Event Information

Join our onboarding team for a walkthrough of RunSignup’s updated payment processor: Adyen. We’ll cover what this change means for your organization, how it improves payment processing, and what (if anything) you need to do to prepare.

We’ll walk through:

• What is Adyen V2
• How does this impact your organization
• What you can do to prepare
• How to setup your payment account
• Common mistakes

Whether you’re just getting started or managing multiple events, this session will help ensure a smooth transition and answer your top questions.

Session will be recorded and emailed to registrants with slides.

View Slides

Webinar Summary

Overview

This RunSignup 101 webinar introduces Adyen V2, the payment processor used across the RunSignup and TicketSignup platforms. The session is designed to demystify the setup process, address common concerns (like why a Social Security number is required), and help organizers avoid the most frequent mistakes that delay approval. If you are new to RunSignup, this is simply how the payment setup has always worked. If you are an existing user setting up a new payment account, the interface will look a little different — but the underlying information required is the same.

The onboarding team is directly involved in the payment account setup process and is available to help if you run into any issues along the way.

What You’ll Learn

• What Adyen V2 is and what has changed
• What information to gather before you start
• Why a Social Security number is required
• How to access the payment account setup in RunSignup
• The three steps of the payment account setup process
• The six legal entity types and which applies to you
• What happens after you submit and how approval works
• What documents to provide if additional verification is needed
• Common mistakes to avoid

What Is Adyen V2?

Adyen V2 is RunSignup’s upgraded payment processor. The upgrade brings a smoother and faster setup experience, improved navigation, and enhanced security. The only thing that has actually changed for existing users is the payment account setup process itself — meaning the screens you see when entering your bank account information for the first time.

Everything else remains exactly the same: how often you get paid, where you set your payment frequency, your reporting, and all financial data within the platform are unchanged and in the same locations as before.

What to Gather Before You Start

Having everything ready before you begin will make the process significantly faster. You will need:

• Social Security number (more on this below)
• EIN (Employer Identification Number), if applicable to your organization
• Legal entity information — the name and type of organization setting up the account
• Bank account information — account number, routing number, and the name on the account

Tip: Do not start the process without this information in hand. Stopping midway and coming back can cause delays and missed steps.

Why Is a Social Security Number Required?

This is the most common concern organizers have, and it is completely understandable. Providing a Social Security number to set up an event can feel invasive — but it is required for a specific reason.

RunSignup is PCI Level 1 compliant, which represents the highest standard of payment security available. Part of maintaining that standard is a process called KYC — Know Your Customer — which verifies that the person setting up a payment account is who they say they are and that the bank account being linked is legitimate.

The Social Security number is used for identity verification only. It is not used to expose your data, and it is not used for any purpose beyond confirming your identity during the account setup process.

If you want to read more, RunSignup has a blog post dedicated to this topic. Search SSN at runsignup.com to find it.

How to Access the Payment Account Setup

There are two ways to reach the payment account setup:

During race creation: The payment setup appears at Step 6 of the Race Wizard. You will see a large orange button that says Create New Payment Account — click that to begin.

After race creation: Go to your Race Dashboard > Race > Race Wizard and navigate to Step 6.

Additional options at Step 6:

• Use an Existing Payment Account — If you already have one set up from a previous race, you can apply it here
• Set Up Later — Allows you to skip for now, but do not wait too long
• Free Mode — For events where no payment is being collected
• Invite Instructions — Send a link to someone else (such as a finance team member) to complete the payment setup on your behalf. They will only have access to the payment account portion — not the full race dashboard

Important: Allow up to 48 business hours for your payment account to be fully approved. Do not wait until the day you want to go live to set this up.

The Three-Step Setup Process

Step 1: Personal Information

Enter your first and last name. This is the KYC step — RunSignup needs to confirm the identity of the individual setting up the account.

Step 2: Legal Entity

Select the type of legal entity that best describes your organization. There are six options across four categories:

Depending on which entity type you select, you will be prompted for different information. The step-by-step payment account setup tutorial (linked during the webinar and available from the onboarding team) covers each entity type in detail.

You will also be asked about your relationship to the organization:

• Control Person — Someone with significant ownership or decision-making authority over the organization; they may or may not handle payments
• Authorized Signatory — The person authorized to set up and sign off on payment account information on behalf of the organization (often a finance team member)

Common questions about legal entities:

• Joint accounts: Use the name of the first person listed on the account
• Taxes: Entering your personal information does not automatically mean you will be taxed personally. Taxes apply based on how the entity is structured and how much money flows through it. A business entity would be taxed as a business, not as the individual who set it up.
• Schools: Public schools = Government. Private schools, PTOs, and booster clubs = Nonprofit — not School or Government.
• PO Boxes: Cannot be used as an address anywhere in the setup process.

Step 3: Payment Method

Enter your bank account information and choose how you want to receive payments.

• Select your account type (checking or savings)
• Choose Direct Deposit or Check

Important: Selecting check does NOT mean you can skip entering your bank account information. Bank account details are required regardless of payment method — they are needed to verify the account even if a physical check is being sent. Choosing check simply means you will receive a paper check instead of an electronic deposit.

Note: There is a $10 fee per check issued. If you prefer to receive a check, consider adjusting your payment frequency so you receive one check at the end of the event rather than multiple checks throughout the season.

Don’t forget: Click the Save Payment Account button at the end. If you do not click this button, none of the information you entered will be submitted for review.

What Happens After You Submit

Once you click Save Payment Account, the account goes through a two-part verification process:

1. Adyen verification — The payment processor validates your account details
2. KYC check — RunSignup confirms your identity against the information provided

In the best case, approval happens within minutes. However, roughly 50% of accounts on the platform require additional information before they are approved. This is completely normal and does not mean something is wrong. The most common reasons include:

• A mismatch between the account name entered and the bank account name on file
• A typo in the account or routing number
• The bank not being registered with the national payment association checked during verification — in this case, a supporting document will be requested automatically

If Additional Documents Are Requested

If your account is not automatically approved, you will be asked to provide a supporting document. Here is what to provide, in order of preference:

1. Voided Check (Recommended) The single most reliable document. Write “VOID” across a blank check and upload a clear photo. A voided check contains everything needed to verify your account in one document.

2. Bank Statement Must include all required fields as listed in the platform. Check the specific requirements before submitting.

3. Verification Letter A letter from your bank confirming account details.

4. Screenshot of Online Banking (Last Resort) Not recommended. Screenshots frequently do not include all required information and will likely be rejected. Only use this if no other option is available — and make sure every required field is visible before submitting.

Common document upload mistakes to avoid:

• Photos that include your face, background scenery, pets, or anything other than the check itself
• Blurry or low-quality images — if it looks blurry to you, it will look blurry to the reviewer
• Deposit slips or banking agreements — these are not accepted
• Checks that are not marked as voided

Key Takeaways

• Adyen V2 is RunSignup’s upgraded payment processor — only the setup screens have changed; everything else works the same
• Gather your SSN, EIN (if applicable), legal entity details, and bank account information before you start
• The SSN is required for identity verification only — RunSignup is PCI Level 1 compliant and holds your data to the highest security standard
• The setup is a three-step process: personal information, legal entity, and payment method
• Choose Direct Deposit over Check unless you have a specific reason not to — it is faster and avoids the $10 per-check fee
• Always click Save Payment Account — without it, your information is not submitted
• Approval can take up to 48 business hours — start early and do not wait until your race is ready to go live
• If additional documents are requested, a voided check is your best and fastest option
• The RunSignup onboarding team is available to help you through the process