Setting Up Payment Gateways in MonsterTools : DotArtisan Support

MonsterTools provides comprehensive payment gateway integration, allowing you to accept payments through multiple methods including PayPal, Stripe, and Bank Transfer. This guide will walk you through configuring each payment option to start monetizing your tools.

Accessing Payment Settings

Navigate to MonsterTools > Payment Settings in your WordPress admin
You'll see a tabbed interface with four main sections:
- Currency - Global payment configuration
- PayPal - PayPal gateway settings
- Stripe - Stripe payment processing
- Bank Transfer - Manual bank payment options

1. Currency Configuration

Before setting up payment gateways, configure your global currency settings:

Primary Settings:

Primary Currency: Select your default currency (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.)
Currency Position: Choose where the symbol appears (left, right, left with space, right with space)
Thousands Separator: Character for thousands separation (default: ,)
Decimal Separator: Character for decimal point (default: .)
Decimal Places: Number of digits after decimal (default: 2)

Example Configurations:

**US Format:**
- Currency: USD
- Position: Left ($99.99)
- Thousands: , (1,000)
- Decimal: . (99.99)
- Decimals: 2 
**European Format:**
- Currency: EUR
- Position: Right (99,99€)
- Thousands: . (1.000)
- Decimal: , (99,99)
- Decimals: 2

2. PayPal Setup

PayPal is one of the most popular payment gateways and supports both one-time and recurring payments.

Step-by-Step Configuration:

Enable PayPal
- Check "Enable PayPal" to activate the gateway
Set Mode
- Sandbox: For testing (recommended during setup)
- Live: For real transactions (use in production)
Get API Credentials
- Visit PayPal Developer
- Create a new app or use existing one
- Copy Client ID and Client Secret
Enter Credentials
- Client ID: Your PayPal app client ID
- Client Secret: Your PayPal app client secret
Webhook Configuration (Essential for Subscriptions)
- Webhook ID: Copy from your PayPal app configuration
- Webhook URL: Pre-generated by MonsterTools - use this exact URL in PayPal

PayPal Webhook Setup:

Go to PayPal Developer Dashboard > Your App > Webhooks
Click "Add Webhook"
Enter the Webhook URL shown in MonsterTools settings
Select these events:
- PAYMENT.SALE.COMPLETED
- BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.ACTIVATED
- BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.CANCELLED
- BILLING.SUBSCRIPTION.EXPIRED
Copy the Webhook ID and paste it in MonsterTools

Testing PayPal:

Use sandbox mode with test accounts from PayPal Sandbox
Test complete payment flow before going live
Verify webhook notifications are received

3. Stripe Setup

Stripe provides robust credit card processing with excellent developer tools.

Step-by-Step Configuration:

Enable Stripe
- Check "Enable Stripe" to activate the gateway
Set Mode
- Test: For testing with fake cards
- Live: For real customer payments
Get API Keys
- Visit Stripe Dashboard > API Keys
- Copy Publishable Key and Secret Key
Enter Credentials
- Key: Your Stripe publishable key (starts with pk_)
- Secret: Your Stripe secret key (starts with sk_)
Webhook Configuration (Critical for Recurring Payments)
- Webhook Secret: Signing secret from Stripe
- Webhook URL: Pre-generated by MonsterTools

Stripe Webhook Setup:

Go to Stripe Dashboard > Developers > Webhooks
Click "Add endpoint"
Enter the Webhook URL shown in MonsterTools settings
Select these events:
- checkout.session.completed
- invoice.payment_succeeded
- customer.subscription.created
- customer.subscription.updated
- customer.subscription.deleted
Copy the Signing Secret and paste it in MonsterTools

Testing Stripe:

Use test mode with these test card numbers:
- Successful: 4242 4242 4242 4242
- Requires auth: 4000 0025 0000 3155
- Declined: 4000 0000 0000 0002
Test various scenarios before going live

4. Bank Transfer Setup

For users who prefer manual bank payments or local payment methods.

Step-by-Step Configuration:

Enable Bank Transfer
- Check "Enable Bank Transfer" to activate this method
Enter Bank Details
- Provide complete bank account information:
  - Bank name
  - Account holder name
  - Account number
  - Routing/SWIFT code
  - IBAN (if applicable)
  - Any special instructions

Example Bank Details:

Bank Name: Example National Bank
Account Holder: Your Business Name
Account Number: 123456789
Routing Number: 021000021
SWIFT Code: EXAMPLEUS33

Bank Transfer Workflow:

Customer selects "Bank Transfer" at checkout
System displays your bank details
Customer manually transfers payment
You manually confirm payment in WordPress admin
System grants subscription access

