How to Implement Payment Processing
Add secure payment processing to your application with Stripe, including subscriptions, invoices, and webhooks.
What You'll Learn
This intermediate-level guide walks you through how to implement payment processing step by step. Estimated time: 14 min.
Step 1: Set up Stripe integration
Create a Stripe account, install the SDK, and configure API keys for test and production environments.
Step 2: Implement checkout sessions
Build server-side checkout session creation with line items, pricing, and redirect URLs for the Stripe-hosted checkout experience.
Step 3: Handle webhooks
Set up a webhook endpoint to process payment events like successful charges, failed payments, and subscription changes.
Step 4: Add subscription management
Implement subscription creation, upgrade/downgrade flows, cancellation, and proration using Stripe Billing.
Step 5: Build the customer portal
Integrate Stripe Customer Portal for self-service billing management including payment method updates and invoice history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stripe Checkout or custom payment form?▾
Use Stripe Checkout for fastest integration with built-in compliance. Build custom with Stripe Elements only when you need a fully branded checkout experience.
How do I handle failed payments?▾
Implement Stripe's Smart Retries for automatic retry, send dunning emails for expired cards, and gracefully degrade access for past-due subscriptions.
How do I handle taxes?▾
Use Stripe Tax for automatic tax calculation and collection across jurisdictions. It handles VAT, sales tax, and GST based on customer location.