Billing For SAAS VIA API

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I am looking at setting up a SAAS for a specific group of clients. The software package has the ability to create clients (for agency use) but it doesn't have a billing platform.

It does have APIs to allow the creation and management of clients.

I am looking for a simple billing solution that can connect to the SAAS and manage subscriptions - anyone with thoughts?

Whilst I understand what APIs do, I am not fully conversant how they are triggered. Billing systems I have looked at have their own APIs as well and I cannot get my head around how the systems talk - it looks like I am trying to connect a 13amp plug to another 13amp plug!

I am aware that Stripe can do this direct, however, not sure if I want to be dependent on them in this case.

 

[martin_shl]

Would the SaaS be able to trigger a call to a billing system on the creation of a client?

An API on the billing system is waiting for calls from your SaaS and that could be triggered on events or a schedule.
Some billing systems might also have webhooks that can work the other way with the billing system calling the SaaS on events in the billing system.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Surely the billing client triggers the SAAS to pass the client details/status over?

Sorry, this is where my knowledge goes murkey.

The SAAS's API goes like this:

Add a client​

POST​

[Base-URL]/clients

Parameters	Type	Description
api_token	string (required)	Your API Key
email	string (required)	Valid client email.
role_id	integer (required)	Assign the client to a specific role.
package_id	integer (required)	Assign the client to a specific package.
password	string (optional)	password for the client
is_active	bool (optional)	0 or 1, with 0 being the default.
address	string (optional)	Client address
phone	string (optional)	Client phone number

So, I would have thought the billing system sends the relevant info to the SAAS as above.



Maybe I should be looking for a biling platform with webhooks to talk to the SAAS APIs?

 

[martin_shl]

So is the client to be created in the billing system then ? In that case, yes I think the billing system would need webhooks. The one I use - Quickfile - has webhooks if you take out a Power User subscription which is £60+VAT per year

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

It makes sense to take the money first and then set the service up (or am I missing something??).

I will have a look at Quickfile, thanks, although I do also use Blesta for my hosting and ARMember for a couple membership sites and believe that have webshooks.

After that, I will need to see how I can screw the connectivity up!

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Or, I might be able to throw up a WP site for content development and put a basic billing/subscription plugin (ARMember is overkill)....