RentalTide uses Stripe Connect to process payments on your behalf. This page explains how the connection works, what changed when we moved to Stripe Connect Express, and where to find the things you used to access in the full Stripe dashboard.
Quick answer: where's my Stripe dashboard?
If you used to log into Stripe directly and now your dashboard looks different (or you can only see payouts), this is expected. RentalTide now uses Stripe Connect Express instead of Standard accounts, and almost everything you used to do in Stripe is now built directly into RentalTide.
Open Settings → Stripe Dashboard inside RentalTide to access:
- Payments, refunds, and disputes
- Payouts and payout schedules
- Account balance
- Bank account and business details
- Onboarding (if not yet complete)
You no longer need to leave RentalTide to manage your Stripe account.
Why we changed from Standard to Express
In November 2025 RentalTide moved to Stripe Connect Express with Embedded Components. The change was deliberate — it gives you a better, more integrated experience without losing any functionality.
What you gain
- Everything in one place — payments, payouts, refunds, disputes, and bank details are all inside RentalTide. No more bouncing between two products.
- Faster onboarding — Express has a streamlined signup flow with fewer fields. New locations get up and running in minutes, not days.
- Branded experience — your team and customers see RentalTide, not a Stripe-branded screen.
- Built-in role-based access — RentalTide controls who on your team can issue refunds, manage payouts, or view balances.
What changed
- The connected account no longer has access to the full Stripe dashboard at
dashboard.stripe.com. Instead, you have the Express Dashboard (limited — payouts and basic reporting), or the much more capable embedded dashboard inside RentalTide (recommended). - Express accounts can't be converted back to Standard. This is a Stripe limitation, not a RentalTide one.
If you have an older Standard account from before November 2025, it still works exactly as it did. You can keep using dashboard.stripe.com for that account. The change only affects new locations created after the switch.
Where to find common tasks
| What you want to do | Where to do it |
|---|---|
| Issue a refund | RentalTide → Stripe Dashboard → Payments, find the charge |
| View payouts and schedule | RentalTide → Stripe Dashboard → Payouts |
| Trigger an instant payout | RentalTide → Stripe Dashboard → Payouts → Pay out now |
| Update your bank account | RentalTide → Stripe Dashboard → Account |
| Update business details (EIN, address) | RentalTide → Stripe Dashboard → Account |
| View account balance | RentalTide → Stripe Dashboard → Balances |
| Handle a dispute or chargeback | RentalTide → Stripe Dashboard → Payments → Disputes |
| Complete onboarding | RentalTide → Stripe Dashboard → Onboarding |
| Download tax forms (1099-K) | Express Dashboard at connect.stripe.com/app/express |
| View transactions and exports | RentalTide → Reporting → Payments |
Connecting Stripe to a new location
When you create a new store in RentalTide:
- Go to Settings → Stores → Add store
- Fill in the location details (name, address, email, country)
- Click Add and Setup
- RentalTide creates an Express account behind the scenes and saves the
connectIdto the location - Complete onboarding inline by going to Stripe Dashboard → Onboarding
The whole process happens inside RentalTide — there's no separate Stripe signup.
Test mode
Use test mode while you're setting things up or trying new flows:
- Toggle Test Mode in Settings → Stores → Business info
- Use card
4242 4242 4242 4242with any future expiry and any CVC - Test charges show up in the embedded dashboard tagged as test transactions
Switch to live mode when you're ready to take real payments.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I log into Stripe like I used to?
Express connected accounts have a limited Stripe-hosted dashboard at connect.stripe.com/app/express. Everything you used to do in the full Stripe dashboard is now built into RentalTide — open Stripe Dashboard in the sidebar.
Can I get my Standard account back?
Stripe doesn't allow converting an Express account back to Standard. If you genuinely need full dashboard.stripe.com access for something RentalTide doesn't expose, contact us and we'll figure out the right path — but in nearly every case, the embedded dashboard inside RentalTide does the job better.
What about my old Standard account from before November 2025?
It still works. We don't migrate existing Standard accounts. You can keep using dashboard.stripe.com for those locations indefinitely.
Who can access the Stripe Dashboard inside RentalTide?
By default, admins can access everything. You can restrict refund management, payout management, and account changes to specific roles in Settings → Staff.
Is anything missing from the embedded dashboard?
Almost nothing. The embedded dashboard supports payments, refunds, disputes, payouts (instant + scheduled), balances, account management, and onboarding. The only thing currently outside the embedded view is tax forms (1099-K) — those still come from connect.stripe.com/app/express.
Need help?
If you're stuck on a Stripe-related task and can't find what you need, reach out to our support channel (Settings → Support) and we'll help you locate it.