Laravel Cashier

Laravel Cashier is a subscription billing library for Laravel applications that integrates seamlessly with Stripe or Paddle. It simplifies handling subscription logic, such as billing, payments, and invoices, in SaaS applications.

Origin

Cashier was introduced to reduce the complexity of integrating billing systems into Laravel applications, leveraging popular payment gateways like Stripe and Paddle.

Why is it important?

1. Simplifies Billing Logic: Handles complex subscription scenarios with minimal code.
2. Automates Payment Processing: Manages recurring payments and invoicing automatically.
3. Speeds Up Development: Provides out-of-the-box functionality for common billing tasks.

Best Practices

1. Use Webhooks: Handle payment updates and failures with webhook listeners.
2. Test Billing Scenarios: Simulate subscription and payment processes during development.
3. Secure Billing Pages: Protect sensitive routes with proper authentication.

Example in Action

Install Cashier:

composer require laravel/cashier

Set up the Billable trait in your User model:

namespace App\Models;

use Laravel\Cashier\Billable;

class User extends Authenticatable
{
    use Billable;
}

Create a new subscription:

$user = User::find(1);
$user->newSubscription('default', 'price_id')->create($paymentMethod);

Handle Stripe webhooks:

php artisan cashier:webhook

Cashier streamlines subscription billing, making it easier to build and manage SaaS applications.