---
status: "published"
label: "Lemon Squeezy"
title: "Configure Lemon Squeezy Billing for Your Next.js SaaS"
order: 3
description: "Complete guide to setting up Lemon Squeezy payments in Makerkit. Lemon Squeezy is a Merchant of Record that handles global tax compliance, billing, and payments for your SaaS."
---

Lemon Squeezy is a Merchant of Record (MoR), meaning they handle all billing complexity for you: VAT, sales tax, invoicing, and compliance across 100+ countries. You receive payouts minus their fees.

## Why Choose Lemon Squeezy?

**Pros:**
- Automatic global tax compliance (VAT, GST, sales tax)
- No need to register for tax collection in different countries
- Simpler setup than Stripe for international sales
- Built-in license key generation (great for desktop apps)
- Lower complexity for solo founders

**Cons:**
- One line item per plan (no mixing flat + metered + per-seat)
- Less flexibility than Stripe
- Higher fees than Stripe in some regions

## Prerequisites

1. Create a [Lemon Squeezy account](https://lemonsqueezy.com)
2. Create a Store in your Lemon Squeezy dashboard
3. Create Products and Variants for your pricing plans
4. Set up a webhook endpoint

## Step 1: Environment Variables

Add these variables to your `.env.local`:

```bash
LEMON_SQUEEZY_SECRET_KEY=your_api_key_here
LEMON_SQUEEZY_SIGNING_SECRET=your_webhook_signing_secret
LEMON_SQUEEZY_STORE_ID=your_store_id
```

| Variable | Description | Where to Find |
|----------|-------------|---------------|
| `LEMON_SQUEEZY_SECRET_KEY` | API key for server-side calls | Settings → API |
| `LEMON_SQUEEZY_SIGNING_SECRET` | Webhook signature verification | Settings → Webhooks |
| `LEMON_SQUEEZY_STORE_ID` | Your store's numeric ID | Settings → Stores |

{% alert type="error" title="Keep secrets secure" %}
Add these to `.env.local` only. Never commit them to your repository or add them to `.env`.
{% /alert %}

## Step 2: Configure Billing Provider

Set Lemon Squeezy as your billing provider in the environment:

```bash
NEXT_PUBLIC_BILLING_PROVIDER=lemon-squeezy
```

And update the database:

```sql
UPDATE public.config SET billing_provider = 'lemon-squeezy';
```

## Step 3: Create Products in Lemon Squeezy

1. Go to your Lemon Squeezy Dashboard → Products
2. Click **New Product**
3. Configure your product:
   - **Name**: "Pro Plan", "Starter Plan", etc.
   - **Pricing**: Choose subscription or one-time
   - **Variant**: Create variants for different billing intervals

4. Copy the **Variant ID** (not Product ID) for your billing schema

The Variant ID looks like `123456` (numeric). This goes in your line item's `id` field.

## Step 4: Update Billing Schema

Lemon Squeezy has a key limitation: **one line item per plan**. You cannot mix flat, per-seat, and metered billing in a single plan.

```tsx
import { createBillingSchema } from '@kit/billing';

export default createBillingSchema({
  provider: 'lemon-squeezy',
  products: [
    {
      id: 'pro',
      name: 'Pro',
      description: 'For professionals',
      currency: 'USD',
      plans: [
        {
          id: 'pro-monthly',
          name: 'Pro Monthly',
          paymentType: 'recurring',
          interval: 'month',
          lineItems: [
            {
              id: '123456',  // Lemon Squeezy Variant ID
              name: 'Pro Plan',
              cost: 29,
              type: 'flat',
            },
            // Cannot add more line items with Lemon Squeezy!
          ],
        },
      ],
    },
  ],
});
```

{% alert type="warning" title="Single line item only" %}
The schema validation will fail if you add multiple line items with Lemon Squeezy. This is a platform limitation.
{% /alert %}

## Step 5: Configure Webhooks

### Local Development

Lemon Squeezy requires a public URL for webhooks. Use a tunneling service like ngrok:

```bash
# Install ngrok
npm install -g ngrok

# Expose your local server
ngrok http 3000
```

Copy the ngrok URL (e.g., `https://abc123.ngrok.io`).

