Billing & Payouts
Follow the money from purchase to retained revenue
Manage buyer funding, partner earnings, conversion revenue, intake costs and returns without treating every amount as the same kind of balance.
How it works
- 1
Agree on the funding model
Use prepaid product inventory or the buyer balance/credit arrangement configured for the contract. Set acceptance and conversion pricing separately when an agreement earns revenue at more than one stage.
- 2
Record the qualifying events
Delivery, sale, billable-call, and conversion events each trigger the charge or amount owed that you set up. Partner payout rules and extra-cost triggers define when earnings and costs are recorded.
- 3
Settle and reconcile
Review payment history, orders, balances, partner payout records and returns. Reports connect those outcomes to the lead or call so the retained result can be explained.
Keep funding, revenue and payout separate
The buyer’s purchase, the sale of an opportunity and the publisher’s payout are related events with different rules.
Balances and credit limits
Balance-funded contracts can use the buyer’s configured credit limit where balance enforcement applies. Prepaid products instead draw from purchased inventory. A storefront’s prepaid promise does not mean every contract in the platform operates without credit.
Lead and call products
Stripe Connect checkout supports configured lead or call products and one-time or recurring purchases. Each purchase keeps its own funding record, and inventory is used in FIFO order (oldest first). Buyers can follow remaining units and orders from the portal.
Partner accrual and payment
Configure a lead payout basis of Sold or Delivered for the applicable agreement. Accrual records the event that earned the payout; payment schedules and thresholds determine when it is paid. Call payout terms can instead follow their configured billable event or revenue share.
Acceptance and conversion revenue
CPL (price per lead) and CPA (price per conversion) amounts represent different stages. Where enabled, a buyer can report a conversion price within configured bounds. A later conversion, reversal or return must be considered when comparing headline sale price with retained revenue.
Handle the events after the initial sale
Qualification, failed delivery, a returned call and a payment dispute each need their own record.
Intake and qualification costs
Miscellaneous costs can fire on a sold lead, CPA conversion or selected mapped disposition. For example, record intake expense when a case is transferred to a firm, then record revenue if the firm later signs it. A selected-disposition cost is recorded only once per case and can be billed or report-only, as configured.
Returns and purchase refunds
Lead and call return policies define eligibility, the request window and instant versus reviewed settlement. Purchase-specific inventory refunds are distinct from returning one sold lead or call. Eligible product actions can adjust inventory or convert remaining value to credit under the supported rules.
Pause delivery or pause renewal
Renewal settings and contract status are separate. Check both when changing an ongoing purchase.
Dispute evidence and separate recipients
Evidence packs assemble the relevant payment, terms, delivery and outcome history for review. A secondary delivery can keep its own case ID and dispositions without becoming another billed sale. Its configured disposition cost attaches to the real sale; only the real sale can convert or return.
What your account needs
Payment features require the relevant modules, permissions and payment connection. Contract funding and payout settings govern each agreement. Platform plan credits and service usage are separate from buyer inventory and partner earnings. Currency and provider fees follow the account configuration; live rates remain on Pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is a buyer balance the same as prepaid inventory?
No. A balance is a monetary funding account and may have a configured credit limit. A prepaid product purchase funds units tied to purchase buckets. The contract determines which funding model applies.
Does Delivered mean the same thing as Sold for publisher payouts?
No. The selected payout basis identifies the qualifying event. Choose the basis that matches the agreement and review the associated accrual records separately from the later payment schedule.
Can an intake cost happen before conversion revenue?
Yes. Configure a miscellaneous cost on a selected mapped disposition, such as transfer to the next recipient. A later CPA event can book conversion revenue separately.
Do all buyer returns settle immediately?
No. Contract and disposition policies determine whether an eligible return settles instantly or waits for review. The configured window and sale state still apply.
Explore the platform
Set up your buyer network
Choose how buyers get leads and calls. Keep their setup and routing rules in one place.
Every feature is part of the plan. Usage is billed in credits.