How test and live mode work
You don't flip a switch to go live. bookto decides automatically, per payment:
- When you open your own checkout link while logged in as the product's owner, the order runs in test mode using your Mollie test key. Nothing real is charged, and the order is tagged Test.
- When anyone else opens the link — a real customer who isn't logged in as you — the order runs live using your Mollie live key, and a real payment is taken.
In other words: your buyers are always live. Test mode only exists for you, so you can rehearse the full flow safely.
What you need before real customers can pay
Live payments only work once your Mollie live secret keyis saved. If it's missing, a real buyer sees a "No live API key configured" error instead of a payment screen. To avoid that, make sure:
- Your live secret key (starting with live_) is saved under Integrations → Mollie — see Connect Mollie.
- Mollie has finished verifying your account. Until verification is complete, your live key won't accept payments. This usually takes about one business day after you submit your details to Mollie.
- Your VAT number is validated in bookto (a green checkmark on the Account page) — see Complete your account.
Go-live checklist
- Live Mollie key saved and Mollie verification complete.
- VAT number validated.
- You ran at least one test order and the whole flow looked right.
- Product is Active (see Manage product status).
- Price, VAT %, description, and image are correct — buyers see them immediately.
- Your post-purchase email is set to Active if you want buyers to receive it.
Want to confirm live payments work without a customer? Make one real payment yourself for a low amount (e.g. €0.50) from a browser where you're not logged in as the owner, then give yourself the money back (see Refunding a buyer). This is also the only way to test automatic Onfact invoicing, which doesn't run for test orders.