Why This Lesson Exists
This is not the exciting part.
Setting up payments doesn't feel creative. It doesn't feel like building. It feels technical and boring.
But here's the truth: if payments break, everything breaks.
You can have the best product, the clearest messaging, and a buyer ready to purchase. But if the payment doesn't go through, or the access doesn't work, you lose the sale.
This lesson exists to make sure the boring stuff works so the rest of your system can too.
Setting Up Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay
Most people overcomplicate this.
You don't need every payment option. You need the ones that cover most buyers with the least friction.
Here's what to set up:
Stripe
This is the default for most platforms. It handles credit cards, debit cards, and integrates cleanly with Squarespace, Gumroad, and most tools.
Setup takes 10 minutes. Connect your bank account. Verify your identity. Done.
PayPal (optional but recommended)
Some people prefer PayPal. Especially international buyers or people who don't want to enter card details.
If your platform supports it, add it. If not, don't stress.
Apple Pay and Google Pay (handled automatically)
If you're using Stripe, these are often enabled by default. Buyers on mobile can pay with one tap.
You don't need to do anything extra. Just make sure they're not turned off in your settings.
That's it. Three payment options. Most buyers are covered.
Read: How to Set Up Stripe in Under 10 Minutes
Connecting Payment to Access Cleanly
This is where most people mess up.
They set up payments. But they don't connect it to access properly. So someone buys, but doesn't get the product. Or they get it manually, three hours later, after you see the notification.
That's friction. And friction kills trust.
Here's what needs to happen automatically:
Someone pays.
They immediately get access to what they bought.
They receive a confirmation email with next steps.
No manual work. No delays. No "I'll send it soon."
Most simple platforms handle this automatically. Squarespace does. Gumroad does. Teachable does.
If you're using a platform that doesn't automate this, find a different platform.
Manual delivery doesn't scale. And it creates problems from day one.
Read: How to Automate Product Delivery So You're Not Manually Sending Files
Keeping Delivery Simple and Reliable
There are two ways to deliver digital products:
1. Hosted on your platform (recommended)
Upload the files directly to your course platform or website. Buyers log in and access them there.
This is simple. It's reliable. It's controlled.
2. Sent via email or download link
Buyers get an email with a link to download the product.
This works for PDFs and simple files. It's less reliable for courses or anything with multiple pieces.
Here's the rule: if your product has more than one file, host it. Don't rely on email.
Email gets buried. Links expire. Buyers lose access.
Hosting keeps everything in one place.
Read: Hosted vs. Email Delivery: Which One to Use and When
Avoiding Custom Builds
This is important.
Do not build a custom payment or delivery system unless you absolutely have to.
Custom builds break. They require maintenance. They take time to set up. And they usually don't work better than the tools that already exist.
Use existing tools:
Stripe for payments
Squarespace, Gumroad, or Teachable for delivery
Email platforms like ConvertKit for follow-up
These tools are built to handle thousands of transactions. They're tested. They're reliable.
Your custom solution is not.
If you're tempted to "build it yourself" or hire someone to code a checkout page, stop. Use what already works.
Read: Why Custom Payment Systems Almost Always Break (And What to Use Instead)
What Needs to Work Before You Launch
Before you sell to anyone, test the full flow yourself.
Here's the checklist:
Buy your own product using a real card.
Go through the checkout. Complete the purchase. Make sure it works.
Check that access is granted immediately.
Can you log in? Can you see the product? Can you download or view what you paid for?
Confirm the confirmation email sends.
Did you get an email? Does it have the right information? Does it tell you what to do next?
Test on mobile.
Most people buy on their phone. Make sure the checkout works on mobile, not just desktop.
If any of these fail, fix them before you launch.
You don't get a second chance at a first sale.
Read: The Pre-Launch Payment Checklist (Test This Before You Go Live)
What to Do When Payments Break
Payments will break at some point.
A card gets declined. A link stops working. Stripe has an outage. It happens.
Here's what to have ready:
A way for people to contact you.
Email, DM, or support link. Make it visible on your checkout page.
A backup payment option.
If Stripe is down, can they pay via PayPal? Can they Venmo you and get manual access?
A refund process.
If something goes wrong and you can't deliver, refund immediately. Don't make people chase you.
Most payment issues are fixable in minutes if you're responsive.
Read: What to Do When a Payment Fails (And How to Fix It Fast)
Bottom Line
This is the boring stuff. But it's the backbone.
Set up Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay. Connect payment to access so it happens automatically. Keep delivery simple and hosted. Avoid custom builds.
Test the full flow before you launch. Make sure payments work, access is instant, and emails send.
If payments break, everything breaks.
So get this right first. Then build everything else around it.
Read: Why Payment Setup Is the Most Important Part of Your Launch (Even Though It's Boring)