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

# Fees

> Add fixed charges to your pricing

Fees are fixed charges that complement usage-based billing. Use them for setup costs, platform access, recurring subscriptions, or any charge that doesn't vary with consumption.

## Fees vs. billable metrics

Choose the right tool for the job:

|                 | Fees                      | Billable Metrics        |
| --------------- | ------------------------- | ----------------------- |
| **Charge type** | Fixed amount              | Variable by usage       |
| **When to use** | Predictable costs         | Consumption-based       |
| **Examples**    | Setup fees, subscriptions | Tokens, compute hours   |
| **Pricing**     | Single unit price         | Multiple pricing models |

**Use fees for:**

* One-time setup or onboarding charges
* Monthly or annual platform fees
* License fees
* Support tier charges

**Use billable metrics for:**

* Token consumption
* Compute hours
* Storage usage
* Any metered resource

## Fee types

### One-time fees

Charged once when a subscription activates. Perfect for:

* **Setup fees** - Cover onboarding costs
* **Implementation charges** - Custom integrations
* **Activation fees** - Initial account setup

One-time fees appear on the customer's first invoice only.

### Recurring fees

Charged on a schedule throughout the subscription. Options include:

| Cadence     | Use Case           |
| ----------- | ------------------ |
| **Monthly** | SaaS subscriptions |
| **Yearly**  | Annual licenses    |

Recurring fees are charged when the subscription starts and then on each billing cycle.

## Payment terms

Control when customers pay for fees.

### Prepaid (in advance)

The customer's wallet balance is debited right away. As a merchant you receive the fees instantly.

**Best for:**

* Risk management
* Smaller customers
* Self-serve signups

### Postpaid (in arrears)

Charges accumulate and appear on the next invoice. No immediate payment required.

**Best for:**

* Enterprise contracts
* Established customers
* Sales-led deals

## Creating fees

Fees belong to a product. Create them in the Paygentic dashboard or via API.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/paygentic/YodbYDuZqjSJuHgv/images/create_fee.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=YodbYDuZqjSJuHgv&q=85&s=2b11b8e4bf3d48d37f0fc8eeeab748ed" alt="Fee creation form in the dashboard" width="2280" height="1310" data-path="images/create_fee.png" />
</Frame>

### Required fields

* **Name** - Internal identifier (e.g., "Pro Monthly Fee")
* **Description** - Explain what this fee covers
* **Product** - Which product this fee belongs to

### Pricing configuration

When adding a fee to a plan, configure:

* **Unit Price** - The fixed amount to charge (e.g., \$50.00)
* **Billing Cadence** - How often to charge (one-time, monthly, yearly, etc.)
* **Payment Term** - When to collect (prepaid or postpaid)
* **Invoice Display Name** - What customers see on invoices

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/paygentic/YodbYDuZqjSJuHgv/images/create_fee_price.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=YodbYDuZqjSJuHgv&q=85&s=6cb5e4ffb73b6b00e3f2292ab8733989" alt="Plan with fees and metrics configured" width="2514" height="1184" data-path="images/create_fee_price.png" />
</Frame>

## Adding fees to plans

Fees are attached to plans alongside metric prices. A single plan can include:

* Multiple fees (setup + monthly subscription)
* Fees and usage-based metrics together
* Different payment terms per fee

**Example: SaaS Platform Plan**

| Charge          | Type   | Cadence  | Payment  |
| --------------- | ------ | -------- | -------- |
| Setup Fee       | Fee    | One-time | Prepaid  |
| Platform Access | Fee    | Monthly  | Postpaid |
| API Calls       | Metric | Usage    | Postpaid |
| Premium Support | Fee    | Monthly  | Postpaid |

## Fees on invoices

Fees appear as line items on customer invoices with:

* The display name you configured
* The charge amount
* Applicable taxes (calculated automatically)

## API reference

Manage fees programmatically:

* `POST /v0/fees` - Create a new fee
* `GET /v0/fees` - List all fees
* `GET /v0/fees/{id}` - Get fee details
* `PATCH /v0/fees/{id}` - Update fee name/description

See the [API Reference](/api-reference) for complete documentation.

## Next steps

* [Create plans](/platform/pricing/plans) to bundle fees with usage pricing
* [Set up products](/platform/pricing/products) to organize your offerings
* [Configure prices](/platform/pricing/prices) for usage-based metrics