Payment Gateway Best Practices

1. Security Considerations

Never share secret keys or client secrets
Use HTTPS on your live site
Regularly rotate API keys
Monitor for suspicious activity

2. Testing Strategy

Test all gateways in sandbox/test mode first
Verify webhook functionality
Test failed payment scenarios
Check email notifications

3. User Experience

Enable multiple payment methods for customer choice
Display accepted payment icons
Provide clear payment instructions
Offer support contact for payment issues

Troubleshooting Common Issues

PayPal Problems:

"Invalid credentials": Verify Client ID and Secret match the selected mode (sandbox/live)
Webhooks not working: Check Webhook ID and ensure endpoint is accessible
Payments not processing: Verify currency settings match between MonsterTools and PayPal

Stripe Issues:

"Invalid API Key": Ensure you're using test keys in test mode and live keys in live mode
Webhook errors: Verify signing secret and endpoint URL
Card declines: Test with different test card numbers for specific error scenarios

Bank Transfer:

Details not showing: Check that bank transfer is enabled and details are saved
Manual activation: Remember to manually activate subscriptions after bank transfer

General Payment Issues:

Currency mismatches: Ensure all gateways support your selected currency
SSL/HTTPS required: Payment gateways require secure connections
Firewall blocks: Whitelist gateway API endpoints if needed

Webhook Configuration Details

Why Webhooks are Essential:

Handle subscription renewals automatically
Process payment failures and retries
Update user access levels in real-time
Sync payment status with MonsterTools

Webhook Testing:

Use gateway test tools to send mock webhooks
Check MonsterTools logs for webhook reception
Verify user subscriptions update correctly
Test edge cases (failed payments, cancellations)

Webhook Security:

Validate webhook signatures
Keep webhook secrets secure
Monitor for unauthorized webhook attempts
Use HTTPS for all webhook communications

Going Live Checklist

Before activating live payments:

Test all payment methods in sandbox/test mode
Verify webhooks are working correctly
Confirm currency settings are correct
[ **] Ensure your site has SSL certificate
Test the complete user journey (signup → payment → tool access)
Set up payment notification emails
Configure refund and cancellation policies
Add payment method logos to your pricing pages
Test mobile payment experience
Prepare customer support for payment questions

Advanced Configuration

Custom Payment Gateways:

Developers can add custom payment gateways using hooks:

// Add custom payment gateway
add_filter('monstertools_payment_settings_groups', function($groups, $prefix) {
    $groups['custom_gateway'] = [
        'box_config' => [
            // Configuration array
        ],
        'fields' => [
            // Custom fields
        ]
    ];
    return $groups;
}, 10, 2);

Payment Method Conditional Logic:

// Show/hide payment methods based on conditions
add_filter('monstertools_available_payment_methods', function($methods, $onlyReady) {
    unset($methods['bank']);
    return $methods;
}, 10, 2);

// Only show bank transfer for administrators
add_filter('monstertools_available_payment_methods', function($methods, $onlyReady) {
    if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        // Remove bank transfer for non-admins
        $methods = array_filter($methods, function($method) {
            return $method['id'] !== 'bank';
        });
    }
    
    return $methods;
}, 10, 2);

Monitoring & Maintenance

Regular Checks:

Monitor payment success rates
Review failed payment patterns
Update API keys annually
Test webhook functionality monthly
Check gateway status pages for outages

Key Metrics to Track:

Payment success rate per gateway
Average transaction value
Subscription churn rate
Payment method preferences
Geographic payment patterns

By following this comprehensive guide, you'll have your payment system configured correctly and be ready to start accepting payments for your MonsterTools subscription plans. Remember to test thoroughly before going live and monitor your payment system regularly for optimal performance.

Setting Up Payment Gateways in MonsterTools Print

Accessing Payment Settings

1. Currency Configuration

Primary Settings:

Example Configurations:

2. PayPal Setup

Step-by-Step Configuration:

PayPal Webhook Setup:

Testing PayPal:

3. Stripe Setup

Step-by-Step Configuration:

Stripe Webhook Setup:

Testing Stripe:

4. Bank Transfer Setup

Step-by-Step Configuration:

Example Bank Details:

Bank Transfer Workflow:

Payment Gateway Best Practices

1. Security Considerations

2. Testing Strategy

3. User Experience

Troubleshooting Common Issues

PayPal Problems:

Stripe Issues:

Bank Transfer:

General Payment Issues:

Webhook Configuration Details

Why Webhooks are Essential:

Webhook Testing:

Webhook Security:

Going Live Checklist

Advanced Configuration

Custom Payment Gateways:

Payment Method Conditional Logic:

Monitoring & Maintenance

Regular Checks:

Key Metrics to Track:

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