Reseller billing has two separate layers. Workspace seats (licenses) and AI wallet credits are controlled differently. You can mix manual license billing with Stripe-powered AI top-ups for clients.
Two layers at a glance
Workspace seats / licenses: who can use the product. Controlled by each workspace billing model (Self-Billing or Stripe Connect).
AI wallet: prepaid balance for AI features (chat, SOP generation, embeddings, etc.). Controlled at the organization level via Stripe Connect.
Self-Billing workspaces (license pool)
You purchase licenses from Elevale and assign them to client workspaces.
You invoice clients directly using your own contracts and payment terms.
Workspaces show a Self-Billing badge in the Reseller Dashboard.
Each active workspace needs at least one assigned license before clients can access the product.See Understanding Licenses for pool management details.
Org-level Stripe Connect (AI wallet top-ups)
Connect your Stripe account under Reselling → Stripe. Full steps: Stripe Connect setup.
Once connected, clients on your workspaces can add a card and Top Up Wallet for AI usage. Payments go to your Stripe account.
Clients can also enable auto-top-up when a payment method is saved.
This does not change how workspace seat licenses are billed if workspaces remain on Self-Billing.
Hybrid setup (recommended for manual billing agencies)
Many resellers keep Self-Billing on every client workspace for seats, while connecting Stripe only so clients can self-serve AI wallet top-ups.
Do connect Stripe under Reselling → Stripe for AI wallet card payments.
Do keep client workspaces on Self-Billing for license pool management.
Do not switch a workspace to Stripe Connect (Automated) unless you want automated subscription billing for seats too. That changes license and invite billing, not just AI.
After Connect is enabled, clients see Top Up Wallet instead of Request credits on Workspace Settings → Billing → AI Wallet.
Without Stripe Connect (manual AI credits)
If your organization has not connected Stripe, clients see Request credits on the AI Wallet tab.
They submit an amount and optional reference. You receive an in-app notification.
Approve after confirming offline payment. Credits are added to the client wallet immediately.
You can also add credits ad hoc from the workspace card AI credits button in Workspaces.
Only one pending request is allowed per workspace at a time.
First client invite (one license, seat handoff)
When you create a Self-Billing workspace, you (the agency admin) initially hold the single assigned license as owner.
Invite your client as a normal user (not agency_admin). While you are the only member, a second invite is allowed even if no spare licenses appear in the pool. This is the provisional handoff.
When the client accepts the invitation, ownership transfers to them, your seat is removed, and the workspace stays at one billable user.
A second client user requires an additional license in the pool.
The manual AI credits button remains available for ad hoc top-ups at any time.
Agency AI wallet (your wholesale balance)
Separately from client wallets, your organization has an agency AI wallet used for wholesale AI costs when serving reseller clients.
Top up the agency wallet from Billing so AI features stay available across client workspaces.
If the agency wallet is empty but a client still has balance, clients may see an agency assistance message rather than a personal wallet empty error.
Quick checklist
Manual client invoicing for seats → Self-Billing workspaces + license pool.
Client card top-ups for AI → Connect Stripe at org level; keep workspaces on Self-Billing.
Fully manual AI too → skip Connect; use Request credits / AI credits buttons.
Automated seat subscriptions → switch individual workspace to Stripe Connect (Automated).
Stripe Connect: unconverted vs converted workspaces
Connect workspaces move through two billing phases:
Unconverted (pre-checkout): You created the workspace and are configuring it before the client subscribes. The planned tier and billing frequency are stored for checkout, but no seat subscription runs yet. AI and exports draw from your agency AI wallet at wholesale until the client completes checkout or the setup window expires.
Converted (client subscribed): The client accepted your invite and completed Stripe checkout. Seat billing runs on your connected account; AI usage debits the client workspace AI wallet at your retail rates. Your agency wallet is not required for AI on that workspace.
Self-Billing license pools are separate, they apply only to workspaces on manual license assignment, not Stripe Connect automated seat billing.
Client cancel-flow retention discounts
When a Connect (or platform-billed) client starts cancelling their subscription, Elevale may show a stay-on-plan discount before they complete cancellation. This is an Elevale-controlled retention offer, not a coupon you configure in Stripe.
First acceptance: 30% off (monthly: 3 billing cycles; annual: next renewal once).
Second acceptance (only if they try to cancel again at least 365 days after the first): 20% off (same duration rules).
Third acceptance (365+ days after the second): 15% off.
After three acceptances: no further retention discount is offered on that workspace.
Important for resellers: the client's invoice is discounted, but Elevale's platform application fee on Connect seat billing stays at the full wholesale amount (plus Elevale tax). Your net on the seat subscription is reduced by the client discount; Elevale's wholesale fee does not shrink with the coupon.
Clients cannot cycle cancel → accept discount repeatedly within a year to stack 30% offers. Each tier is offered at most once per workspace.
Stripe Connect application fees (Elevale wholesale)
On Stripe Connect (Automated) workspaces, each paid client charge (subscription, renewal, seat add, plan change) includes an application fee equal to Elevale''s wholesale base for that tier and billing period. The fee is deducted automatically in Stripe, you receive the client payment minus Elevale''s fee and Stripe processing costs.
Fees are set on the charge at collection time, not as a percentage-only rule.
£0 trial invoices and fully discounted £0 charges have no application fee.
When Elevale schedules a wholesale rise, your client retail can stay unchanged; the application fee updates at each client''s renewal.
Each month, Billing → Invoices lists a documentation invoice summarising fees collected that month (amounts already deducted via Stripe).
Seat pricing, markup floors, and scheduling retail increases: Reselling pricing and fees.