RocketMVPRocketMVP
Essential for most MVPs

Payment Processing for MVPs

Accept payments via credit cards, ACH, and digital wallets with proper security and compliance.

3-7 days
Typical Timeline
$1,000 - $3,000
Typical Cost

When to Include

  • Selling products or services
  • Subscription-based business model
  • Marketplace with transactions
  • Premium features or upgrades

When to Skip

  • Free products or services
  • Lead generation only
  • Validating before monetizing

Technology Options

TechnologyProsCons
Stripe
Developer-first payment platform
  • Excellent API
  • Great documentation
  • Stripe Connect for marketplaces
  • Global support
  • 2.9% + $0.30 fees
  • Account holds possible
  • Complex for simple needs
PayPal
Widely recognized payment platform
  • Brand recognition
  • Buyer protection
  • PayPal balance support
  • Higher fees for small transactions
  • Older API
  • Account freezes
Square
Payment platform with physical POS options
  • In-person + online
  • Simple pricing
  • Good for retail
  • Less developer-focused
  • Fewer international options
Paddle
Merchant of record for SaaS
  • Handles tax/VAT
  • No merchant account needed
  • Subscription management
  • Higher fees (5%+)
  • Less control
  • SaaS-focused

Implementation Steps

1
Choose payment provider based on business model
2
Set up merchant account and complete verification
3
Implement checkout flow (Stripe Elements or hosted checkout)
4
Handle webhook events for payment confirmations
5
Implement receipt/invoice generation
6
Add subscription management if needed
7
Set up refund handling
8
Implement failed payment recovery for subscriptions

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Storing card numbers (use tokenization)
  • Not handling webhook failures
  • Missing payment confirmation emails
  • Not testing with test cards
  • Ignoring failed payment recovery
  • Not implementing proper refund flows

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use Stripe Checkout or custom payment forms?

Stripe Checkout for speed and trust (hosted page). Custom forms for branding control and complex flows. Most MVPs should start with Checkout.

How do I handle international payments?

Stripe supports 135+ currencies. Enable relevant currencies, use local payment methods where important, and consider currency conversion for pricing.

What about marketplace payments?

Use Stripe Connect for marketplaces. It handles payouts to sellers, platform fees, and compliance. Set up during MVP if payments are core.

Related Features

Subscription Billing

Recurring payment management, subscription tiers, trials, and billing lifecycle handling.

Learn more

Need Help Implementing Payment Processing?

We'll build it right the first time. Payment Processing is included in our $3,999 MVP package.

Get Started