> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://ixopay.ferndocs.com/developer-hub/documentation/guides/getting-started/setting-up-your-account/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://ixopay.ferndocs.com/_mcp/server.

# Setting up your account

To start processing online payments with IXOPAY platform, you will need to set up an account. This page will guide you through the steps of creating and configuring your account.

```mermaid
graph LR
  A(Create an account) --> M(Create a merchant profile)
  M --> U(Create an API user)
  M --> C(Create a connector)
```

## Creating an Account

### Starter & Growth

To create an account with IXOPAY platform, [click here](https://www.ixopay.com/en/product/ixopay-starter-growth-signup). You will need to provide some basic information such as your name, email address and company details.

Once you have filled in the required information, you will be asked to verify your email address and company details. Follow the instructions to complete the process.

After your account has been created, you will need to configure some settings before you can start accepting payments.

### Enterprise

Please contact IXOPAY sales using the [contact form](https://www.ixopay.com/en/contact) or via [sales@ixopay.com](mailto:sales@ixopay.com).

Enterprise accounts have access to more features than starter & growth, such as the [Reconciliation API](https://documentation.ixopay.com/api/reconciliation/reconciliation-api), the [Settlement API](https://documentation.ixopay.com/api/settlement/settlement-api) and the [Provisioning API](https://documentation.ixopay.com/api/provisioning/provisioning-api).

## Configuring your settings

### Step 1: Create a merchant profile

Merchants in IXOPAY platform are a central entity. They are the actual operators of a sales channel, selling goods or services to customers and processing transactions via the platform.

1. Navigate to *Merchant Configuration* > *Merchants* in the left menu.
2. Click *➕ New Merchant*.
3. Fill in the mandatory fields *Merchants name* , *Timezone* and *Website*.
4. Fill in additional optional fields in the *Basic data* , *Rolling Reserve* and *Additional data* sections.
5. Click *➕ Create Merchant*. The newly created merchant is enabled immediately and can be found in the *Merchant Overview* , where you can edit it and its associated configuration elements.
6. Click on **Overview** to open your newly created merchant in the *Merchant Overview*.

![Merchant list](https://documentation.ixopay.com/assets/ideal-img/setup-merchants.6c71a84.1280.png)Merchant list![Create merchant](https://documentation.ixopay.com/assets/ideal-img/setup-create-merchant.8eebe49.1280.png)Create merchant![Merchant overview](https://documentation.ixopay.com/assets/ideal-img/setup-merchant-overview.394a300.1280.png)Merchant overview

### Step 2: Create an API user

1. In the *Merchant Overview* , select *Users* from the drop-down menu at the top of the page (*Overview* is selected by default).
2. Click on *➕ New User*.
3. Enter the required *Base Data* for the User:
   * *Username* ,
   * *Email* address
4. Select **api** as the *User Type*.
5. Either type in a Password or click on *Generate* to let IXOPAY platform generate a random password.
6. Click on *➕ Create User* to confirm your entries and add the user.

![User list](https://documentation.ixopay.com/assets/ideal-img/setup-users.429adc7.1280.png)User list![User create](https://documentation.ixopay.com/assets/ideal-img/setup-create-user.e71554f.1280.png)User create

> **Info**
>
> Make a copy of the username and password as you'll need it to access the API. We will refer to these as `$USERNAME` and `$PASSWORD` in this guide from now on.

### Step 3: Create a connector

In order to process transactions through a PSP/acquirer, connectors need to be configured for each merchant. A connector connects to the PSP/acquirer and handles all communication between IXOPAY platform and the PSP/acquirer. The IXOPAY platform offers a wide range of adapters for different PSPs/acquirers that you can use to access and manage various payment methods from within the platform. This allows your merchants to integrate multiple providers and payment methods.

A new connector needs to be created per merchant for each unique combination of end-point, account/credentials (from your PSP/acquirer) and payment method.

![Connector list](https://documentation.ixopay.com/assets/ideal-img/setup-connectors.82e39c1.1280.png)Connector list![Create connector - base data](https://documentation.ixopay.com/assets/ideal-img/setup-create-connector-step1.a261353.1280.png)Create connector - base data![Create connector - configuration](https://documentation.ixopay.com/assets/ideal-img/setup-create-connector-step2.6c00a62.1280.png)Create connector - configuration![Connector overview](https://documentation.ixopay.com/assets/ideal-img/setup-connector-overview.20a7772.1280.png)Connector overview

1. Select *Connectors* from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.

2. Click on *New Connector ⬇️* and select *➕ New Connector* from the drop-down menu.

3. Enter the *Base data* :

The base data includes data required to access your connector via the [Transaction API](https://documentation.ixopay.com/api/transaction/transaction-api) and metadata used to identify the connector.

1. *Name* - Enter a descriptive name

> **Tip: Use a naming convention**
>
> We recommend using a consistent naming convention to make connectors easy to recognize, e.g. `<Merchant> <CC Provider> <description>`.

2. *API Key* - Enter a unique key without blank spaces

> **Info: Save this**
>
> You need this key to select the connector via the API. We will refer to this as `$API_KEY` in this guide from now on.

3. *Shared secret* and *Public Integration Key* - Either enter a secret key manually or click on *Generate* to generate a unique key.

> **Info**
>
> You need the *shared secret* to validate incoming [callbacks](https://documentation.ixopay.com/docs/guides/getting-started/callbacks) and the *public integration key* to integrate [payment.js](https://documentation.ixopay.com/docs/guides/getting-started/accept-payments/payment.js). We will refer to these as `$SHARED_SECRET` and `$INTEGRATION_KEY` in this guide from now on.

4. Leave the default values for the other fields.

5. Click on *Next Step* to save your entries.

6. Enter the *Configuration* :

> **Info: Quickstart**
>
> To try out the API integration without connecting to a real-world PSP, choose:
>
> 1. *Adapter* - **Simulator** (use the search function to quickly locate this entry).
> 2. *Method* - **Creditcard**.
> 3. *Interface Type* - **Simulator** (this field is only displayed after selecting **Creditcard** as the method).
> 4. Leave the default value for the other fields.
> 5. Click on *💾 Create* to save your settings.

Enter your credentials to use your connector with your PSP/acquirer's API.

1. *Adapter* : Choose the adapter you want to configure from the list.
2. *Method* : Select the payment method you want to configure.
3. *Interface Type* : This field is only displayed if the chosen adapter and payment method offer multiple API connections. Select your chosen API.
4. Enter the credentials needed to connect with the PSP/acquirer to process transactions. Each adapter needs its own individual settings. To find out which settings to enter for your connector, refer to the information about your adapter in the [Adapters](https://documentation.ixopay.com/adapters/simulator) documentation.
5. Click *💾 Create* to save your settings.

You have now set everything up to start accepting payments in your application.