Laravel Cashier: Handling Subscription Billing


Laravel Cashier is a feature-packed library that simplifies subscription billing and management in Laravel applications. It seamlessly integrates with popular payment gateways like Stripe and Paddle, allowing you to handle subscription-related tasks effortlessly. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore how to use Laravel Cashier to manage subscription billing in your Laravel application.


1. Installation and Configuration


Begin by installing Laravel Cashier via Composer:


composer require laravel/cashier

Configure your Stripe or Paddle API credentials in your 

.env
file:


STRIPE_KEY=your-stripe-key
STRIPE_SECRET=your-stripe-secret

Or for Paddle:


PADDLE_VENDOR_ID=your-paddle-vendor-id
PADDLE_VENDOR_AUTH_CODE=your-paddle-vendor-auth-code

2. Billing Models


Create a billing model that extends 

Billable
. This model will represent users who can subscribe to your application:


use Laravel\Cashier\Billable;
class User extends Model
{
    use Billable;
    // ...
}

3. Subscription Plans


Define your subscription plans in your application. Cashier makes it easy to create and manage different subscription tiers with features like free trials and metered billing.


4. Subscribing Users


Allow users to subscribe to your application using Laravel Cashier's simple API. You can specify the plan and other subscription details, such as trial periods and coupons.


5. Handling Webhooks


Set up webhook routes to handle events from your payment gateway. Cashier provides ready-made webhook controllers for Stripe and Paddle. Handle events like subscription cancellations, renewals, and failed payments.


6. Managing Subscriptions


Empower users to manage their subscriptions through your application. Cashier offers methods for updating payment methods, canceling subscriptions, and resuming canceled subscriptions.


7. Invoices and Billing History


Retrieve billing history and invoices for users. Cashier provides convenient methods to access invoices and billing information for your customers.


8. Proration and Metered Billing


Implement proration and metered billing for users who change their subscription plans or consume resources. Cashier handles the complex calculations for you.


9. Multi-Tenancy Support


If your application is multi-tenant, you can use Laravel Cashier to manage subscriptions for each tenant independently, providing a seamless experience for users.


10. Extending Cashier


Extend Laravel Cashier to add custom features and functionality tailored to your application's needs. You can create custom subscription-based features and methods.


11. Testing and Debugging


Thoroughly test your subscription flows and handle any errors gracefully. Cashier provides tools for simulating Stripe and Paddle events during testing.


12. Security and Compliance


Ensure your application follows best practices for security and compliance, especially when handling sensitive payment information. Laravel Cashier can help you maintain a secure billing process.


13. Scaling and Performance


Consider scalability and performance as your user base grows. Optimize your application's performance when dealing with subscription-related tasks.


14. Continuous Maintenance


Regularly maintain your application and stay updated with changes in Laravel Cashier and payment gateway APIs to ensure smooth subscription management.


Conclusion


Laravel Cashier simplifies subscription billing and management in Laravel applications. By following this guide and leveraging the power of Cashier, you can offer subscription-based services to your users with ease, providing a seamless billing experience and boosting your application's revenue.