> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.affelios.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understanding Billing

> Complete guide to Affelios billing cycles, unit usage tracking, and invoice management for program operators

<Info>
  This guide explains how Affelios billing works, including billing cycles, unit usage tracking, and invoice management. Understanding these concepts is essential for managing your program costs and optimizing your affiliate marketing budget.
</Info>

## Billing Overview

<Card title="How Affelios Billing Works" icon="receipt">
  When you start a program with Affelios and choose a plan, you'll initially be charged for the cost of that plan. Then, in every billing cycle, you'll be billed for your plan's fee plus any additional costs tied to your unit usage, according to the rates for those units under your plan.
</Card>

### Billing Components

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Plan Fees">
    **Base Subscription Cost:**

    * Fixed monthly fee for your chosen plan
    * Includes core platform features and functionality
    * Covers basic program management tools
    * Provides access to affiliate dashboard and reporting

    **Plan Features:**

    * Commission plan management
    * Affiliate onboarding and management
    * Basic reporting and analytics
    * Standard support and documentation
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Unit Usage Costs">
    **Usage-Based Charges:**

    * Additional costs based on platform usage
    * Calculated according to your plan's unit rates
    * Added to your monthly plan fee
    * Varies based on program activity and scale

    **Unit Types:**

    * Ad Requests - Media asset serving and display
    * Click Processing - Affiliate link tracking and redirects
    * Transactions - Commission processing and payments
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Total Billing">
    **Monthly Invoice Calculation:**

    ```
    Total Monthly Cost = Plan Fee + (Unit Usage × Unit Rates)
    ```

    **Billing Transparency:**

    * Detailed breakdown of all charges
    * Unit usage reporting for each service
    * Clear pricing structure and rates
    * Predictable cost management
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Unit Usage Tracking

<Card title="Usage Monitoring" icon="chart-line">
  At the end of each day, Affelios reports the total volume of units for the previous day. The reported amount will be available for view within the billing section of your account.
</Card>

### Types of Chargeable Units

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Ad Requests">
    **What Are Ad Requests:**

    * Media asset serving and display requests
    * Banner advertisements and creative assets
    * HTML5 content and promotional materials
    * Image and video content delivery

    **When They're Charged:**

    * Each time a media asset is requested
    * When affiliates access promotional materials
    * During creative asset serving
    * For all media content delivery

    **Usage Tracking:**

    * Real-time monitoring of ad requests
    * Daily reporting of total volume
    * Historical usage analytics
    * Cost optimization insights
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Click Processing">
    **What Is Click Processing:**

    * Affiliate link tracking and redirects
    * Click attribution and routing
    * Link validation and processing
    * Traffic source identification

    **When It's Charged:**

    * Each affiliate link click processed
    * Link redirect and tracking operations
    * Attribution data processing
    * Click validation and routing

    **Usage Tracking:**

    * Click volume monitoring
    * Processing efficiency metrics
    * Daily click processing reports
    * Performance optimization data
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Transactions">
    **What Are Transactions:**

    * Commission processing and calculations
    * Payment processing and settlements
    * Financial transaction handling
    * Revenue attribution and reporting

    **When They're Charged:**

    * Only when transactions are processed
    * Pending transactions are not charged
    * Processed on the day of completion
    * Based on actual transaction volume

    **Important Note:**
    Transactions are only charged when they have been processed. If a transaction is considered "pending," then it is only reported to the system on the day that it is processed.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Usage Reporting

<Steps>
  <Step title="Daily Reporting">
    Affelios reports total unit volume for the previous day at the end of each day.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Billing Section Access">
    View your unit usage reports in the billing section of your account dashboard.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Usage Analytics">
    Monitor trends, patterns, and optimization opportunities in your usage data.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cost Management">
    Use usage data to optimize your program and control costs effectively.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Billing Cycle Management

<Card title="Monthly Billing Process" icon="calendar">
  Billing cycles correspond to calendar months, with invoices issued on the first day of each month. Following the generation of an invoice, payment via credit card is processed shortly after that.
</Card>

### Billing Cycle Details

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Calendar Month Cycles">
    **Billing Period:**

    * Billing cycles align with calendar months
    * January 1st to January 31st = January billing cycle
    * February 1st to February 28th/29th = February billing cycle
    * Consistent monthly billing regardless of signup date

    **Invoice Generation:**

    * Invoices created on the first day of each month
    * Covers the previous month's usage and fees
    * Includes detailed breakdown of all charges
    * Available for download and review
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Payment Processing">
    **Payment Timeline:**

    * Invoice generated on the 1st of each month
    * Credit card payment processed shortly after
    * Automatic payment processing for convenience
    * Email notifications for payment status

    **Payment Methods:**

    * Credit card payments (primary method)
    * Automatic recurring billing
    * Secure payment processing
    * Payment confirmation and receipts
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Unit Compilation Process">
    **Daily Unit Tracking:**

    * Units compiled at end of each day
    * Previous day's data reported daily
    * Real-time usage monitoring available
    * Historical data maintained for analysis

    **Monthly Compilation:**

    * Units from previous day not compiled on 1st of month
    * On 2nd day of month, gather units from last two days
    * Approach taken for accounting accuracy
    * Prevents alteration of finalized billing periods
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Understanding Your Invoice

<Card title="Invoice Breakdown" icon="file-invoice">
  Understanding the tracking of unit usage is crucial when reviewing an invoice. Your invoice will reflect the costs incurred from the cumulative total of your unit usage.
</Card>

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Invoice Components">
    **Plan Fee:**

