Frequently Asked Question

Step 1: Create Your Stripe Account

1. Visit Stripe's website
   • Go to stripe.com
   • Click "Start now" or "Sign up"
2. Fill out the registration form
   • Enter your email address
   • Create a strong password
   • Provide your full name
   • Select your country
3. Verify your email
   • Check your email inbox for a verification message from Stripe
   • Click the verification link to confirm your account
4. Complete your business information
   • Business type (individual, company, non-profit, etc.)
   • Business details (name, address, phone number)
   • Tax ID or Social Security Number
   • Bank account information for payouts

Step 2: Get Your Publishable Key and Secret Key

Retrieving Your Keys

1. Log into your Stripe Dashboard
   • Go to dashboard.stripe.com
   • Sign in with your credentials
2. Navigate to API Keys
   • In the left sidebar, click "Developers"
   • Select "API keys"
3. Find Your Keys
   • Publishable key: Starts with pk_test_ (test mode) or pk_live_ (live mode)
   • Secret key: Starts with sk_test_ (test mode) or sk_live_ (live mode)
   • Click "Reveal test key" or "Reveal live key" to view the secret key
4. Copy and Store Safely
   • Copy both keys to a secure location
   • Never commit secret keys to version control
   • Use environment variables in your applications

Step 3: Set Up Webhook Secret

What are Webhooks?

Webhooks allow Stripe to notify your application when events occur in your account (payments, refunds, etc.).

Creating a Webhook Endpoint

1. Go to Webhooks Section
   • In the Stripe Dashboard, click "Developers"
   • Select "Webhooks"
2. Add New Endpoint
   • Click "Add endpoint"
   • Enter your endpoint URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/stripe/webhook)
   • Select the events you want to listen for (or select "Send all events")
3. Configure the Webhook
   • Choose your API version
   • Add a description (optional)
   • Click "Add endpoint"

Getting Your Webhook Secret

1. Access the Webhook
   • Click on the webhook you just created from the webhooks list
2. Find the Signing Secret
   • In the webhook details page, look for "Signing secret"
   • Click "Reveal" to show the webhook secret
   • It will start with whsec_
3. Copy the Secret
   • Copy this secret key
   • Store it securely with your other API keys

Step 4: Test Mode vs Live Mode

Test Mode (Development)

• Use test keys that start with pk_test_ and sk_test_
• No real money is processed
• Use test card numbers for testing

Live Mode (Production)

• Use live keys that start with pk_live_ and sk_live_
• Real money transactions occur
• Requires completed account verification

Step 5: Testing Your Setup

Test Cards for Development

• Successful payment: 4242 4242 4242 4242
• Declined payment: 4000 0000 0000 0002
• Requires authentication: 4000 0027 6000 3184

Webhook Testing

• Use Stripe CLI for local webhook testing
• Check webhook logs in the Stripe Dashboard
• Verify signature validation in your code

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: Can't find API keys

• Solution: Make sure you're in the correct mode (test/live) and have the proper permissions

Issue: Webhook not receiving events

• Solution: Check your endpoint URL, ensure it's publicly accessible, and verify the selected events

Issue: Authentication errors

• Solution: Verify you're using the correct secret key and it matches your environment

Next Steps

After obtaining your keys:

1. Log in to your admin dashboard
2. Click on "Payment Gateways"
3. Select "Stripe"
4. Enter the details and save changes