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7 min readBilling & Invoicing

How to Charge Customers via Stripe Without Requiring a Platform Login

Add the customer yourself, keep login access turned off, and generate Stripe checkout links from the Manage Customer page so they can subscribe without ever logging into the platform.

Some agencies prefer to handle everything themselves: adding customers, assigning plans, and sending payment links, without ever asking the customer to log into the platform.

This guide walks through that workflow using Stripe checkout sessions generated from the customer record inside the platform.

What you will need first

Before you can generate checkout links, make sure the one-time Stripe setup is already complete.

  • Connect your Stripe account in `Agency mode -> Billing & Revenue -> Connect Stripe`
  • Create at least one custom plan in `Billing & Revenue -> Custom Plans`
  • Make sure the plan already has a Stripe price linked for monthly, yearly, or both billing cycles

Step 1: Add the customer to your platform

Start by creating the customer record yourself so the customer exists in the platform before any checkout link is generated.

  • Make sure you are in `Agency mode` using the mode switcher at the top of the left sidebar
  • Click the `Add Customer` button at the bottom of the left sidebar
  • Fill in the customer details
  • Add `Name` and `Email`, which are required
  • Add `Company name` if applicable
  • Select a plan from the dropdown so the customer is tied to the subscription you want to sell
  • Under `Account Access`, leave `Email login credentials to customer` turned off
  • Click `Create Customer`
Worth knowing

Leaving the login-credentials toggle off is the key step. The customer will not receive a login invitation.

Important things to know

  • Checkout links expire after 24 hours, so use `Regenerate` if the customer does not complete checkout in time
  • Trial periods are included automatically if the assigned plan has a trial configured
  • If `Stripe Tax` is enabled in the platform, checkout calculates and collects tax automatically based on customer location
  • You can generate both monthly and yearly links for the same customer when the plan supports both
  • After the customer pays, the subscription appears on the `Manage Customer` page under `Stripe Information`

What if a customer is on a trial and has not added a payment method?

If the customer was created with a trial period, they can show as `on trial` in the platform before a payment method is on file.

In that case, the `Checkout Sessions` area adapts and shows an `Add Payment Method` option instead of creating a new subscription.

Generate that link and send it to the customer so Stripe can collect their card details before the trial ends.

Managing the customer going forward

Everything you need stays on the `Manage Customer` page after the subscription is live.

  • Switch their plan from the plan section
  • Pause or cancel by changing the subscription status
  • Use `Sync Subscription` if anything looks out of sync with Stripe
  • Review payment method, subscription dates, and current status in the Stripe details section
  • Find all customers later under `Customers -> Manage Customers` in the left sidebar

Common questions