Out of the box, the platform is designed for maximum signup conversion. Customers can usually register with just their name, email, and company, with no card required.
Some agencies prefer a stricter flow. You can use Stripe Payment Links to collect a payment method for a free trial or require full payment before the customer is allowed to register.
How it works by default
#The default signup flow is intentionally low-friction. Customers can create an account without entering payment details, which helps maximize conversions.
Steps and details
If a plan includes a free trial, the customer gets access during the trial without entering a card. You can prompt them to add payment details later when the trial ends or when they decide to upgrade.
That default works well for most agencies, but if your sales model requires stronger qualification or immediate payment intent, the payment-first path is a better fit.
What this guide covers
#You can use Stripe Payment Links in two closely related ways. The setup is almost identical. The main difference is whether the custom plan includes a trial period.
Steps and details
- Start a free trial with the customer card already on file
- Require the customer to pay upfront before they can register
- Use the same Stripe Payment Link flow for both options
- Let the plan trial setting determine whether the checkout is trial-first or charge-now
What you will need first
#A connected Stripe account in Business -> Billing & Revenue -> Connect Stripe
Steps and details
- At least one custom plan with a Stripe price linked in
Business -> Billing & Revenue -> Custom Plans
Step 1: Create a Stripe Payment Link for your plan
#Open the plan you want to use, go to the Pricing & Billing tab, and create the payment link from the Stripe Payment Link section.
Steps and details
If the plan has both monthly and yearly pricing, the platform gives you a separate payment link for each one.
- In
Agency mode, go toBusiness -> Billing & Revenue -> Custom Plans - Click
Editon the plan you want to use - Open the
Pricing & Billingtab - Scroll to the
Stripe Payment Linksection - Click
Create Payment Link - Copy the generated URL
If the plan includes a trial, the Stripe page collects the card and starts the trial without charging immediately. If there is no trial, the customer pays right away.
Step 2: Lock down your registration page
#This is the setting that stops people from registering directly unless they have already gone through a Stripe Payment Link first.
Steps and details
- In the left sidebar under
Platform, expandWhite-Label - Click
Configuration - Switch to the
User Onboardingtab - Make sure
Allow Signupsis turned on - Turn on
Require Payment Before Signup - Save your changes
With this enabled, someone who visits the registration page directly without first completing Stripe checkout cannot sign up.
How it works for your customers
#You share the Stripe Payment Link by email, from your website, or anywhere else you sell the plan
Steps and details
- They click the link and land on a Stripe checkout page
- They enter payment details
- If the plan has a trial, the card is saved and the charge happens when the trial ends
- If the plan has no trial, Stripe charges them immediately
- Stripe redirects them to your registration page with their name and email already filled in
- They set a password and complete registration
Setting up multiple plans
#If you offer different tiers such as Starter, Pro, or Agency, create a Stripe Payment Link for each plan. Each link carries the pricing and trial behavior for that specific plan.
Steps and details
You can place those links on your pricing page, use them on landing pages, or send different links to different prospects depending on the offer you are pitching.
Payment Links are for brand-new signups only. Never send one to a customer who already exists in your platform: it creates a duplicate Stripe customer and breaks their billing portal. Bill existing customers from Business -> Customers -> Manage Customers using Checkout Sessions.
Should you use this?
#Keep the default no-payment signup flow if you want to maximize registrations and let the product do more of the selling.
Steps and details
Use the payment-first approach if you want to qualify leads more aggressively, reduce tire-kickers, or make sure every customer starts with payment intent from day one.
There is no universal right answer. It depends on how your agency sells.
Troubleshooting
#If the payment-first registration flow is not behaving the way you expect, these are the first things to check.
Steps and details
- If the registration page is not working, make sure
Allow Signupsis turned on underPlatform -> White-Label -> Configuration -> User Onboarding - Make sure you shared the Stripe Payment Link and not the direct registration URL
- If
Require Payment Before Signupis not showing, connect Stripe first underBusiness -> Billing & Revenue -> Connect Stripe - If a plan says it needs a payment link, open that plan in
Pricing & Billingand clickCreate Payment Link - If the redirect URL after payment looks wrong, check the primary domain under
Platform -> White-Label -> Domains