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

# Connecting to Billing

> Learn how to connect events to billing and see usage in invoices

Events alone don't generate revenue - they need to be connected to pricing plans and customer subscriptions to create billable charges. This guide shows you how to transform your ingested events into actual invoices.

## How Events Flow to Billing

The complete flow from events to invoices:

1. **Events** → Usage data transmitted to Flexprice
2. **Features** → Define what you're tracking and how to aggregate
3. **Plans** → Set pricing for features
4. **Subscriptions** → Connect customers to plans
5. **Invoices** → Automatic billing based on usage

## Prerequisites

* A metered feature created and configured
* Events being transmitted and validated
* A customer created in Flexprice

## Step 1: Create a Pricing Plan

### Navigate to Plans

1. Log into your Flexprice Admin Dashboard
2. In the left sidebar, click on **Product Catalog**
3. Click on **Plans**
4. Click **"Create Plan"**

### Configure the Plan

1. **Plan Name**: Give your plan a descriptive name (e.g., "Basic Plan", "Pro Plan")
2. **Description**: Optional description of what the plan includes
3. **Billing Cycle**: Choose how often customers are billed (monthly, annually, etc.)

### Add Your Feature

1. Click **"Add Feature"** or **"Add Charge"**
2. Select your metered feature from the list
3. Configure the pricing:

**For Usage-Based Pricing:**

* **Price Model**: Choose "Usage Based"
* **Price**: Set the price per unit (e.g., \$1 per credit)
* **Free Tier**: Optional free usage before billing starts

**Example Configuration:**

* Feature: Model Usage
* Price: \$1.00 per credit
* Free Tier: 100 credits per month

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/flexprice/public/images/docs/Event%20Ingestion/create_feature.png" alt="Plan Configuration" />
</Frame>

### Advanced Pricing Options

**Tiered Pricing:**

* First 1000 credits: \$1.00 each
* Next 1000 credits: \$0.80 each
* Additional credits: \$0.60 each

**Package Pricing:**

* 1000 credits for $800 (effective $0.80 per credit)

**Volume Discounts:**

* Set percentage discounts based on usage volume

### Save the Plan

Click **"Save Plan"** to create your pricing plan.

## Step 2: Assign Plan to Customer

### Create Subscription

1. Go to **Customers** in the left sidebar
2. Find and click on your customer
3. Click **"Create Subscription"**
4. Select the plan you just created
5. Set the subscription start date
6. Click **"Create Subscription"**

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/flexprice/public/images/docs/Event%20Ingestion/setting_event_name.png" alt="Create Subscription" />
</Frame>

### Verify Subscription

After creating the subscription, you should see:

* Subscription status: Active
* Plan name and billing cycle
* Next billing date

## Step 3: Monitor Usage and Billing

### Check Upcoming Invoices

1. Go to the customer's subscription page
2. Click on **"Upcoming Invoices"** tab
3. You'll view a preview of the next invoice with:
   * Usage quantities from your events
   * Calculated amounts based on your pricing
   * Billing period information

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/flexprice/public/images/docs/Event%20Ingestion/upcoming_invoices.png" alt="Upcoming Invoices" />
</Frame>

**Example Invoice Preview:**

```
Subscription    Description     Interval        Quantity    Amount
Test Feature    Usage Based     Aug 22 - Sep 22    2         $2
```

### Understanding the Billing

* **Quantity**: Total usage aggregated from your events
* **Amount**: Calculated based on your pricing plan
* **Interval**: Current billing period
* **Description**: Shows "Usage Based" for metered features

## Real-World Example

Let's walk through a complete example:

### 1. Feature Configuration

* **Feature Name**: Model Usage
* **Event Name**: `model.usage`
* **Aggregation**: Sum of `credits`
* **Usage Reset**: Periodic (monthly)

### 2. Events Transmitted

```json theme={null}
[
  {
    "event_name": "model.usage",
    "external_customer_id": "cust_123",
    "properties": { "credits": 5 }
  },
  {
    "event_name": "model.usage",
    "external_customer_id": "cust_123",
    "properties": { "credits": 3 }
  }
]
```

### 3. Plan Configuration

* **Plan Name**: Basic Plan
* **Feature**: Model Usage
* **Pricing**: \$1.00 per credit
* **Free Tier**: 10 credits per month

### 4. Billing Calculation

* **Total Usage**: 5 + 3 = 8 credits
* **Free Credits**: 10 (no charge for first 10)
* **Billable Credits**: 0 (8 \< 10, so no charge)
* **Amount**: \$0.00

