Shopify App Billing: How to Get Approval for External Payments (For Existing SaaS Platforms)
Hey everyone! As a Shopify migration expert and someone who keeps a close eye on the community discussions, I often see incredibly valuable insights shared by fellow developers and store owners. Recently, a thread popped up that addresses a very specific, yet critical, question for many app developers: how do you get approval to charge merchants outside of the Shopify Billing API?
This is a common scenario for businesses that have an existing SaaS platform and are looking to integrate with Shopify by building a public app. You've already got your billing relationships, your contracts, and your infrastructure in place. So, when you see that checkbox in your app settings that says, “I have approval to charge merchants outside of the Shopify Billing API,” it naturally sparks curiosity. How do you check that box?
Our friend Ce_Cui kicked off the discussion, asking precisely this. And the community, as always, came through with some really clear, actionable advice. Let’s dive into what we learned.
The Short Answer: It's a Manual Review, Not a Form
The first, and most important, takeaway from the discussion is that there isn't a public form or an automated process for this kind of approval. As Mustafa_Ali pointed out right away, this is a specific approval process handled directly by Shopify Partner Support. You won't find a “self-service” button for it – it’s a manual, case-by-case review.
Several contributors, including Steve_TopNewYork and rshrivastava63, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Shopify wants to understand the “why” behind your request. It’s not just about ticking a box; it’s about demonstrating a legitimate reason for needing an exception to their standard billing policies.
How to Request Approval: Your Step-by-Step Guide
So, if there's no form, what do you do? The community provided a clear path:
Step 1: Contact Shopify Partner Support Directly
- Go to your Partner Dashboard.
- Navigate to Support.
- Click on Contact Partner Support and open a new ticket.
- SectionKit also mentioned that you can try emailing app@shopify.com or using the Partner Dashboard chat, noting that the chat often yields faster responses than email.
Step 2: Be Clear and Transparent in Your Request
When you open that ticket, you need to provide a very specific explanation of your situation. Here's what the community recommends you clearly state:
- You have an existing SaaS platform with established operations.
- You already have pre-existing billing relationships and contracts with merchants outside of Shopify.
- You are specifically requesting approval to charge these existing merchants outside the Shopify Billing API for your new Shopify app integration.
- Briefly explain your current contract/billing setup. Theshopifyhub.com suggested including details like how many merchants you already have and if these existing merchants can use the app without having to re-subscribe through their Shopify admin.
It’s crucial to be transparent about your use case, as Mustafa_Ali advised. Shopify needs to understand your unique situation to make an informed decision.
Step 3: Understand What Shopify Looks For
Shopify isn't just handing out these exceptions freely. They have specific criteria they look for, primarily to ensure fairness and prevent developers from circumventing their revenue share models. The key points highlighted by Mustafa_Ali are:
- You already have an established SaaS product with existing merchant contracts.
- Your billing relationship with these merchants predates the Shopify app integration.
- You are not trying to avoid Shopify’s revenue share on new merchant acquisitions through the app store. This is a big one! If merchants are being acquired *through* the Shopify App Store, Shopify will generally require the use of their Billing API for those new customers, even if your existing customers are exempt.
Important Considerations and Cautions
While this process exists, it’s important to manage your expectations. Approval is not guaranteed, and Shopify is “fairly strict about it,” as Mustafa_Ali noted. Ajaycodewiz added a general but vital caution about Shopify's app review process – don't spend months building an app if you're unsure about core approvals like this. Shopify's policies are getting stricter, and apps can be rejected or even removed from the App Store if they don't align. It's always best to clarify these critical points early in your development cycle.
Also, be prepared for a bit of a wait. SectionKit mentioned that replies can take a while, sometimes weeks, so patience is key after submitting your request.
Here's the visual Ce_Cui shared, showing the checkbox in question:
Ultimately, the consensus from the community is clear: if you have an existing SaaS platform with a pre-existing merchant base and you want to integrate with Shopify without forcing those existing customers into a new billing relationship through Shopify’s API, your best bet is to proactively engage with Shopify Partner Support. Be transparent, explain your unique situation, and be ready to adapt for any new merchants you acquire through the Shopify App Store. Good luck, and happy building!