diff --git a/corporate/lib/stripe.py b/corporate/lib/stripe.py
index 5734b5e59c..c2c876a519 100644
--- a/corporate/lib/stripe.py
+++ b/corporate/lib/stripe.py
@@ -1877,12 +1877,19 @@ class BillingSession(ABC):
             renewal_cents = renewal_cents - discount
 
         charge_automatically = plan.charge_automatically
-        assert customer.stripe_customer_id is not None  # for mypy
-        stripe_customer = stripe_get_customer(customer.stripe_customer_id)
-        if charge_automatically:
-            payment_method = payment_method_string(stripe_customer)
-        else:
-            payment_method = "Billed by invoice"
+        if customer.stripe_customer_id is not None:
+            stripe_customer = stripe_get_customer(customer.stripe_customer_id)
+            stripe_email = stripe_customer.email
+            if charge_automatically:
+                payment_method = payment_method_string(stripe_customer)
+            else:
+                payment_method = "Billed by invoice"
+        elif settings.DEVELOPMENT:  # nocoverage
+            # Allow access to billing page in development environment without a stripe_customer_id.
+            payment_method = "Payment method not populated"
+            stripe_email = "not_populated@zulip.com"
+        else:  # nocoverage
+            raise BillingError(f"stripe_customer_id is None for {customer}")
 
         fixed_price = (
             cents_to_dollar_string(plan.fixed_price) if plan.fixed_price is not None else None
@@ -1908,7 +1915,7 @@ class BillingSession(ABC):
             "renewal_amount": cents_to_dollar_string(renewal_cents),
             "payment_method": payment_method,
             "charge_automatically": charge_automatically,
-            "stripe_email": stripe_customer.email,
+            "stripe_email": stripe_email,
             "CustomerPlan": CustomerPlan,
             "billing_frequency": billing_frequency,
             "fixed_price": fixed_price,
diff --git a/zilencer/management/commands/populate_billing_realms.py b/zilencer/management/commands/populate_billing_realms.py
index 8fd2196e03..2ab02ff2d9 100644
--- a/zilencer/management/commands/populate_billing_realms.py
+++ b/zilencer/management/commands/populate_billing_realms.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ from zilencer.views import update_remote_realm_data_for_server
 from zproject.config import get_secret
 
 current_time = timezone_now().strftime(TIMESTAMP_FORMAT)
+communicate_with_stripe = get_secret("stripe_secret_key") is not None
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -267,6 +268,9 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
 
 def add_card_to_customer(customer: Customer) -> None:
+    if not communicate_with_stripe:
+        return
+
     assert customer.stripe_customer_id is not None
     # Set the Stripe API key
     stripe.api_key = get_secret("stripe_secret_key")
@@ -389,8 +393,13 @@ def populate_realm(customer_profile: CustomerProfile) -> Optional[Realm]:
         return realm
 
     billing_session = RealmBillingSession(user)
-    customer = billing_session.update_or_create_stripe_customer()
-    assert customer.stripe_customer_id is not None
+    if communicate_with_stripe:
+        # This attaches stripe_customer_id to customer.
+        customer = billing_session.update_or_create_stripe_customer()
+        assert customer.stripe_customer_id is not None
+    else:
+        customer = billing_session.update_or_create_customer()
+
     if customer_profile.card:
         add_card_to_customer(customer)
 
@@ -454,6 +463,16 @@ def populate_remote_server(customer_profile: CustomerProfile) -> Dict[str, str]:
             tzinfo=timezone.utc
         )
         billing_session.migrate_customer_to_legacy_plan(renewal_date, end_date)
+
+        if not communicate_with_stripe:
+            # We need to communicate with stripe to upgrade here.
+            return {
+                "unique_id": unique_id,
+                "server_uuid": server_uuid,
+                "api_key": api_key,
+                "ERROR": "Need to communicate with stripe to populate this profile.",
+            }
+
         # Scheduled server to upgrade to business plan.
         if customer_profile.status == CustomerPlan.SWITCH_PLAN_TIER_AT_PLAN_END:
             # This attaches stripe_customer_id to customer.
@@ -474,8 +493,12 @@ def populate_remote_server(customer_profile: CustomerProfile) -> Dict[str, str]:
             billing_session.do_upgrade(upgrade_request)
 
     elif customer_profile.tier == CustomerPlan.TIER_SELF_HOSTED_BUSINESS:
-        customer = billing_session.update_or_create_stripe_customer()
-        assert customer.stripe_customer_id is not None
+        if communicate_with_stripe:
+            # This attaches stripe_customer_id to customer.
+            customer = billing_session.update_or_create_stripe_customer()
+            assert customer.stripe_customer_id is not None
+        else:
+            customer = billing_session.update_or_create_customer()
         add_card_to_customer(customer)
         create_plan_for_customer(customer, customer_profile)
 
@@ -523,8 +546,12 @@ def populate_remote_realms(customer_profile: CustomerProfile) -> Dict[str, str]:
     # TODO: Save property audit log  data for server.
     remote_realm.server.last_audit_log_update = timezone_now()
     remote_realm.server.save(update_fields=["last_audit_log_update"])
-    customer = billing_session.update_or_create_stripe_customer()
-    assert customer.stripe_customer_id is not None
+    if communicate_with_stripe:
+        # This attaches stripe_customer_id to customer.
+        customer = billing_session.update_or_create_stripe_customer()
+        assert customer.stripe_customer_id is not None
+    else:
+        customer = billing_session.update_or_create_customer()
     add_card_to_customer(customer)
     if customer_profile.tier is not None:
         billing_session.do_change_plan_type(