Note: This use-case is no longer valid. The feature release on Feb 2021 allows consolidated invoicing along with metered billing. Refer to this link to know more about itThis article covers
I'm not able to Enable Metered billing on my site and it says to contact support@chargebee.com. Why?
I want to be able to add usage charges and send a consolidated invoice to my customers.
Summary
Currently, it wouldn't be possible to simultaneously enable Metered Billing and Consolidated invoicing within the same Chargebee site.
However, as an alternative, you can use the Unbilled Charges feature however you will need to use our APIs to automate the charges being added at the right time.
However, as an alternative, you can use the Unbilled Charges feature however you will need to use our APIs to automate the charges being added at the right time.
Setting up the Alternative:
- Disable Metered Billing in your site, so that you can use Consolidated invoicing (Settings > Configure Chargebee > Billing LogiQ)
- Consolidate and add your usage charges via Add charge at term-end API for each subscription of the customer before renewal
- If there are multiple subscriptions for one customer and different charges over the period, you would have to Add Charges for each Subscription using the same API multiple times. Just that you won't be able to specify 2 Subscription IDs in one API call as it's not Customer-specific but is Subscription-specific. For example, the URL format is
https://{site}.chargebee.com/api/v2/subscriptions/{subscription_id}/add_charge_at_term_end
Once, you add the charges to each Subscription they'll be consolidated. Here's a short video for your reference.
How to identify/control the time a Consolidated Invoice is generated?
If you use a milli-second based billing model: When multiple subscriptions of a customer renew on the same day and at different times, the invoice consolidation happens only when it's time for the last renewal of the day. You can control the Renewal timestamp (Essentially the Invoice generation time) using the Change Term End API after a subscription is created. This is the cut-off time, for a consolidated invoice to be generated, that you can be certain of. Before this cut-off time, you are required to add the usage charges. To have a common renewal time for all your customers, you can also set up Calendar Billing on your site.
We have migrated to new Self-Serve Calendar Billing configuration from 23 March 2023. Self-Serve Calendar Billing allows you to add multiple Site-level & Plan-level configurations also supports Yearly billing frequency. With this new configuration, you can manage both SaaS and E-Commerce business. Besides, the Advance trigger allows you to set calendar billing for specific events. Reach out to our support to enable this feature on your site.
Note: Considering Metered Billing will be disabled, the Pending invoice will not be created and you'd not be notified of pending_invoice_created event. You'd instead add the usage Charges to the subscription over the course of the term as indicated above.