### Create Webhook in Lemon Squeezy

1. Go to Settings → Webhooks
2. Click **Add Webhook**
3. Configure:
   - **URL**: `https://your-ngrok-url.ngrok.io/api/billing/webhook` (dev) or `https://yourdomain.com/api/billing/webhook` (prod)
   - **Secret**: Generate a secure secret and save it as `LEMON_SQUEEZY_SIGNING_SECRET`

4. Select these events:
   - `order_created`
   - `subscription_created`
   - `subscription_updated`
   - `subscription_expired`

5. Click **Save**

### Production Webhooks

For production, replace the ngrok URL with your actual domain:

```
https://yourdomain.com/api/billing/webhook
```

## Metered Usage with Lemon Squeezy

Lemon Squeezy handles metered billing differently than Stripe. Usage applies to the entire subscription, not individual line items.

### Setup Fee + Metered Usage

Use the `setupFee` property for a flat base charge plus usage-based pricing:

```tsx
{
  id: 'api-monthly',
  name: 'API Monthly',
  paymentType: 'recurring',
  interval: 'month',
  lineItems: [
    {
      id: '123456',
      name: 'API Access',
      cost: 0,
      type: 'metered',
      unit: 'requests',
      setupFee: 10,  // $10 base fee
      tiers: [
        { upTo: 1000, cost: 0 },
        { upTo: 'unlimited', cost: 0.001 },
      ],
    },
  ],
}
```

The setup fee is charged once when the subscription is created.

### Reporting Usage

Report usage using the billing API:

```tsx
import { createBillingGatewayService } from '@kit/billing-gateway';

async function reportUsage(subscriptionItemId: string, quantity: number) {
  const service = createBillingGatewayService('lemon-squeezy');

  return service.reportUsage({
    id: subscriptionItemId,  // From subscription_items table
    usage: {
      quantity,
      action: 'increment',
    },
  });
}
```

See the [metered usage guide](/docs/next-supabase-turbo/billing/metered-usage) for complete implementation details.

## Testing

### Test Mode

Lemon Squeezy has a test mode. Enable it in your dashboard under Settings → Test Mode.

Test mode uses separate products and variants, so create test versions of your products.

### Test Cards

In test mode, use these card numbers:
- **Success**: `4242 4242 4242 4242`
- **Decline**: `4000 0000 0000 0002`

Any future expiry date and any 3-digit CVC will work.

## Common Issues

### Webhook signature verification failed

1. Check that `LEMON_SQUEEZY_SIGNING_SECRET` matches the secret in your Lemon Squeezy webhook settings
2. Ensure the raw request body is used for verification (not parsed JSON)
3. Verify the webhook URL is correct

### Subscription not created

1. Check webhook logs in Lemon Squeezy dashboard
2. Verify the `order_created` event is enabled
3. Check your application logs for errors

### Multiple line items error

Lemon Squeezy only supports one line item per plan. Restructure your pricing to use a single line item, or use Stripe for more complex pricing models.

## Testing Checklist

Before going live:

- [ ] Create test products in Lemon Squeezy test mode
- [ ] Test subscription checkout with test card
- [ ] Verify subscription appears in user's billing section
- [ ] Test subscription cancellation
- [ ] Verify webhook events are processed correctly
- [ ] Test with failing card to verify error handling
- [ ] Switch to production products and webhook URL

## Related Documentation

- [Billing Overview](/docs/next-supabase-turbo/billing/overview) - Architecture and provider comparison
- [Billing Schema](/docs/next-supabase-turbo/billing/billing-schema) - Configure your pricing
- [Webhooks](/docs/next-supabase-turbo/billing/billing-webhooks) - Custom webhook handling
- [Metered Usage](/docs/next-supabase-turbo/billing/metered-usage) - Usage-based billing implementation