The Beginners guide to choosing and setting up a billing solution

[soon]

Help!,

 

I dont have a billing solution, I know its a lot of work

 

I found WHMCS by accident on the Kayako forum. I have been looking for a billing solution for a long time and I have looked at lots of different solutions.

 

From what I have seen so far WHMCS looks like it might be the solution. Implementing a billing solution is a lot of work (isnt everything these days?) and its pretty depressing if you end up with a solution that costs you more than you thought it would.

 

So, my situation is that I have a lot of "exploration" experience but I havent chosen a solution (so I think I know what questions to ask). I imagine everyone reading this post will be in a similar situation.

 

I want to know the (not so obvious) costs and where the best deal is before I start

 

The first question - How much is this going to cost me and where do I find the best deal?

 

COST1. I need a merchant account - what is the easiest and quickest way to get one and how much are is it going to cost me. How can I be sure I have got the best deal?

 

COST2. I need to choose a Payment Service Provider (PSP)- what is the easiest way to get one and how much are is it going to cost me. How can I be sure I have got the best deal?

 

If you have already been through this, then you can answer the question "What % of each transaction" are you paying?

 

COST3. I need to be sure the above components can deal with VOLUME. I have heard horror stories from people who lost sales because the PSP simply couldnt or wouldnt handle their volume. How many times have you bought something and had something worry you after you have pushed the "Pay now" button. (We will do around 11,000 transactions in the next 12 months.)

 

I need to be sure that whetever I choose, it will handle the volume. Can anyone reassure/enlighten me here?

 

Recurring Billing

 

My service is pay as you go, you can sign up for one month or you can sign up for 12 months. In the former case its pay at the start of every month and in the latter its pay at the start of 12 months.

 

PAY1. Pay at the start of every month period. There are two scenarios.

 

PAY1A. Where payments are pro rata eg The Customer joined on the 28th January and we charge him for four days (28,29,30,31), then charge him monthly of the 1st of every month.

 

PAY1A. Where we just charge the Customer every 30 days?

 

PAY2. Pay at the start of every 12 month period - Same solution as above, different periods.

 

My Question - Can WHMCS handle both and can someone show me a working system

 

Occasional Billing

 

There are inevitably going to be times when I am going to want to charge users for a service or an extra piece of functionality. I want to just include this either at the time they first join the service or at a point when they EITHER choose to buy something - they go to a new page OR they have used a service for which we want to charge.

 

My Question - This can be easily done in WHMCS, can someone show me an example?

 

If you read this and you can provide advice and guidance then I would really appreciate hearing from you.

 

If you read this and it helps you get it right first time then the forum has done its job!

 

Cheers

 

Soon

[chickendippers]

Hi soon,

That link at Kayako is the best link you've ever clicked!

 

Recurring Billing

WHMCS can handle all scenarios flawlessly.

 

Occasional Billing

Customer can choose an addon when they sign up, or add it at any time. You can also manually create invoices for services.

[soon]

So,

 

I am non the wiser. I read all this on the Website, maybe you could elaborate?

 

Are you going to share with us a working example OR talk me through how its done, after all this is a beginners guide. If you added your link to the example here then we could all see the answer and you would get more traffic. more sales, etc.

 

Seriously I am looking for help (as well as reassurance)

 

Cheers

 

Soon

[chickendippers]

Well the link to my working example is in my signature

 

The best thing to do is have a look at the demo, install the 15 day free trial and have a play around with everything.

[ask21900]

I agree w/ chickendippers... Check out the demo, and make use of the free trial. I actually installed whmcs without doing either of these, and I was not at all disappointed.

 

WHMCS is the best solution you will find. I guarantee it!

[Zorro67]

Have to agree. I downloaded the trial first and tested before I made a decision. The I had something to compare against the other 3 systems i looked at.

 

None of them stacked up for flexibility customisation, updates, or functionality.

 

But thats for you to decide on your own. All we can give you is our experiences.

 

Oh yes, one more thing.

 

Look at the update schedule & frequency & changelogs, and see how many of user suggestions actually get implemented in new releases. Quite a few I would say.

Cheers

[soon]

Ok I'm done with the reassurances....No more please....What about Payment Service Providers and Merchant accounts (aka the hidden costs)?

 

I would really appreciate answers to the other questions.....Imagine yourself staring out and you want to keep ALL of the costs down Day 1, Just so you can pass your savings on to the users.

 

Cheers

 

Soon

[JasonO]

I wanted the demo twice as I was quite busy, needed a billing solution fast and run out of time before I managed to see and do everything in the demo. But, from what I had seen I decided to get it - and well, I (like others above) am not disapointed.

[soon]

I dont believe it another "recommendation" (that isnt helpful)

 

Is this a fanclub or a help forum???

 

Soon

[soon]

Why dont all of you read the original post again and provide some answers?

[chickendippers]

We use WorldPay, it negates the need for a merchant account all together.

[azrahn]

Why dont all of you read the original post again and provide some answers?

 

Why don't you find out for your self instead of letting us do the work for you.

Ronald.

[PPH]

I dont believe it another "recommendation" (that isnt helpful)

 

Is this a fanclub or a help forum???

 

Soon

A fan club as well as a help forum. I find your original post too lengthy and dealing with more than one issue. Perhaps it would be more helpful for future posts to be broken down simple and concerning one topic at a time.

 

Also the title is very misleading and sounds more like an information post and really does not address the question you wish help with?

[Zorro67]

We use paypal as a gateway, and have no problems in Australia. paypal has a high recognition & acceptance rate here.

 

Costs are 40c plus 2.4 % (max) with no setup fee, as opposed to AU banks which charge $400-1400 setup plus $200-400 per month, plus 3-4% per transaction.

 

So we pay about 3% on sales, instead of 6 or 7%.

 

And we've never had a problem

 

WHMCS will work with a multitude of gateways.

 

However, without appearing to be rude, i have to come to my original quote

 

"But thats for you to decide on your own. All we can give you is our experiences."

 

C'mon, your a smart guy. You don't test the temperature of the pool by sticking your toe in. get yourself wet.

 

Download the trial (costs nothing).

try it (that costs nothing too).

And then ask away.

 

you really will get plenty of help here.

[Nick]

Being hostile and demanding towards those who can help you, but are under no obligation to, isn't the best way to start out.