Is it possible to create an add-on to sheets to sell?

[Nuno Martins]

Hello everyone,

Is it possible to create an add-on to google sheets and then sell it in the G Suite Marketplace?

If yes, what are the steps to do it (or where can I find them)?

Thank you,

Nuno

[Alan Wells]

Yes.

• Get a bank account.
• Get a PayPal and/or Stripe account.
• Add the PayPal and/or Stripe payment system to a dialog box in your add-on.
• Create a database or spreadsheet for your customers and the expiration date.
• Decide on payment options.
• Free tier?
• How many tiers?
• Plans by number of times the code runs?
• Plan by the amount of time that goes by?  Monthly?  Yearly?
• For domains, will you charge for each user?  Will you have set prices for tiers of users?
• Have your add-on code check for whether the user has paid or not when it runs.
• Will you stop the code from running if the user hasn't paid?
• Will there be a trial period?  If there is a trial period, then save the expiration of the trial date somewhere.
• Will you encrypt user information in your customer database?
• Do you want an "in-app" payment system or will you redirect users to your website to pay?
  

Code:

https://github.com/andrewroberts/Subs

https://github.com/Blueprinter/stripe-js.v3-using-elements

https://github.com/Blueprinter/Apps-Script-PayPal-Instant-Payment-Notification-IPN-Listener

https://developer.paypal.com/docs/checkout/

I don't know of a comprehensive resource that will cover every thing in the list, and complete code. 

Do you already have an add-on?

[Alex]

How many reasons are there for 'Get a bank account'?

I'm afraid I turned out to be frivolous. Should I move to other accounts?

Best, Alex.

[Alan Wells]

There may be other options to accept payment for an add-on, other than PayPal or Stripe.  I guess you could accept payment with electronic currency, . . . bit coin.  As far as needing a bank account, unless you have that, you can't transfer money out of PayPal.  But, you don't really need to transfer money out because you can use PayPal to buy stuff directly, or transfer money to other people.  Although, you can't buy anything on Amazon directly from your PayPal account.  I don't remember if you can set up a Stripe account without a bank account, it might be possible with PayPal.  Depending upon the area of the world you are in, there may be other payment services available.  I did have a situation where someone from Mexico had their payment rejected, I guess because my payment system wasn't set up to receive international payments.

For the very few paying customers I've had, the vast majority of them will use PayPal instead of Stripe.

[Alex]

Thank you!

I can transfer from PP to my personal bank account without commissions. It seems that I should only keep track of my taxes.

Best, Alex.

[Alan Wells]

I've done a little research about taxes where I live.  The tax issue is probably a local matter.   Where I live there is a limit for the number of sales and/or the amount of revenue, and below those limits, paying taxes isn't necessary.  In other words, I'm not making any money, so I haven't spent much time researching the tax issue.