> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.cashfree.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Account Onboarding
> Find answers on Cashfree Payments onboarding covering business eligibility, prohibited categories, website compliance, KYC documents, and activation timelines.
Find answers to common questions about creating, verifying, and activating your Cashfree account, including eligibility, required documents, and supported products.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "Do I need separate accounts for Payment Gateway and Payouts?" })}>
No, you can use all Cashfree products under a single account. Share your requirements with the payment expert during onboarding, or contact your account manager later to activate additional desired products on your account.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "Can I use Cashfree for a dropshipping business?" })}>
No, Cashfree does not support dropshipping businesses.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "I have just signed up. What should I do next?" })}>
After signing up:
1. Verify your email address.
2. Update your business details.
3. Upload the [required documents](/help/account/account-activation#required-documents).
A payment expert will contact you within 24 working hours of account creation to understand your requirements. Your account is activated within 24–48 working hours after document verification.
You can use the test environment to familiarise yourself with the dashboard and try out products and features even before going live. If you would like to try out the available integrations, you can use our test API keys.
**To get test API credentials:**
1. Log in to the [Merchant Dashboard](https://merchant.cashfree.com/auth/login).
2. Navigate to **Developers > API Keys**.
3. Copy the test mode keys (`client_id` and `client_secret`).
Use these with the sandbox base URL: `https://sandbox.cashfree.com`.
You must activate your account before transacting in production. See [account activation](/help/account/account-activation#create-an-account).
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "Who is a payment expert?" })}>
A payment expert is a Cashfree representative who calls you within 24 working hours of account creation to understand your initial requirements and assist with the onboarding process. Ensure your contact details are updated so they can reach you.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "Which businesses are not supported by Cashfree?" })}>
Cashfree does not support businesses dealing in prohibited goods or services, including:
* Adult goods and services, escort or prostitution services.
* Alcohol, tobacco, and cigarettes.
* Body parts, organs, or human remains.
* Bulk marketing tools, such as spam software or email lists.
* Cable descramblers, black boxes, and copyright unlocking devices.
* Child pornography and other pornographic materials involving minors.
* Offensive content, including material that defames or incites violence, hatred, or intolerance against any person or group based on race, ethnicity, religion, or similar factors.
* Crime-related items, such as crime scene photos or personal belongings associated with criminals.
* Counterfeit, unauthorised, or copyrighted goods, including media and software.
* Cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms.
* Drugs, drug paraphernalia, and prescription medication without authorisation.
* Drug test circumvention aids.
* Endangered species and live animals or animal parts.
* Gambling, lottery tickets, and online betting.
* Government IDs, fake documents, or law enforcement equipment.
* Hacking and cracking materials, and other illegal goods.
* Miracle cures and unsubstantiated remedies.
* Multi-level marketing collection fees, Ponzi schemes, or matrix schemes.
* Pyrotechnic, hazardous, or radioactive materials.
* Regulated goods, such as airbags, mercury batteries, refrigerants, industrial solvents, lock-picking devices, postage meters, slot machines, surveillance equipment, recalled items, or government and law enforcement uniforms and badges.
* Securities, stocks, bonds, and wholesale currency.
* Traffic devices, such as radar jammers or fake licence plates.
* Weapons, ammunition, and armaments.
* Dropshipped merchandise.
* Any product or service that violates applicable Indian or international laws.
Merchants must not share cardholder data with any third party other than the acquiring member or government bodies as required.
If a Cashfree account is later found non-compliant, it may be deactivated at Cashfree's discretion.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "Is GSTIN mandatory for account activation?" })}>
No, GSTIN is not mandatory. However, adding GST details lets you avail of GST benefits.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "What changes do I need to make to my website for account activation?" })}>
Your website must be live and include the following sections.
