Not long ago, a startup founder reached out to me, struggling with a common issue:
“We have users signing up, but we can’t manage who gets access to what. And we’re manually handling payments—it’s messy.”
Sound familiar?
If you’re running a SaaS product, online course, or membership-based platform, you’ve probably hit that wall too. That’s why I built a complete subscription billing system with user access control — so businesses can manage users, payments, and permissions without stress.
Let me walk you through what it is, why it matters, and how it meets key compliance standards like PCI DSS and GDPR.
The Problem: Scaling a SaaS Without the Chaos
As startups grow, they often face:
- Unclear feature access across user roles
- Manual or unreliable billing systems
- Weak login flows and poor data security
- No admin dashboard for managing roles and access
They start patching tools together: a payment system here, a login tool there, a spreadsheet to track who paid. It works — until it doesn’t.
This membership management solution fixes that from day one — and ensures your payment flow stays PCI DSS compliant, while your user data aligns with GDPR principles.
The Solution: Scalable Platform with Compliance in Mind
This modern system lets SaaS companies and digital service providers:
- User sign-up via email or OAuth (Google, Facebook, GitHub)
- Plan selection and PCI DSS-compliant payment through Stripe Checkout
- Auto-feature unlocks based on subscription tier
- Admin controls to manage users, plans, and usage securely
- GDPR-aligned data protection using encrypted JWTs and secure storage
Why PCI DSS and GDPR Matter
When you’re dealing with payments and personal data, compliance isn’t optional.
- PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard): Stripe, the payment processor used here, is Level 1 certified. All card data is handled by Stripe—never stored or processed by your servers—ensuring full payment compliance.
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): This platform is designed to respect user privacy. Personal information is stored securely in MongoDB, with session handling via encrypted JWT tokens.
A Better Experience for Everyone
For the User:
- Easy Sign-Up – Create an account or sign in with Google, Facebook, or GitHub.
- Pick a Plan – Choose from Free, Pro, or Premium tiers.
- Secure Payment – Pay online with Stripe Checkout, which is fully PCI DSS compliant.
- Access Features – Get the right tools and dashboards based on the selected plan.
- Stay Informed – Receive automatic billing or renewal alerts.
For the Business:
- Centralized dashboard to manage users and plans
- Automated recurring billing and easy plan upgrades
- Real-time status syncing via Stripe webhooks
- Fully customizable to your business model
- Built with PCI DSS and GDPR compliance baked in
Why This Matters for SaaS and Subscription Platforms
Whether you’re building a software-as-a-service product, selling digital content, or offering gated features, this platform gives you:
- Smooth onboarding for new users
- Plan-based access using Stripe subscription integration
- Reliable authentication using NextAuth.js and JWT tokens
- Granular control over feature visibility and pricing tiers
- A future-proof system that scales with your business
Powered by Proven Tech
The user experience is simple, but under the hood, it runs on trusted tools:
- Next.js and Node.js – for performance and flexibility
- MongoDB – for scalable user data management
- NextAuth.js – for social login and session handling
- Stripe – for secure recurring payments and pricing tiers
This is a SaaS infrastructure template any founder can build on — or customize for their niche.
Real Impact in the Real World
After launching this system for a SaaS founder, they saw:
- 📉 60% fewer support tickets related to login or access
- 🔄 Fully automated billing and plan changes
- 📊 Admin dashboard to manage customers and staff
- 😊 Happier users — because they got the right features without delays
Want to Build Something Like This?
If you’re tired of manually managing users and payments, I’d love to help. This platform can be adapted for:
- SaaS startups
- Course platforms
- Digital membership sites
- Subscription services
- Productized agencies
Let’s build something that works — and grows with you.
Need a demo, codebase walk-through, or feature add-on?
Send me a message. I’m happy to show you how this system can support your next big launch.