How to Accept Online Payments for Cemetery Plots Safely
Selling cemetery plots online sounds risky — double-booking, refund disputes, card-data compliance. It's not, if you set it up correctly. Here's exactly how, and exactly what it costs.
Cemeteries accept online plot payments through Stripe Connect: families browse available plots on the public page, reserve with credit card / Apple Pay / Google Pay, and funds settle directly to the cemetery's bank account. CemeteryBase fee: 1.5%. Stripe fee: 2.9% + 30¢. On a $2,000 plot sale the cemetery nets ~$1,910. PCI compliance is inherited from Stripe; double-booking is prevented by atomic plot locking; refunds are one-click. Both for-profit and 501(c) non-profit cemetery entities supported.
How the payment flow works
Family browses available plots
Available plots appear in green on the public cemetery map. Family clicks a plot to see price, section, and details.
Family clicks Reserve
Checkout opens. The plot is locked at the database level for 15 minutes to prevent another family from reserving the same plot simultaneously.
Family pays via Stripe-hosted checkout
Card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Card details are entered on Stripe's PCI-certified servers, never on CemeteryBase or the cemetery's servers.
Cemetery admin gets a pending-sale notification
Funds are authorized but not yet captured. Admin reviews the sale in the Payments dashboard and approves or rejects.
Admin approves
Funds capture. Plot status changes to "sold." Family receives a confirmation receipt by email. (Optionally) auto-generate the deed and email a copy to the family.
Stripe deposits to your bank
Stripe deposits the net amount to the cemetery's bank account on the standard payout schedule (typically 2 business days for US accounts).
Exact dollar math on a $2,000 plot sale
Effective combined rate: 4.42% of the plot price. There are no monthly minimums, no setup fees, no chargeback surcharges beyond Stripe's standard $15.
Safety features baked in
PCI Level 1 compliance via Stripe
Card data is captured on Stripe's certified infrastructure. Neither CemeteryBase nor the cemetery touch raw card numbers. This is the same compliance posture used by major retailers.
Atomic plot locking
When a family begins checkout, the plot is reserved at the database level. A second family cannot start checkout on the same plot simultaneously. Eliminates double-sold-plot risk.
One-click refunds
If a sale needs to be reversed (family change of mind, sexton mistake, duplicate transaction), refund from the dashboard in one click. The plot automatically returns to "available" status.
Admin approval before capture
No funds capture until cemetery admin approves the sale. Prevents accidental overcharges and gives the cemetery time to verify the buyer is the right party.
Notes for non-profit cemeteries
- Stripe Connect supports 501(c)(3), 501(c)(13), and other non-profit entity types.
- Funds settle directly to the non-profit's bank account, not CemeteryBase.
- Annual revenue summaries and tax documents (1099s, etc.) are available directly from the Stripe Express dashboard.
- Many non-profit cemeteries are exempt from sales tax on plot sales — CemeteryBase does not charge sales tax by default; consult your state.
- Refund history and disputes are visible in both CemeteryBase and Stripe for board / trustee oversight.
Stripe onboarding checklist
Have these ready before starting Stripe Connect onboarding (usually 5–10 minutes):
- Cemetery legal name (matching the business or non-profit registration)
- EIN (Employer Identification Number) for the cemetery entity
- Cemetery bank account routing and account number
- Authorized signatory name, date of birth, last 4 SSN, and home address
- Business / non-profit address
- Approximate monthly plot sale volume estimate
Stripe verifies the entity within minutes for most US-based cemeteries. Non-profit verification can take 1–3 business days.
Frequently asked
Can a cemetery accept online plot payments?+
Yes. CemeteryBase uses Stripe Connect to onboard the cemetery as the merchant of record. Families browse available plots on the public page, reserve with credit card / Apple Pay / Google Pay, and funds settle directly to the cemetery's bank account. Cemetery admin approves each sale before it finalizes.
What are the fees for accepting online cemetery plot payments?+
CemeteryBase platform fee: 1.5%. Stripe processing fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Total: about 4.4% per sale plus the fixed 30¢. On a $2,000 plot sale, the cemetery nets approximately $1,910 deposited directly to its bank account. No monthly minimums, no setup costs, no chargeback surcharges beyond Stripe's standard.
Is online cemetery plot payment PCI compliant?+
Yes. Stripe handles all card data as a PCI Level 1 certified processor — the highest tier. Card details never touch CemeteryBase or the cemetery's servers. The cemetery inherits Stripe's PCI compliance by using their hosted checkout flow.
How do you prevent double-booking the same plot?+
CemeteryBase uses atomic plot locking: when a family begins checkout, the plot is reserved at the database level so a second family cannot simultaneously check out the same plot. If checkout fails or is abandoned, the plot returns to available within minutes. This eliminates the double-sold-plot risk that plagues manual paper-based plot sales.
Can a non-profit cemetery accept online plot payments?+
Yes. Stripe Connect supports 501(c) and other non-profit entities. During onboarding the non-profit verifies its EIN and bank account; plot revenue then deposits to the non-profit's bank, not CemeteryBase. Refunds work the same. This is how most CemeteryBase customers in church and non-profit cemeteries operate.
How long does Stripe payout take?+
For US bank accounts, Stripe pays out 2 business days after the sale captures (so a Monday sale typically deposits Wednesday). First-time payouts can take up to 7 business days while Stripe verifies the new bank account.
What about chargebacks?+
Stripe handles chargebacks per their standard process (typically $15 per chargeback, plus the refunded amount). CemeteryBase shows chargebacks in the Payments dashboard. Cemetery plot chargebacks are rare because cemetery records of the burial provide strong evidence to dispute the chargeback.
Start accepting online plot payments this week
5–10 minute Stripe onboarding. Funds deposit directly to your bank, never to CemeteryBase.