Question 1

What is Beestow?

Accepted Answer

Beestow lets you send a gift whose value is linked to a real stock — companies like Apple, Amazon, or index ETFs like the S&P 500. Instead of a gift card that disappears, you give something whose value can grow with the market.

Question 2

How does it work?

Accepted Answer

Pick a stock to link the gift to, choose an amount, add a personal note, and send it by email, text, or QR code. The recipient opens a gift reveal, signs in to claim it, and can request a cash transfer to their brokerage whenever they're ready.

Question 3

Do I need a brokerage account to send a gift?

Accepted Answer

No — on either side. Senders pay by card. Recipients don't need an existing brokerage account to claim. Everything is handled through Beestow.

Question 4

Do recipients own stock?

Accepted Answer

No. Beestow gifts are prepaid contractual claims whose value references market performance. Securities remain owned by Beestow until redemption — at which point the gift's cash value is transferred to the recipient's brokerage or bank account.

Question 5

What can I gift?

Accepted Answer

Gifts can be linked to individual stocks (Apple, Tesla, Amazon, and more) and broad market ETFs (like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100). We focus on well-known US equities so gifts are easy to understand and explain.

Question 6

How much can I gift?

Accepted Answer

Preset amounts start at $20. You can also enter any custom amount. The fee is shown clearly at checkout — no surprises.

Question 7

Can I send a gift to anyone?

Accepted Answer

You can send a gift to anyone in the United States other than yourself — Beestow is a gifting platform, so the recipient must be someone other than the sender. Recipients must be 18 or older to claim; if the recipient is a minor, a parent or legal guardian can claim and redeem on their behalf, and transferring that gift from the minor's account to the parent's own account is permitted. International gifting is on our roadmap.

Question 8

Do I need to be 18 or older to use Beestow?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Beestow accounts require you to be 18 or older. The first time you sign in, you'll be asked to confirm your age before accessing your account. If you can't confirm, you'll be signed out and won't be able to use Beestow.

Question 9

Can I gift stock to a child or teenager?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but recipients must be 18 or older to claim and redeem a gift. If you're gifting to someone under 18, an adult can hold the gift on their behalf and transfer the cash value to the child's savings or a custodial brokerage account when they're ready.

Question 10

How does redemption work?

Accepted Answer

When redeemed, Beestow transfers the cash value of the gift to the recipient's brokerage account (no extra fee) or bank account (a flat cash-out service fee applies, shown upfront). The recipient doesn't receive securities — they receive cash equal to the gift's current tracked value, which they can then use however they like.

Question 11

How does the recipient claim their gift?

Accepted Answer

They get a link by email, text, or QR code. Tapping it opens a gift reveal — they see who sent it, which stock the gift is linked to, and the amount. They sign in (or create a free account) to accept, and the gift is theirs.

Question 12

What happens if the gift isn't claimed?

Accepted Answer

The link is valid for 30 days. If it expires unclaimed, you can resend it to the recipient — or contact us to discuss options.

Question 13

How does the recipient cash out?

Accepted Answer

Within 2 years of claiming, they can request a cash transfer. We run a quick identity check (a few minutes with a government ID), then they choose where the cash should land — a brokerage account (no extra fee, recommended) or a bank account (a flat cash-out service fee applies, shown upfront). Funds typically arrive in 1–3 business days.

Question 14

Does the gift value change over time?

Accepted Answer

Yes — that's part of what makes it a meaningful long-term gift. The cash transfer at redemption is based on the current market value the gift is tracking, not the original amount sent. A $50 gift linked to Apple could be tracking at $60 or more by the time the recipient redeems. Markets move both ways, but historically the longer the time horizon, the better the odds. Recipients have up to 2 years to redeem, so there's plenty of time to pick a good moment.

Question 15

What happens if the recipient doesn't redeem within 2 years?

Accepted Answer

The gift expires after 2 years from the claim date. We'll send reminders well before that deadline. If you're close to expiration and need help, email us at support@beestow.com.

Question 16

Can I get my cash sent to a bank account instead of a brokerage?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When you redeem, you can choose to receive the cash in a brokerage account (no extra fee, recommended) or a bank checking or savings account. The bank option has a flat cash-out service fee that's shown clearly before you confirm — nothing hidden.

