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Background Billing

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    # Background Billing

    • Introduction
    • Enabling Background Billing
    • Billing System
      • Available Integrations
    • New Account Trials
      • Registration
      • Trial Settings
      • Trial Registration Links
      • Other
      • reCAPTCHA
    • Control Panel Upgrades
      • Registration
      • Trial Settings
      • Other
      • Configuring 'Upgrade to PanelAlpha' in Connector
    • Trial Notifications
      • Send Trial Expiration Reminders
    • Social Media Login
      • Available Providers
      • Benefits
    • Client Area
      • Trial Account Banner
      • My Plans
      • My Billing

    # Introduction

    Background Billing attracts more customers by enabling one-click trial site creation with delayed billing. Combined with fast onboarding and AI-powered site creation, it turns WordPress into a strong alternative to modern site builders.

    With Background Billing, you can:

    • Create a seamless user experience where customers manage all services through a single interface
    • Streamline the billing process
    • Reduce customer friction by eliminating the need to navigate multiple platforms

    # Enabling Background Billing

    To enable or disable Background Billing:

    1. Log in to the Admin Area
    2. Navigate to Configuration → Background Billing
    3. Toggle the activation switch

    Once enabled, configure the billing system integration and trial settings.

    # Billing System

    After enabling Background Billing, set up a billing system integration.

    # Available Integrations

    Currently, PanelAlpha supports WHMCS integration.

    # WHMCS Integration

    To integrate with WHMCS:

    1. Select WHMCS from the integration type dropdown
    2. Enter your WHMCS URL
    3. Enter your WHMCS API Token

    Note: The WHMCS API Token must be configured in your WHMCS installation's Addon Modules section. For detailed instructions, refer to the WHMCS Integration Guide.

    1. Click Test Connection to verify communication

    Once configured, PanelAlpha can communicate with WHMCS to handle billing operations in the background.

    # New Account Trials

    After configuring your billing system, set up New Account Trials to optimize onboarding.

    # Registration

    # Enable Quick Registration

    When enabled, the /register endpoint in the Client Area becomes active. Users can register directly through PanelAlpha's interface. When disabled, attempts to access /register will show: "Registration is disabled."

    # Registration Password Skip

    • Disabled: Requires users to set a password and confirm their email with a verification code.
    • Enabled: Users only need to set a password. Email verification is required at their second login.

    # Pre-created Accounts

    This feature prepares WordPress instances in advance for new users.

    • Instances are created under a special system user named "Pre-Created Trial"
    • When a new user registers, ownership of a pre-created service/instance is transferred to them
    • This eliminates waiting time for WordPress installations
    • Pre-created services are automatically replenished (a cron job checks every minute)
    • The Force Create button triggers these tasks immediately
    • Setting the count to 0 disables pre-created instances
    • Pre-created services and instances are not included in billing usage calculations
    • The Force Create button is non-functional if no trial plan is selected

    # Trial Settings

    # Trial Plan

    • Select a plan to assign to newly registered users
    • Recommended: use a super-quick onboarding plan with "ask for domain" disabled

    # Suspend Trial After

    • Set the duration after which trial accounts are suspended if not upgraded

    # Remove Trial After

    • Define when trial accounts are permanently removed if they remain inactive

    # Default Site Name

    • Sets the default name for trial sites

    # Upgrade URL

    • Identical to the "Upgrade Link" in plan details
    • Changes are synchronized with the corresponding plan settings

    # Trial Registration Links

    Special URL parameters customize the registration experience:

    • /register — Creates a user account and assigns the configured trial plan
    • /register?new-site — Automatically initiates a new instance installation after registration
    • /register/email@example.com?new-site — Auto-fills the email address and starts site creation
    • /register/email@example.com?new-site&description=this+is+a+website+about+a+great+bakery+in+kielce — One-step website creation with Extendify (when Super Quick Onboarding with Extendify is enabled)
    • /register?new-import — Automatically initiates an import after registration

    Example form for your website:

    <form method="get" action="https://example.com/register">
  <input type="hidden" name="new-site" />
  <input type="email" name="email" placeholder="Enter Your Email Address" required />
  <button type="submit">Start Your Trial</button>
</form>

    Note: Replace https://example.com/register with your actual PanelAlpha registration URL.

