Charges
A Charge represents a one-time fee associated with a product — such as a setup fee, onboarding cost, or activation charge. Unlike addons, charges are not recurring and are not tied to a billing frequency.
Charge vs Addon
| Concept | Billing Dimension | Recurrence | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charge | Currency only | One-time | “Setup Fee — $199” |
| Addon | Currency + billing frequency | Recurring | “Premium Support — $49/month” |
Charges are billed once; addons recur with each billing cycle.
Charge Hierarchy
Product
├── Rate Plan
│ ├── Rate Plan Prices
│ ├── Linked Addons
│ └── Linked Charges ← attached to a specific rate plan
└── Standalone Charges ← available across all rate plansA charge can be linked to one or more rate plans (appears on the rate plan card) or exist as a standalone charge at the product level.
Managing Charges
Create a Charge
- On the product details page, scroll to the Addons & Charges section.
- Click Add Charge.
- Fill in the form:
General Information
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| External Name | No | Customer-facing name shown on pricing tables, invoices, quotes, and the self-serve portal. |
| Internal Name | Yes | Internal identifier used within BillHive. Must be unique within the product. |
| Charge Key | Yes | Unique API identifier. Auto-generated from the name in create mode. Read-only after creation. |
| Description | No | Describes what the charge covers. |
Visibility
| Field | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Visible in Self-Serve Portal | Off | When enabled, customers can view this charge via the hosted self-serve portal. |
- Click Create Charge.
Edit a Charge
- On the product details page, click the pencil icon on the charge card.
- The edit form opens with the same fields as creation (except Charge Key is read-only).
- Make changes and click Update Charge.
After saving, you are redirected back to the product details page.
Activate / Deactivate a Charge
- Use the status controls on the charge card or the charge details page.
- Only active charges are available for new subscriptions.
Delete a Charge
- Click the trash icon on the charge card.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted.
- Charges linked to active subscriptions cannot be deleted.
Charge Cards on Product Details
Each charge is displayed as a card in the Addons & Charges section showing:
- Charge name and status badge (Active / Inactive / Draft).
- “Linked” badge if the charge is attached to a rate plan.
- “Charge” badge in warning color to distinguish from addons.
- Price for the currently selected currency, or a Set Price button if no price exists.
- Description (truncated to two lines).
- Action buttons: Edit Charge, Add Pricing, Delete Price.
Linking Charges to Rate Plans
On a rate plan card, use the Link dropdown and select Link Charge to attach an existing charge. Linked charges appear on the rate plan card and are automatically applied when a customer subscribes to that plan.