Question 17

Will Beestow support MAGA Accounts (Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement)?

Accepted Answer

We're following the rollout closely and plan to add support once the accounts are live and the deposit mechanics are confirmed. Join our mailing list or follow us for updates.

Question 18

Why do I need to verify my identity to cash out?

Accepted Answer

Because real money is moving. When you request a payout, we're initiating an ACH bank transfer on your behalf — financial regulations require us to confirm you are who you say you are before we send funds. It's a one-time check; once you're verified, you won't need to do it again for future gifts.

Question 19

What ID do I need?

Accepted Answer

A government-issued photo ID — driver's license, passport, or national ID card. You'll also take a quick selfie so we can confirm it's you. The whole thing takes under 2 minutes and is handled by Stripe Identity, the same verification infrastructure used by major banks and fintechs.

Question 20

Is my ID information safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Identity verification is powered by Stripe Identity — a regulated, SOC 2-compliant provider. Beestow never sees or stores your raw ID documents. Stripe handles the verification and gives us a pass/fail result.

Question 21

Why do you need my routing and account numbers?

Accepted Answer

We need them to send your cash via ACH transfer — the same way direct deposit works. We never get access to your brokerage or bank account itself, and we have no ability to withdraw or trade. You simply provide your routing and account number, and we push the funds to you.

Question 22

Which brokerages are supported for direct transfer?

Accepted Answer

Brokerage transfers (no fee) are supported for: Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Interactive Brokers, Merrill Edge, Vanguard, and Public. We provide step-by-step instructions for finding your routing and account numbers in each app. Robinhood and Webull brokerage accounts do not accept inbound ACH transfers and are not supported. If your brokerage isn't listed, choose the bank account option instead.

Question 23

What if I want to receive cash in my bank account instead?

Accepted Answer

You can — just select Bank Account when you redeem. A flat cash-out service fee applies (shown upfront before you confirm). You can connect your bank securely via Plaid or enter your routing and account numbers manually.

Question 24

What do the different payout statuses mean?

Accepted Answer

After you submit your redemption, your gift card will show one of these statuses:

• Verifying identity — we're confirming your ID through our identity check. This usually takes just a few minutes.

• Processing — your identity is verified and your payout is being prepared. A transfer will be initiated within 1 business day.

• Transfer in progress — your cash has been sent. Expect it to arrive in 1–3 business days.

• Complete — your cash has arrived in your account.

• Action needed — something went wrong with the transfer. Email support@beestow.com and we'll resolve it within 1 business day.

Question 25

How long does the payout take?

Accepted Answer

Once your identity is verified, transfers are typically initiated within 1 business day and arrive within 1–3 business days after that. Brokerage deposits and bank deposits follow the same ACH timeline.

Question 26

My status says 'Action needed' — what do I do?

Accepted Answer

This means the transfer couldn't be completed, usually due to an issue with the account details on file. Email us at support@beestow.com with the subject line 'Payout issue' and we'll sort it out within 1 business day. Your gift value is safe — nothing is lost.

Question 27

Are there any fees?

Accepted Answer

A small service fee is added at checkout — shown before you confirm. Recipients pay nothing to claim. No hidden charges.

Question 28

Can I schedule a gift for a future date?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. Gifts are sent immediately when payment is confirmed. Scheduled delivery is on our roadmap.

Question 29

Are there tax implications for sending or receiving a stock gift?

Accepted Answer

Beestow gifts are structured as prepaid claims, not direct securities transfers, so the typical securities gift tax rules don't apply. Recipients generally aren't subject to income tax on gifts. We abide by standard IRS gifting limits — senders can gift up to $18,000 per recipient per year without triggering a gift tax filing requirement. That said, everyone's tax situation is different — we recommend consulting a tax advisor if you have questions about your specific circumstances.

Question 30

Is Beestow secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Payments, identity verification, and bank connections all use industry-standard providers. We don't store card numbers or bank credentials.

Question 31

Is Beestow regulated?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We operate within US financial regulations. The details are in our Terms of Service — the short version is: your money is handled compliantly and the inventory backing each gift's referenced market value is held by Beestow.

Everything you need to know

Still have questions?

Everything you need to know

Still have questions?