In your project, you must specify whether you are starting as an individual or as an organization. Later (on Stripe), you will also select the appropriate category for your legal structure.
Important:
- Once selected, the legal form generally cannot be changed later.
- The payout account and the authorized entity must match (e.g., organization → organization's account).
1) What choices do I make on Startnext?
In the project interface (Contract tab), you will be asked whether you are signing up as an individual or an organization.
- Individual: e.g., private individual, sole proprietor, small business owner, freelancer, sole proprietorship
- Organization: e.g., GbR/eGbR/OG/PartG/KG, GmbH/UG/AG, e.V./eG/foundation, church/school/university/nonprofit organization
2) Classification of legal structures on Stripe
On Stripe, select a category that matches your business structure.
Note on the mapping of legal entities in Stripe:
- Individual / Sole proprietor / Registered business owner (e.K.) / Small business owner / Freelancer / etc.
- GmbH, UG, AG = corporation
- GbR, eGbR, GesbR, OG, PartG, GmbH & Co. KG, OHG, KG = partnership
- e.V., eG, foundation = association / cooperative (nonprofit organization)
- Church, school, college, n. e.V. = unincorporated association
3) Note on Stripe terminology (Commercial Register)
When Stripe asks for a “commercial registry number,” depending on the legal form, this may also refer to:
- Association registration number or
- Cooperative registration number
4) What documents does Stripe need?
You can view the accepted documents by legal form and country in advance here:
https://docs.stripe.com/acceptable-verification-documents
To verify an organization that is not registered, please provide an official document (such as a letter from the tax office) that clearly shows the company name and address.