As a reseller you have two billing relationships: you pay your provider, and your customers pay you. Keeping them in sync is the heart of a healthy reseller business.
Your side: paying the provider
With the SyllHost Reseller API, orders are paid from your prepaid account balance at the moment you place them. Renewal invoices are created before the due date and, if auto-renew is on, paid from your balance. Read how prepaid balance billing works.
Customer side: invoicing them
Your customers should pay you before you pay the provider. Options:
- Your own billing system or a standard invoicing tool.
- Payment gateways available in your market.
- Bank transfer with manual confirmation for small volumes.
Customer details on each invoice
When you order through the API, you can add a billing object with your end customer's details. The invoice then shows those details instead of yours, and renewal invoices for that service keep them. Leave it out and your own details are used. This helps you keep records per customer and is useful for tax paperwork.
Billing cycle alignment
Match the cycles. If you charge a customer yearly, buy yearly. If you charge monthly, a monthly service avoids tying up balance. Mismatches cause cash-flow stress.
Renewal workflow
- Remind customers 30, 14 and 3 days before renewal.
- Collect payment from the customer first.
- Make sure your provider balance covers the renewal. Use
GET /accountto check. - Pay or let auto-renew pay the provider invoice.
POST /invoices/{id}/paypays manually and is safe to repeat.
Late payers
- Send reminders with a clear due date.
- Suspend access according to your own terms, not by surprise.
- Export a backup for the customer if they leave. See backups.
Record keeping
Store the order number, invoice number and your own reference (reference field) for each customer. It makes support and accounting much easier.
A sample monthly routine
- Week 1: review invoices due this month and customers who have paid.
- Week 2: check your provider balance against upcoming renewals and top up.
- Week 3: chase late payments with a polite reminder.
- Week 4: reconcile orders, invoices and payments in your records.
Handling currency
All API money values are in USD. If you bill customers in another currency, convert at a rate that includes a small buffer for exchange movements and payment fees, and update your rate on a schedule so it does not drift.
Taxes and records
Rules depend on your country. Keep every invoice, the customer's billing details and proof of payment. The API stores the billing details you send on each invoice, which helps when you need to show who a charge was for.
FAQ
What if my balance is too low at renewal time?
The renewal cannot be paid automatically and the service may become overdue. Keep a buffer.
Can I keep my customer's details off my own invoices?
Each API order can carry the customer's own billing details, so their invoices show them.
Build with our API: read the Reseller API reference and the step-by-step guide. API access is enabled per account, so contact us to request it.