Build a SaaS platform

SaaS business subscriptions

If youre a subscription-based SaaS business, but dont extend Stripe products or payment processing to your merchants, you dont need Connect.

As a software as a service (SaaS) platform, you extend your integration of Stripe products to your merchant connected accounts. Those merchants can access Stripe through your platform to accept payments from their own customers and receive payouts from their Stripe balance.

Monetization

A SaaS platform can design its revenue strategy using a referrer or wholesale model.

Stripe-owned pricing model

Your platform refers merchants to Stripe to process payments and use other financial products. In this model, the platforms connected accounts:

• Are the merchant of record for payments from their customers.
• Pay Stripe fees.
• Assume liability for their negative balances.
• Process payments as direct charges.

Stripe doesnt charge your platform in this model and you can earn revenue by:

• Charging your connected accounts a subscription fee for using your platform.
• Charging your connected accounts an application fee per transaction.
• Qualifying for revenue share from Stripe when your connected accounts meet product activation targets.

Buy rate model

Your platform purchases and white labels payment processing and other products from Stripe, and offers them to your connected accounts. In this model, the platforms connected accounts:

• Dont pay Stripe fees.
• Are the merchant of record for payments from their customers.
• Are liable to the platform, not Stripe, for their negative balances.
• Process payments as direct charges or destination on-behalf-of (OBO) charges.

Stripe charges your platform in this model and you can earn revenue by:

• Charging your connected accounts a subscription fee for using your platform.
• Charging your connected accounts an application fee per transaction. Use the platform pricing tool to automatically set pricing logic for the application fees you charge your connected accounts.

Resources