    * Base monthly subscription cost
    * Fixed fee regardless of usage
    * Core platform access and features
    * Standard support and documentation

    **Unit Usage Charges:**

    * Ad Requests × Ad Request Rate
    * Click Processing × Click Processing Rate
    * Transactions × Transaction Rate
    * Total usage-based costs

    **Total Amount Due:**

    * Plan fee + unit usage charges
    * Taxes and fees (if applicable)
    * Final amount for payment
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Usage Details">
    **Detailed Breakdown:**

    * Daily unit usage for each service
    * Rate calculations and totals
    * Historical comparison data
    * Cost optimization recommendations

    **Transparency Features:**

    * Clear line-item billing
    * Detailed usage explanations
    * Historical trend analysis
    * Cost projection tools
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Cost Management & Optimization

<Card title="Budget Optimization" icon="chart-pie">
  Effective cost management helps you optimize your affiliate program budget and maximize ROI while maintaining necessary functionality.
</Card>

### Cost Optimization Strategies

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Usage Monitoring">
    **Regular Review:**

    * Monitor daily usage reports
    * Identify usage patterns and trends
    * Track cost increases and decreases
    * Set usage alerts and notifications

    **Optimization Opportunities:**

    * Reduce unnecessary ad requests
    * Optimize click processing efficiency
    * Streamline transaction processing
    * Implement usage best practices
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Plan Optimization">
    **Right-Sizing:**

    * Choose appropriate plan for your needs
    * Upgrade or downgrade based on usage
    * Consider usage patterns and growth
    * Evaluate feature requirements

    **Cost-Benefit Analysis:**

    * Compare plan costs vs. benefits
    * Analyze ROI of platform features
    * Consider alternative solutions
    * Optimize for your specific use case
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Usage Efficiency">
    **Best Practices:**

    * Optimize media asset delivery
    * Implement efficient tracking methods
    * Streamline transaction processing
    * Monitor and reduce waste

    **Efficiency Metrics:**

    * Cost per conversion tracking
    * Usage efficiency ratios
    * Performance vs. cost analysis
    * Optimization recommendations
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Budget Planning

<Steps>
  <Step title="Historical Analysis">
    Review past usage patterns to predict future costs and plan your budget accordingly.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Growth Planning">
    Factor in expected program growth when planning your budget and choosing plans.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cost Monitoring">
    Set up regular monitoring and alerts to track costs and identify optimization opportunities.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Regular Review">
    Conduct monthly reviews of your billing and usage to ensure optimal cost management.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Troubleshooting Billing Issues

<Card title="Common Billing Questions" icon="question">
  Address frequently asked questions about billing, usage, and invoice management.
</Card>

### Billing Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Understanding Charges">
    **Q: Why is my bill higher than expected?**

    **Common Causes:**

    * Increased affiliate activity and clicks
    * Higher transaction volume
    * More media asset requests
    * Plan upgrade or feature additions

    **Resolution:**

    * Review detailed usage breakdown
    * Check for unusual activity spikes
    * Compare with previous months
    * Contact support for clarification

    **Q: When are transactions charged?**

    **Answer:**

    * Only when transactions are processed
    * Pending transactions are not charged
    * Charged on the day of processing
    * Based on actual completion status
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Usage Questions">
    **Q: How can I reduce my unit usage costs?**

    **Optimization Strategies:**

    * Optimize media asset delivery
    * Implement efficient tracking
    * Reduce unnecessary ad requests
    * Streamline transaction processing

    **Q: Why aren't pending transactions charged?**

    **Explanation:**

    * Only processed transactions are charged
    * Pending transactions may be cancelled
    * Charging occurs upon completion
    * Ensures accurate billing for actual usage
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Payment Questions">
    **Q: When is my payment processed?**

    **Payment Timeline:**

    * Invoice generated on 1st of month
    * Payment processed shortly after
    * Automatic credit card processing
    * Email confirmation sent

    **Q: Can I change my payment method?**

    **Options:**

    * Update credit card information
    * Change billing preferences
    * Contact support for assistance
    * Manage payment methods in dashboard
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Getting Support

<Info>
  Need help understanding your billing or resolving billing issues? Our support team can assist with:

  * Detailed billing explanations and breakdowns
  * Usage optimization recommendations
  * Payment method updates and changes
  * Billing dispute resolution and clarification

  Contact support through your Affelios dashboard or reach out to your account manager for personalized billing assistance.
</Info>

***

## Next Steps

<Card title="Billing Management" icon="arrow-right">
  <Info>
    Now that you understand Affelios billing, use this knowledge to optimize your program costs and manage your affiliate marketing budget effectively.
  </Info>

  **Immediate Actions:**

  * Review your current billing and usage patterns
  * Set up usage monitoring and alerts
  * Analyze cost optimization opportunities
  * Plan your budget based on usage trends

  **Ongoing Management:**

  * Monitor daily usage reports regularly
  * Optimize program efficiency to reduce costs
  * Review and adjust plans as needed
  * Maintain cost-effective affiliate operations

  **Additional Resources:**

  * [Pricing Page](https://affelios.com/pricing) - Current plan costs and unit rates
  * [Cancel Subscription](/knowledge-base/troubleshooting/cancel-subscription) - Subscription management
  * [Setup Guide](/knowledge-base/operators/setup-guide) - Program configuration and optimization
  * [API Documentation](/developers/reference/overview) - Programmatic billing and usage management
</Card>

<Tip>
  Regular monitoring of your usage patterns helps you optimize costs and choose the right plan for your needs. Set up usage alerts to stay informed about your program's activity and costs.
</Tip>