Build payments for startups
Ship payments fast with copy-paste APIs, trial-to-paid subscriptions, usage-based billing, and payment links — no storefront required.
Startups need to move quickly: sandbox-to-prod parity, trial → discount → full-price in one API call, and usage-based billing for SaaS. frameOS provides Charge Intents with Frame.js, Subscriptions with Phases, Billing Meters for usage-based billing, Payment Links to ship without a storefront, and KYC/KYB for fast merchant onboarding and investor-grade reporting.
Use this guide if you're building a startup where:
- You want copy-paste API with sandbox-to-prod parity.
- You need trial → discount → full-price in one API call.
- You have usage-based billing for SaaS models.
- You want to ship without a storefront; no setup fees.
- You need fast KYB onboarding in minutes with investor-grade reporting.
We recommend this configuration for early-stage and growth-stage startups. Use the API or Frame.js.
FrameOS modules
| Module | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Charge Intents + Frame.js | Copy-paste API with Postman collections; sandbox-to-prod parity |
| Subscriptions + Phases | Trial → discount → full-price in one API call |
| Billing Meters | Usage-based billing for SaaS models |
| Payment Links | Ship without a storefront; no setup fees |
| KYC / KYB | Fast KYB onboarding in minutes; investor-grade reporting |
Before you begin
Sign up at the Frame Developer Portal and obtain your sandbox API key. Use the same API patterns in prod — sandbox-to-prod parity.
Essential tasks
1. Charge Intents and Frame.js
Create Charge Intents for one-time payments. Use Frame.js to collect payment details. See accept a payment. Use Postman or the API reference for copy-paste flows.
2. Subscriptions with phases
Use Subscriptions and Subscription Phases for trial → discount → full-price. One API call configures the full lifecycle. See build subscriptions.
3. Usage-based billing
Use Billing Meters for usage-based SaaS billing. Send metering events for usage. Invoicing and Billing Reports support reconciliation and investor reporting.
4. Payment Links
Use Payment Links to accept payments without building a storefront. Share links, embed in emails, or add to your site. No setup fees or lock-ins.
5. Fast KYB for platforms
If you onboard merchants or connected accounts, use Accounts with onboarding sessions for fast KYB. Business accounts support investor-grade reporting. See Marketplaces or Creator platforms for platform flows.
Resources
Charge Intents · Subscriptions · Billing Meters · Payment Links · Accounts · Frame.js · Webhooks · Quick start