment button on a sale shows a QR code the buyer scans with their own phone to pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Venmo.
5Getting paid (payouts)
Stripe automatically moves the money you collect into your bank account — you choose how often (daily, weekly, or monthly) in your Stripe dashboard. See Stripe's payouts guide for how timing works.
Stripe charges its standard card rates (about 2.9% + 30¢ per sale). We never take a cut of your sales — Your Markets adds no fees on top.
Paying taxes — what Stripe gives you
We're not tax advisors, and we don't want to pretend to be — but Stripe hands you almost everything you need at tax time:
- Your sales history and reports. Every transaction, fee, and payout is itemized in your Stripe dashboard. See Stripe's reporting guide.
- Year-end tax forms. When your sales reach the IRS reporting thresholds, Stripe prepares and delivers your forms (like the 1099-K) through your Stripe account — no hunting for paperwork.
- Sales tax, if you want it handled. Stripe Tax is an optional add-on that automatically calculates and tracks sales tax for you. See stripe.com/tax.
For questions about what you actually owe, talk to a tax professional — everything they'll ask for lives in your Stripe dashboard. Stripe's own tax documentation is a good starting point to read or send them.
Common questions
How much does this cost?
Stripe charges its standard card rates (about 2.9% + 30¢ per sale). Your Markets never takes a cut of your sales.
Can I use Tap to Pay on my phone instead of a reader?
Tap to Pay on iPhone only works inside native apps approved by Apple — that's why Your Markets uses a reader for physical cards. On Android, the Stripe app supports Tap to Pay in supported regions.
Can customers pay by Venmo or QR code?
Yes — the Collect payment button on a sale shows a QR code on your screen. Buyers scan it with their own phone and pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Venmo. No reader needed.
Do I need a reader for every sale?
No — only for physical card taps and swipes. Cash and QR-code payments work with just your phone.
Reader models, prices, and Stripe's features belong to Stripe, not Your Markets, and can change — that's why this guide links to Stripe's official documentation rather than copying it. If something looks different on their end, their pages are the source of truth.