**Mandatory:**
* Terms and conditions
* About us
* Contact us (one email ID and a valid phone number)
* Privacy policy
* Registered business name
**Conditional (based on business model):**
* Refund or return policy
* Shipping and delivery policy
* Product or services
* Pricing
If your website is later found to be non-compliant, your account may be deactivated at Cashfree's discretion.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "What are the mandatory documents required for onboarding?" })}>
Required documents vary by business type, but generally include:
* Contact information
* Business PAN
* Business owner PAN
* Business details and registration documents
* Website or app details
* Bank account details
* Business owner KYC
* Declaration of beneficial ownership
* Signed service agreement
See [create account](/help/account/account-activation#create-an-account) for details.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "What documents need to be uploaded based on business type?" })}>
Required documents vary by business type:
| Business type | Required documents |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Individual | PAN, Aadhaar, bank account details (all required) |
| Proprietorship | Any one: Registrar of Companies certificate, Shops and Establishment licence, or Sales/Income Tax return |
| Partnership | Any one: Partnership deed or Registrar of Firms certificate |
| Society / Trust / NGO | Any one: Trust deed or Society/NGO registration certificate |
| Private Limited / LLP | LLP corporation document and certificate of incorporation |
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "What additional documents are required based on line of business (LOB)?" })}>
Additional documents depend on your business category:
| Line of business | Required document |
| ------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| SaaS | AOC for PCI-DSS compliance |
| Food, health, and beauty supplements | FSSAI licence |
| Education | UGC, ICSE, CBSE, or AICTE certificate |
| Finance (forex, stock brokerage, payments) | FEMA registration, SEBI certificate, or PA/PG licence |
| Jewellery | BIS certificate, or 916/925 hallmark |
| Online gaming | RNG certificate (if applicable) and legal opinion |
| Pharmacy and drug stores | Pharmacy licence, drug licence, and compliance declarations |
| Government and utilities | BBPS certificate and sub-category registration |
| Travel and hospitality | IATA certificate or IRCTC agency certificate |
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "Do I need a website or an app for account activation?" })}>
Yes, you must have either a live website or an app published on the App Store or Play Store.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "Does my business need to be registered in India?" })}>
Yes, your business must be registered in India to use Cashfree's services.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "What if my business is not registered?" })}>
Sign up as an Individual. Once your business is registered, create a new account under Proprietorship or another applicable business type.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "Is Aadhaar-phone number linkage mandatory for account activation?" })}>
Yes, youour Aadhaar must be linked to your phone number. Update your linked number on the [UIDAI portal](https://uidai.gov.in).
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "Can I activate my account without a PAN?" })}>
No, PAN is mandatory. If you do not have a business PAN, register as an Individual using your personal PAN.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "Can I use the same email for multiple businesses?" })}>
No, each business must have a unique email ID for registration and activation.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "How long does the onboarding form take to complete?" })}>
Less than 5 minutes if you have all required documents ready.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "What products does Cashfree offer?" })}>
Cashfree offers a complete suite of payment and banking solutions:
| Product | What it does |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Payment Gateway | Accept payments via 180+ modes including UPI, cards, wallets, and EMI. |
| Payouts | Send instant bulk payments via bank transfer, UPI, wallets, and cards. |
| Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) | Cardless EMI, debit/credit card EMI, and Pay Later options. |
| Subscription Payments | Automate recurring collections via UPI AutoPay and eNACH. |
| Marketplace Settlement | Auto-split payments and settle vendor commissions. |
| Secure ID | Verify bank, UPI, PAN, Aadhaar, IFSC, and GSTIN from one dashboard. |
| Cross Border | Help international merchants and aggregators collect payments from Indian customers. |
| One Click Checkout | Faster checkouts with OTP auto-fill and address pre-fill. |
| Cashgram | Accept payments without a website using shareable links or forms. |
| softPOS | Turn smartphones into POS terminals to accept card payments. |
| RiskShield | ML-based fraud prevention and anomaly detection. |
You get a dedicated account manager and can add unlimited users with role-based access controls.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "What document types are supported for KYC verification?" })}>
Documents are grouped into the following categories:
**Business proof:**
* Shop and Establishment certificate or licence
* Government-issued registration proof
* Municipal certificate
* Udyog Aadhaar
* Sales tax or income tax return
* ROC registration certificate
* Customer agreement and platform confirmation
**Entity proof:**
* Partnership deed
* Trust deed
* Society certificate
* HUF deed
* LLP documents
**Line of business proof:**
* Non-profit: 80G/12A or FCRA certificate
* Travel: IATA or IRCTC certificate
* Food: FSSAI licence
* Gaming: RNG certificate and legal opinion
* Pharmacy: drug licence and compliance declarations
* Financial services: SEBI, FEMA, or NBFC licence
* Education: UGC, CBSE, ICSE, or AICTE certificate
**Other documents:**
* Bank statement
* Certificate of incorporation
* Board resolution
* GST certificate
* Beneficial owner ID proofs
For the complete list and technical parameters, see [supported document types](/api-reference/platforms/latest/merchant-onboarding/upload-documents#supported-document-types).
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "What documents are required for Society, Trust, or NGO businesses?" })}>
Submit the following:
* **Trust deed / Society / NGO registration certificate**: primary registration document.
* **Form 80G / 12A**: tax exemption certificates for charitable organisations.
* **Trust PAN and bank details**: PAN and bank account specific to the trust.
Exact requirements may vary based on your organisation type and activities. Contact your account manager during onboarding for specifics.
See the [account activation guide](/help/account/account-activation#required-documents) for more details.
posthog.capture('Accordion Clicked', { title: "How do I become a Cashfree Partner?" })}>
Sign up via the [Cashfree Partner page](https://partner.cashfree.com/partner-ui/authentication/signup), then complete partner KYC by replying to the welcome email with your business details and documents. KYC and settlement enablement take up to 48 hours after submission.
See [commissions and invoices](/partners/affiliates/partner-commissions-and-invoices) for commission calculation examples and settlement timelines, and [affiliate partner dashboard](/partners/affiliates/dashboard) for tracking earnings.
Commission settlement is available only after partner KYC is complete and the commission structure is configured.