1. Introduction

On Folio, you can set a price on your articles and sell them as paid content. When a reader purchases your article, the revenue is automatically deposited into your bank account.

The technology behind this is Stripe Connect. This article walks you through the steps to start monetizing your work.

2. What Is Stripe?

Stripe is a payment platform used by millions of businesses worldwide, including Amazon, Google, Shopify, and Uber.

• Available in 46+ countries

• Supports 135+ currencies

• PCI DSS Level 1 compliant (the highest security standard in the credit card industry)

• Data protected with financial-institution-grade encryption

Folio uses Stripe as its payment infrastructure and distributes revenue to authors through Stripe Connect.

3. Folio Does Not Store Your Personal Information

This is the most important point regarding monetization:

• Your bank account information is never stored on Folio's servers

• Identity verification documents (such as government-issued IDs) are managed directly by Stripe

• Personal details such as date of birth and address are securely stored on Stripe's side

The only thing Folio retains is the connection status indicating "this user has registered with Stripe Connect." All sensitive information is managed within Stripe's secure environment.

4. How to Start Monetizing

4.1. Step 1: Open Your Dashboard

Log in to Folio and navigate to the "Revenue" tab on your dashboard. Click the "Set up Stripe Connect" button.

4.2. Step 2: Stripe Onboarding

Clicking the button will redirect you to the Stripe onboarding screen. Even if you don't have a Stripe account, you can create one on the spot.

You will enter the following information:

1. Select your business type — If you are an individual, select "Individual / Sole Proprietor"

2. Enter personal information — Name, date of birth, and address

3. Register your bank account — The bank account where you will receive your earnings

4.3. Step 3: Setup Complete

Once onboarding is finished, you will be automatically redirected back to Folio's dashboard. If you see "Stripe Connect: Connected," you're all set.

5. Creating Paid Articles

Once your Stripe Connect setup is complete, you can set a price when publishing articles.

1. Write your article in the editor

2. Toggle "Make this a paid article" in the publish settings

3. Set your price (in USD)

4. Publish the article

When a reader purchases the article, Stripe automatically processes the payment and deposits the revenue into your bank account.

6. Revenue Distribution

Folio's revenue distribution is fully automated.

• When a reader purchases an article, Stripe processes the payment

• Stripe's transaction fees and Folio's platform fees are deducted from the sale

• The remaining amount is automatically distributed to your Stripe account

• Stripe then transfers the funds to your registered bank account

This process is handled entirely by Stripe's system, making it impossible to tamper with or falsify earnings. All transactions can be monitored in real time through the Stripe dashboard.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

7.1. I don't have a Stripe account. Is that okay?

Yes. You can create a new Stripe account during the onboarding process. If you already have a Stripe account, you can link it instead.

7.2. Can I receive payments to a bank account outside the US?

Yes. Stripe supports 46+ countries. You can register a bank account in your country of residence.

7.3. When will I receive my earnings?

Payouts follow Stripe's standard payout schedule. Typically, earnings are deposited into your bank account within a few business days. Details can be checked on the Stripe dashboard.

7.4. What are the fees?

Stripe's transaction fees (which vary by country) and Folio's platform fee apply. Please refer to the pricing page for details.

8. Summary

• Folio's monetization is built on Stripe Connect, protected by world-class security

• Folio never stores your bank account or personal information — everything is managed by Stripe

• Registration takes just a few minutes, and you can start selling paid articles right away

• Revenue is distributed automatically by Stripe, ensuring a transparent and fair system

Head to the "Revenue" tab on your dashboard to start monetizing today.