Navigating Shopify App Billing: When Apps Charge Outside Shopify's API

Hey store owners and fellow app enthusiasts!

Ever wonder how some of the more established apps in the Shopify App Store manage their billing, especially if they're part of a larger, existing service you might already be using? It's a question that often pops up in our community, and it's a great one for understanding the nuances of how apps integrate with Shopify. Recently, a developer named Ce_Cui sparked a really insightful discussion about this very topic: how can a Shopify app get approval to charge merchants outside of the standard Shopify Billing API?

For you, the store owner, this might seem like a technical detail, but it actually impacts how you interact with certain apps, especially those that are part of a broader SaaS platform. It's about understanding why some apps have a direct billing relationship with you, while others bill through Shopify. Let's dive into what our community experts had to say.

Understanding Shopify's Billing Standard

Typically, when you install a public app from the Shopify App Store, Shopify expects that app to use the Shopify Billing API for all charges. This means your app subscriptions and one-time fees show up directly on your Shopify bill, simplifying things for you. It also helps Shopify manage its ecosystem and, naturally, its revenue share.

However, as Ce_Cui pointed out, there's a specific checkbox in the app pricing settings that reads: “I have approval to charge merchants outside of the Shopify Billing API.” This is where the plot thickens for app developers who already have an established SaaS platform with existing customers and billing relationships.

How to Request This Special Approval

So, if you're an app developer with an existing SaaS, how do you get this coveted approval? Our community experts, like Mustafa_Ali, Theshopifyhub.com, Steve_TopNewYork, and SectionKit, were very clear: there's no public form for this. It's a manual review process handled directly by Shopify Partner Support.

Here's the step-by-step process our community recommends:

1. Head to Your Partner Dashboard: Log in to your Shopify Partner Dashboard.
2. Contact Partner Support: Navigate to the 'Support' section and choose 'Contact Partner Support'. You can open a ticket, or use the Partner Dashboard chat feature (SectionKit noted chat tends to be faster than email). Some also mentioned emailing app@shopify.com.
3. Be Specific and Transparent: In your ticket, clearly state that you are requesting approval to charge merchants outside the Shopify Billing API.
4. Explain Your Situation: Briefly but thoroughly explain your use case. Key points to include are:
   • You have an existing SaaS platform.
   • You have pre-existing billing relationships and contracts with merchants who may already be using your service.
   • Provide details on your current contract/billing setup.
   • Mention how many merchants you already have and whether existing merchants can use the Shopify app without having to re-subscribe through Shopify's admin.
5. Timing is Key: Several experts, including Steve_TopNewYork and rshrivastava63, strongly recommend opening this ticket and clarifying eligibility before you submit your app for review. This can save you a lot of time and potential rejections later on. As ajaycodewiz wisely cautioned, Shopify is getting stricter with its policies, and you don't want to spend months building an app that might not get approved for your intended billing model.

What Shopify Looks For During Review

Mustafa_Ali outlined what Shopify typically looks for when considering these exceptions:

• Established SaaS Product: You should already have a robust SaaS product with existing merchant contracts. This isn't for new apps trying to bypass Shopify's billing.
• Predating Billing Relationship: Your billing relationship with these merchants should predate their use of your Shopify app integration.
• Not Avoiding Revenue Share: Shopify wants to ensure you're not trying to avoid their revenue share on new merchant acquisitions through the Shopify App Store.

Important Considerations and Warnings

Our community discussions highlighted a few critical points:

• Approval is Not Guaranteed: This is a big one. Shopify is known to be quite strict about these exceptions, and approval is definitely not a given.
• New Merchants vs. Existing: Even if you get approval for your existing customers, Shopify will generally still require you to use the Shopify Billing API for any new merchants you acquire through the Shopify App Store. This is a crucial distinction.
• Be Prepared for Delays: SectionKit noted that replies from Partner Support can take a while, sometimes weeks. Patience is a virtue here!

So, for any app developers out there with existing SaaS platforms looking to integrate with Shopify, the consensus from our community is clear: be proactive, be transparent, and communicate with Shopify Partner Support early in your development process. It's a manual, case-by-case review, and setting expectations correctly can save you a lot of headaches down the line. Understanding these nuances helps us all build a stronger, more transparent Shopify ecosystem.