I'm looking to create a paid 'membership access' section of a website. I know how to create a "members" section of a website so that any access to pages within a certain folder will require the viewer to enter a username/password which will grant them access for the time they are on that website.

But that would be just a set of pre-set credentials. How do you do it when the member has to pay for that membership?

I can set it up so we can take payment and information from the user, but how do I take a username and password? I can have them create that prior to the purchase I'm thinking.

And than depending on the type of membership that they purchase (monthly, annually, bi-annually) how will I get it so that their account will expire at the end of their term?

I know this may be a little work to get going, but it is required and soon!

I am working in a PHP\MYSQL environment.

Thanks,
Josh