Default billing settings

Default billing settings apply your chosen subscription billing configuration to every new account you create. You set it once; new accounts get those settings automatically. Existing accounts are unchanged.

What it is

Subscription billing creates and sends invoices or charges saved payment methods for recurring subscriptions. Default settings in Administration → Default billing settings apply to all new accounts so you don't configure billing for each account manually.

Why it matters

• Less manual work – New accounts get your preferred billing configuration automatically
• Consistency – Same billing practices across new customers
• Flexibility – Change any single account from its own billing settings under Accounts → Manage Accounts

What you can configure

• Subscriptions – A toggle that turns subscription billing on for new accounts. It is Off by default
• Payment collection – How you take the money for a subscription
• Subscription renewal – What happens when a subscription renews. Options include Do nothing and Create a draft invoice
• Subscription scheduling – Whether each subscription renews on its own start date, or all subscriptions are aligned to a common date
• Memo – Free text that prints at the bottom of every invoice subscription billing creates

The page shows a banner stating that these settings apply only to accounts created after you save. Existing accounts keep their current settings.

How to configure default billing

1. Go to Partner Center → Administration → Default billing settings
2. Turn the Subscriptions toggle on. It is Off by default
3. Set Payment collection to the method you want to use to take payment
4. Set Subscription renewal. Choose Do nothing if you do not want anything generated on renewal, or Create a draft invoice if you want an invoice you review before sending
5. Set Subscription scheduling. Renew each subscription on its own start date, or align subscriptions to a common date
6. Add a Memo if you want standing text at the bottom of every invoice subscription billing creates
7. Review the settings and select Save

New accounts will get these settings in their billing configuration automatically.

attention

Default billing settings do not change existing accounts. Only accounts created after you save will use these defaults.

Change billing for a single account

You can change billing for any account at any time:

1. Go to Partner Center → Accounts → Manage Accounts
2. Open the account
3. Change that account's own billing settings

For more on per-account billing, see Subscription management.

Market-specific defaults

With multiple markets, you can set different default billing settings per market. Use the market selector on the Default billing settings page.

Product pricing requirement

For automation to bill correctly:

• Retail prices must be set for each product
• Subscription settings must be correct for recurring products

info

To automatically bill based on active products, you must set retail prices for each product. Without pricing, the automation cannot calculate amounts.

Frequently asked questions

Do default billing settings affect existing accounts?

No. They apply only to accounts created after you save. Existing accounts keep their current billing settings.

Can I change billing for one account after applying defaults?

Yes. Go to Accounts → Manage Accounts, open the account, and change that account's own billing settings.

Do I need to set product prices for automation to work?

Yes. Set retail prices for each product so automatic billing can calculate amounts.

Can I have different defaults per market?

Yes. Select each market on the Default billing settings page and save different settings per market.

What does the Payment collection setting do?

Payment collection sets how you take the money for a subscription on a new account. Open the field on the Default billing settings page to see the methods available to your account, and pick the one that matches how you want to be paid.

What is the Memo field for?

Anything you type in Memo prints at the bottom of every invoice that subscription billing creates. Use it for standing text such as payment terms or a remittance note.

Can I turn off default subscription billing later?

Yes. Go to Default billing settings, set the Subscriptions toggle to Off, and save. New accounts will no longer get defaults; existing accounts are unchanged.

My customers are receiving unexpected invoice emails: how do I stop this?

This happens when subscription billing is turned on and set to generate invoices on renewal. To stop invoice emails from being sent:

1. Go to Partner Center → Administration → Default billing settings and check whether the Subscriptions toggle is on
2. Set Subscription renewal to Do nothing so renewals no longer generate an invoice, then select Save
3. This changes the default for new accounts only. For an account that is already sending invoices, change that account's own billing settings

Account settings are found under Partner Center → Accounts → Manage Accounts, then open the affected account.