So you've built a product and want to sell it globally. You're a solo developer or a one-person company, and the idea of setting up international payments feels like a bureaucratic nightmare. Good news: it's easier than ever. Here's a pragmatic roadmap to get paid from customers around the world without losing your mind or your margins.
1. Start with the Obvious: Stripe or PayPal
For most indie developers, Stripe is the default choice. It supports 40+ countries for payouts, handles cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and even Alipay in some regions. The API is developer-friendly, and you can integrate Checkout in an afternoon. The catch: Stripe requires a legal entity in a supported country. If you're in a country where Stripe isn't available (e.g., many in Africa, parts of Asia, or Latin America), you'll need a workaround.
PayPal is the fallback. It's available almost everywhere, but fees are higher (around 4.4% + fixed fee for cross-border) and chargebacks can be painful. Still, it's a low-barrier way to start accepting payments while you sort out a better setup.
Pro tip: Use Stripe for card payments and PayPal as a secondary option. Many customers prefer one over the other.
2. The Merchant of Record Shortcut
If you don't want to deal with sales tax, VAT, and compliance in every country, consider a Merchant of Record (MoR) like Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, or FastSpring. They act as the seller of record, handling tax collection and remittance globally. You just integrate their API and they pay you a lump sum.
The trade-off is fees: typically 5-10% per transaction. But for a solo developer, the time saved on tax compliance is often worth it. Lemon Squeezy is particularly popular among indie hackers because it's developer-friendly and has a generous free tier.
3. Virtual Bank Accounts and Multi-Currency
If you want to receive payments like a local in multiple countries, services like Wise (formerly TransferWise) and Payoneer offer virtual bank accounts in USD, EUR, GBP, and more. You can give customers local account details, reducing friction and fees. Wise Business also integrates with Stripe and other platforms, so you can receive payouts in your local currency at a decent rate.
For example, a UK customer can pay you via a UK sort code and account number, and you get the money in your local bank account without international wire fees. This is a game-changer for solo developers in emerging markets.
4. Handling Subscriptions and Invoicing
If you're selling SaaS or recurring services, Stripe Billing is solid. For one-off invoices, consider Stripe Invoicing or Wave (free accounting software with invoice payments). If you're in a country without Stripe, Paddle or Lemon Squeezy handle subscriptions out of the box.
Don't overlook cryptocurrency as a niche option. Services like Coinbase Commerce or BTCPay Server let you accept crypto with no fees, but volatility and accounting complexity make it a secondary choice.
5. Compliance Without the Headache
The biggest fear for solo developers is tax and legal compliance. Here's the minimum you need:
- Register a business entity in your country (sole proprietorship or LLC). This is usually cheap and straightforward.
- Understand VAT/GST for digital services. If you sell to EU customers, you may need to collect VAT. MoRs handle this for you; otherwise, use a service like TaxJar or Quaderno to automate.
- Keep records. Stripe and PayPal provide reports; use them.
You don't need a lawyer for most of this. Start small, and upgrade when revenue justifies it.
6. Practical Tips from the Trenches
- Test with small amounts before going live. Send $1 to yourself to verify the flow.
- Offer multiple payment methods. Some customers only have cards; others prefer PayPal or local wallets.
- Display prices in local currency where possible. Stripe's adaptive pricing or a simple currency switcher can increase conversion.
- Watch out for chargebacks. Use Stripe Radar or similar fraud tools. For digital goods, clearly state your refund policy.
- Don't over-engineer. Start with Stripe Checkout or a payment link. You can always add more later.
The Bottom Line
Getting paid globally as a solo developer is a solved problem. You have options ranging from simple (PayPal) to sophisticated (MoR + Wise). The key is to start with the lowest-friction solution that fits your country and product, then optimize as you grow. Don't let payment setup block your launch—pick one, integrate it, and start selling.
Remember: your first international customer is worth more than a perfect payment stack. Ship it.
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