    # Other

    # Registration Terms Text

    • Content displayed in the modal on the register page under "By registering, you accept Terms of Service"

    # reCAPTCHA

    # Control Panel Upgrades

    This section configures upgrades from control panels. For full functionality, use the connector available from version 1.4.2.

    # Registration

    # Skip Password

    • Disabled: Requires users to set a password and confirm their email.
    • Enabled: Users only need to set a password. Email verification is required at their second login.

    # Trial Settings

    # Trial Plan

    Configure which plan is assigned to users during their trial period.

    # Suspend Trial After

    Set the duration after which trial accounts are suspended if not upgraded.

    # Remove Trial After

    Define when trial accounts are permanently removed if they remain inactive.

    # Upgrade URL

    Specify the URL where users are redirected to upgrade their trial accounts.

    # Other

    # Registration Terms Text

    Configure the terms and conditions displayed during registration for control panel upgrades.

    # Configuring 'Upgrade to PanelAlpha' in Connector

    The Upgrade to PanelAlpha feature allows users to switch from their current control panel to PanelAlpha.

    # How to Configure

    1. Log in to your PanelAlpha account.
    2. Go to Background Billing → Control Panel Upgrades and select the appropriate Trial Plan.
    3. Save your changes.
    4. Navigate to your hosting server administration panel.
    5. Go to the plugin/extensions settings.
    6. Find and access the Upgrade to PanelAlpha section.
    7. Enter your PanelAlpha instance URL in the API URL field.
    8. Paste your API Token or generate a new one in PanelAlpha under Configuration → Admins.
    9. Configure the Don't Show Again Expiration setting.
    10. Run a test connection to verify integration.
    11. Once set up, new users will be eligible to receive trial accounts via PanelAlpha.

    # Settings

    # API URL

    The address to the PanelAlpha admin area, required to establish connection.

    # API Token

    Generated in PanelAlpha Admin Area under the Admins tab. Required for secure communication.

    # Don't Show Again Expiration (in days)

    Controls how long the upgrade banner remains hidden after a user dismisses it.

    # Trial Notifications

    # Send Trial Expiration Reminders

    Configure up to 7 notifications, each with its own template:

    • First Reminder Before Expiration — Early warning sent a specified number of days before expiration.
    • Second Reminder Before Expiration — Follow-up sent closer to expiration.
    • Third Reminder Before Expiration — Final reminder sent 1–2 days before expiration.
    • On Expiry Date — Sent on the exact day the trial ends.
    • First Reminder After Expiration — Sent after expiration but before suspension.
    • Second Reminder After Expiration — Follow-up for expired trials.
    • Third Reminder After Expiration — Final notification before permanent removal.

    # Social Media Login

    Social Media Login allows users to register and log in using existing social media accounts.

    # Available Providers

    • Microsoft
    • LinkedIn
    • Google
    • GitHub
    • Facebook

    # Benefits

    When enabled:

    • Users can quickly register and log in with existing social accounts
    • Registration through social media bypasses email verification
    • User retention increases due to simplified access
    • Authentication is delegated to secure platforms
    • Users do not need additional passwords

    # Client Area

    The Client Area for Background Billing provides a comprehensive interface to manage subscriptions, billing information, and trial periods.

    # Trial Account Banner

    For users with active trial accounts, a banner is displayed on the main dashboard showing:

    • Exact number of days remaining in the trial
    • Direct link to upgrade to a paid plan

    # My Plans

    The My Plans tab allows users to:

    • View all active and expired plans
    • Upgrade their plan

    # My Billing

    The My Billing tab provides:

    • Complete billing history
    • Payment method configuration
    • Option to download invoices