Going live

Going live changes your key and your webhook secret, not your code. The same base URL, endpoints and events carry real money.

ActivationCopy Anchor Link

Volume reviews every business after it signs up. Until then the account is pending and works in test mode only. When the review is done, the dashboard says live payments are open and GET /v1/account shows:

{
  "object": "account",
  "status": "active",
  "live_access": true,
  "fee_bps": 100,
  "activated_at": "2026-10-16T08:30:00.000Z"
}

The response also carries legal_name, your business's registered name, which Volume sets when it activates you. fee_bps is your fee in basis points. Write to hi@paywithvolume.com if the review needs anything from you.

An authenticatorCopy Anchor Link

A live key moves real money, so making one asks for a six-digit code from an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, 1Password and the like). Set one up under Settings in the dashboard. The same code is asked for when you add a bank account, change payout settings or withdraw in live mode. Test mode never asks.

The live pairCopy Anchor Link

1. Under Developers, make a key with Live chosen. Copy its vk_live_…: it is shown once.
2. Switch the dashboard to live, and add your production webhook endpoint. Copy its whsec_… secret: a live endpoint's secret is its own, and your test secret does not check live events.
3. Put both in your production environment only. Keep the test pair in staging.

Live success_url and cancel_url must be https.

Getting paidCopy Anchor Link

Every live payment is credited to your balance in dollars, less Volume's fee. From there it is paid to your bank account.

Add a bank account under Payouts: a Nigerian bank and account number. Volume reads the holder's name from the bank, and in live mode it must match your business's legal name. Payouts are in naira.

When a new account can be paid. Your first bank account can be paid at once. Any account added after that can be paid 48 hours after it was added, not counting Saturdays and Sundays in Lagos, and everyone on your Volume account is emailed when one is added. If someone gets into your dashboard, they cannot redirect your money before you notice.

Auto-payout, on by default, pays each payment out on its own as soon as it is confirmed. Payments under $1 wait and go together once they add up. Each payout is priced from a quote at the moment it is sent, and carries a ₦100 fee. Turn auto-payout off to let the balance build up, and withdraw from Payouts when you choose.

Your endpoint gets payout.sent when a payout reaches your bank, and payout.failed if it does not, with the money back in your balance.

API keys can neither add bank accounts nor withdraw: only a person logged in to the dashboard can. A leaked key cannot send your money anywhere.

Before the first real paymentCopy Anchor Link

• The live key and live webhook secret are in production, and nowhere else.
• Your webhook handler checks signatures and credits once. The Monierate guide's checklist covers it.
• A bank account is added, and its holder's name is your legal name.
• Make one small real payment yourself, and follow it from the checkout to your webhook, your balance and your bank.