Getting Started on Alternative Payments
Account setup takes about 10 minutes. Verification and account activation typically take 1 to 3 business days.
Curious about how to get started with Alternative Payments? As a first step, book a demo with a member of our sales team: Book a demo with Alternative. After the demo, your sales rep will introduce you to your dedicated Customer Success Manager to get your onboarding process started.
Overview of our onboarding process
Sign up for your account -- visit app.alternativepayments.io and create your account using Social Sign On (Google or Microsoft 365) or a username and password. See below for step-by-step instructions.
Complete your business profile -- enter your company details, legal name, EIN (United States) or Business Number (Canada), address, and company representative information.
Submit KYC verification -- provide a government-issued photo ID for the company representative and any beneficial owners holding 25% or more ownership. This is required by financial regulations.
Connect your bank account -- link your bank account for payouts using Plaid or by entering your details manually.
Set up your integrations (if applicable) -- connect your accounting software (QuickBooks Online, Xero) and/or PSA (ConnectWise, Autotask, HaloPSA, SuperOps). To learn more, visit our integration guides.
Account review and activation -- your account will be in Setup Mode while our team reviews your verification documents. This typically takes 1 to 3 business days. During Setup Mode, you can explore the platform and configure your settings, but you cannot process live payments.
Go live -- once your account is verified, your Customer Success Manager will work with you to activate your account, complete platform training, and take your billing link live.
How to sign up
For new partners, the process to get started is easy. Visit app.alternativepayments.io and click on "Log In" located in the top right corner to initiate your account setup. From there, you have the choice to configure your account by using convenient social sign on options via Gmail or Microsoft 365, or you can opt to establish a secure password. Once your account is created, you'll be introduced to your Customer Success Manager to get your account activated.
Social Sign On:
Navigate to "Create an account" and sign up for your new account with Google or Microsoft 365. You'll be navigated to your email provider's website where you can finish the set up by entering your email credentials.
Password Login:
Set up your Alternative Payments account by configuring an email and secure password. You'll receive an email from noreply@notifications.alternativepayments.io with a one-time 6-digit code to finish setting up the new account.
After signing up for your account via SSO or Password Login, you'll receive a confirmation code to your registered email. After entering the code, you'll be prompted to Register new company:
Complete your business profile
Tell us about your company: Enter your company name, legal name, EIN (United States) or Business Number (Canada), company website, phone number, company type, industry, and provide a company overview. Click "Continue."
Company address: Enter your company address and then click "Continue."
Tell us about yourself: Fill out your name and job title. Click "Continue."
Company representative: Enter the details of the individual who holds ultimate control over decision-making and is authorized to enter binding agreements on the company's behalf. You will need to upload a government-issued photo ID for this person.
Ownership details: Add any beneficial owners holding 25% or more ownership. Each beneficial owner will also require a government-issued photo ID. If there are no additional beneficial owners, select Continue.
Connect your bank account: Connect your bank account via Plaid or enter your banking details manually.
Set up your integration: Connect your accounting or PSA integration if applicable.
Setup Mode and account activation
After completing your business profile, your account will be in Setup Mode while our compliance team reviews your information and verification documents. During Setup Mode:
You can explore the dashboard, configure your settings, and set up integrations
You can customize your billing link, branding, and email templates
You cannot process live payments or accept customer payments
Verification typically takes 1 to 3 business days. Your Customer Success Manager will notify you when your account has been approved.
Pre-go-live checklist
Before taking your account live, make sure you have completed the following:
Once everything is in place, your Customer Success Manager will activate your account and you're ready to start processing payments.
Adding a Payout Bank Account
When you add a bank account for payouts, Alternative Payments verifies that the account holder name on the bank account matches your verified legal entity name on file. If there is a mismatch — for example, if your business operates under a trade name or DBA — the bank account cannot be approved until the discrepancy is resolved.
If your bank account name does not match your legal entity name, you have two options:
Provide a letter from your bank. Submit a letter on bank letterhead confirming that the DBA name on the account is associated with your legal entity — for example, a letter stating that "Praesto Works, Inc. is a DBA of Superior Endeavors, Inc." Contact your Customer Success Manager to submit this documentation.
Add a different bank account. Add a bank account whose account holder name exactly matches your verified legal entity name on file with Alternative Payments.
If your legal entity name has recently changed:
If you have obtained new EIN documentation (such as an IRS CP 575 or equivalent) reflecting your updated legal name, contact your Customer Success Manager. AP support staff can upload the EIN document on your behalf to update the legal name on file, which will allow the bank account verification to proceed.
Once the documentation is in place:
After the name match is confirmed — whether through a bank letter, a new bank account, or an updated EIN record — the bank account will enter a standard review period. The dashboard will show the account status as UNDER REVIEW. No further action is required from you during this time. You will be notified once the review is complete and the bank account is active for payouts.
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