---
title: How billing works
description: Billing cycle, when charges hit, and how your monthly invoice comes together.
product: administration
audience: operator
voice_pillar: coordinate
---

# How billing works

> How your billing cycle, charges, and invoices fit together — without needing to call your account contact.

## The operational problem

Operators need to know when they'll be charged, what they'll be charged for, and how usage in //Recruiting and //Ops translates to invoice line items. Without that clarity, billing becomes a monthly surprise that requires a phone call to decode.

## How Array HQ solves it

Billing follows a predictable monthly cycle anchored to your contract start date. Each charge type has a clear timing rule, and everything lands on a single consolidated invoice per period.

## How it works

### Your billing cycle

Your billing cycle is either **monthly** or **annual**, set at contract signing. The anchor date is derived from when your contract started — for example, if your contract started on June 15, your monthly billing cycle runs the 15th of each month.

The Billing tab shows your cycle frequency and anchor date in the At-a-Glance section.

### When charges hit

| Charge type | Timing | Example |
|---|---|---|
| HQ platform fee | Upfront at start of billing period | Billed on the 1st for the month ahead |
| //Ops employee overage (PEPM) | In arrears at end of billing period | Billed on Jul 1 for actual June employee count |
| //Recruiting outcome fees | On hire event, included on next cycle invoice | Hire closes Jun 20 → appears on Jul 1 invoice |
| //Ops rewards processing | In arrears at end of billing period | Billed on Jul 1 for total June redemptions |
| Credit purchases | At time of purchase (one-time) | Charged immediately via Stripe Checkout |

### The consolidated invoice

All recurring charges for a billing period land on a **single invoice**. You will not receive separate invoices for //Recruiting and //Ops — they are combined into one document with line items grouped by product area.

Credit purchases (advertising credit add-ons) are separate one-time charges processed at the moment of purchase.

### Payment terms

Your payment terms determine how invoices are collected:

| Term | How it works |
|---|---|
| **Auto-charge** | Your card on file is charged automatically when the invoice is finalized. You receive a receipt by email. This is the default for new accounts. |
| **Net 30** | You receive an invoice email with a pay link. Payment is due within 30 days. |
| **Due on receipt** | You receive an invoice email with a pay link. Payment is due immediately. |

Your current payment terms are shown in the At-a-Glance section of the Billing tab, under the Next Invoice card.

### What the platform fee includes

The HQ platform fee is a single subscription that covers access to both //Recruiting and //Ops:

- Access to //Recruiting (job posting, sourcing, screening, scheduling)
- A baseline allotment of //Ops employees (varies by tier)
- //Ops user capacity for your workforce size

The platform fee does **not** include:

- Job advertising credits (purchased separately to fund sourcing campaigns)
- //Ops employees beyond your tier's included allotment (billed as PEPM)
- //Recruiting outcome fees (billed per successful hire)
- Rewards processing fees (billed on redemption value)

### Annual billing

Accounts on annual billing receive a discount of approximately 10% compared to monthly billing. The annual invoice covers the full year upfront for the platform fee. Variable charges (PEPM, outcome fees, rewards processing) are still billed monthly in arrears.

## Key terms

| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Billing cycle | How often you're invoiced — monthly or annual — anchored to your contract start date. |
| Anchor date | The day of the month your billing cycle resets and a new invoice is generated. |
| In arrears | Charged after the usage period ends, based on actual usage during that period. |
| PEPM | Per Employee Per Month — the charge for //Ops employees beyond your included allotment. |

## Related

- [Billing and plans](billing-plans.md)
- [Understanding your invoice](billing-invoices.md)
- [Managing payment methods](billing-payment-methods.md)