How to setup Stripe to accept payments on your App

📝 Instructions: How to Sign Up for Stripe & Get Test API Keys

Feel free to forward this to your adult (parent / guardian / teacher) who will act as the Stripe account owner.

1. Create the Stripe account

1. Go to Stripe’s website and click Sign up or Get started.

2. Fill in basic information: name, email, password or sign in with Google Auth.

3. When asked about your “business type,” choose Individual / Sole proprietor (or equivalent) if that option is available.

4. Enter your personal details (address, etc.) as prompted.

5. Stripe will send you a confirmation email — click that to verify your email address.

6. After you log in, Stripe may ask for additional identity verification (e.g. government ID, SSN, etc.) before allowing live payments.

⚠️ Note: At this stage, you don’t need to fully activate live payments. We will just be using the Stripe test mode initially.

2. Switch to Test Mode (sandbox) in Stripe

Stripe has two modes: Test Mode (for development) and Live Mode (for real payments). You’ll use Test Mode at first — that way no real money is processed.

1. In the Stripe Dashboard, look for a toggle or indicator that says “Viewing test data” or “Test mode” / “Live mode” (often in the upper right or top of the sidebar).

2. Turn on Test Mode (or “Switch to sandbox / test data” or similar).

   • You should see a banner or indicator saying “You’re in Test mode — no real payments will be processed.”

3. Make sure the Dashboard is now showing Test Data / Test Mode before continuing.

3. Find the Test API Keys

Once the account is in Test Mode, you can access the test API keys.

1. In the Stripe Dashboard, go to Developers → API keys.

2. Under Standard keys, you’ll see a Publishable key and Secret key for test mode.

   • The Publishable key usually begins with pk_test_…

   • The Secret key usually begins with sk_test_… (Stripe Docs)

3. Reveal / copy the test secret key by clicking “Reveal test key” (or similar).

4. Copy both the test publishable key and test secret key.

5. Store them securely (e.g. in a password manager, not in a public GitHub repo).

These keys allow you to make test API calls to Stripe without moving real money. (Stripe Docs)

4. Use the test keys in your student’s code / app

• In your web / mobile / backend app, plug in the Publishable (test) key where client-side (frontend) code needs it.

• Use the Secret (test) key in server-side code (backend) to call Stripe APIs (create PaymentIntents, etc.).

• Make sure not to expose the secret key to the browser or client code.

• When you’re ready to go live, you’ll switch to the Live Mode keys (which begin with pk_live_ / sk_live_) after fully activating your Stripe account. (Stripe Docs)

5. Verify that the test keys are working (quick test)

One simple test:

• Use Stripe’s example API call to create a “customer” or “payment intent” in test mode.

• Or use one of Stripe’s test card numbers (e.g. 4242 4242 4242 4242) to simulate a payment. (Stripe Docs)

• If the dashboard logs show the request, the keys are correct.

6. When ready, activate for real (go live)

Once the system works in test mode and you’re ready to accept real payments:

1. In Stripe Dashboard, switch from Test Mode to Live Mode.

2. Complete the business verification steps, identity checks, bank account info, etc.

3. Use the Live Mode API keys (shown in the API Keys page under live mode).

4. Update the app to use live keys instead of test keys.

5. Double-check webhook endpoints and signature secrets (they differ between test and live mode).