### 5. If More Usage Occurs

If the customer uses 15 credits total:

* **Total Usage**: 15 credits
* **Free Credits**: 10
* **Billable Credits**: 5
* **Amount**: \$5.00

## Advanced Billing Scenarios

### Multiple Features

You can add multiple metered features to a single plan:

**Plan: Pro Plan**

* Model Usage: \$1.00 per credit
* API Calls: \$0.01 per call
* Storage: \$0.10 per GB

**Customer Usage:**

* 50 credits consumed
* 1000 API calls
* 5 GB storage

**Invoice:**

```
Model Usage     Usage Based     Aug 22 - Sep 22    50    $50
API Calls       Usage Based     Aug 22 - Sep 22    1000  $10
Storage         Usage Based     Aug 22 - Sep 22    5     $0.50
Total: $60.50
```

### Tiered Pricing

**Plan: Enterprise Plan**

* Model Usage:
  * First 1000 credits: \$0.80 each
  * Next 1000 credits: \$0.60 each
  * Additional: \$0.40 each

**Customer Usage: 2500 credits**

* First 1000: \$800
* Next 1000: \$600
* Additional 500: \$200
* **Total: \$1600**

## Monitoring and Analytics

### Usage Trends

1. Go to **Usage Tracking** → **Query**
2. Select your feature and customer
3. View usage over time to identify patterns

### Billing Analytics

1. Go to **Invoices** section
2. View historical invoices and revenue
3. Analyze customer usage patterns

## Common Billing Issues

### 1. No Charges Appearing

**Possible Causes:**

* Feature not added to plan
* Customer not subscribed to plan
* Usage below free tier
* Wrong billing period

**Solutions:**

* Verify feature is in the plan
* Check subscription status
* Review free tier settings
* Confirm billing cycle dates

### 2. Wrong Amounts

**Possible Causes:**

* Incorrect pricing configuration
* Wrong aggregation values
* Billing period mismatch

**Solutions:**

* Review plan pricing settings
* Check event aggregation
* Verify billing cycle alignment

### 3. Unexpected Charges

**Possible Causes:**

* Events transmitted to wrong customer
* Incorrect usage reset setting
* Duplicate events

**Solutions:**

* Verify external\_customer\_id
* Check Usage Reset configuration
* Review event history for duplicates

## Best Practices

### 1. Test Billing Setup

Before going live:

1. Create a test customer
2. Transmit a few test events
3. Verify charges appear correctly
4. Check invoice calculations

### 2. Monitor Usage Patterns

Regularly check:

* Usage trends and spikes
* Customer behavior patterns
* Revenue impact of pricing changes

### 3. Set Up Alerts

Consider alerts for:

* Unusual usage spikes
* Failed billing attempts
* Revenue thresholds

### 4. Document Pricing

Keep clear documentation of:

* Feature pricing structure
* Free tier limits
* Billing cycle details
* Customer-specific overrides

## Pricing Strategies

### Usage-Based Pricing

**Pros:**

* Aligns cost with value
* Scales automatically
* Fair for customers

**Cons:**

* Revenue can be unpredictable
* Complex to forecast

### Tiered Pricing

**Pros:**

* Encourages higher usage
* Predictable revenue at scale
* Rewards loyal customers

**Cons:**

* More complex to configure
* Can be confusing for customers

### Hybrid Models

Combine multiple pricing approaches:

* Base subscription fee
* Usage-based charges
* Volume discounts

## Next Steps

After setting up billing:

1. **Monitor Performance** - Track usage and revenue
2. **Optimize Pricing** - Adjust based on customer behavior
3. **Scale Operations** - Add more features and customers
4. **Automate Processes** - Set up webhooks and integrations

## Troubleshooting

### "No charges in upcoming invoice"

* Check that events are being transmitted
* Verify feature is in the plan
* Confirm customer subscription is active
* Review free tier settings

### "Wrong billing amounts"

* Verify pricing configuration
* Check event aggregation values
* Review billing period dates
* Confirm usage reset settings

### "Unexpected charges"

* Review recent events for the customer
* Check for duplicate events
* Verify external\_customer\_id mapping
* Review plan configuration changes

## Getting Help

If you're experiencing billing issues:

1. Check the **[Event Debugger](/docs/event-ingestion/event-debugger)** for event processing status
2. Review your plan configuration carefully
3. Verify customer subscription status
4. Contact support with specific examples and error messages