Common billing scenarios for license-based SaaS transactions in Partner Center

Appropriate roles: Admin agent | Billing admin | Helpdesk agent | Sales agent

These example common billing scenarios are applicable to license-based software as a service (SaaS) subscriptions in Partner Center.

Convert a free trial SaaS subscription to a paid subscription

This scenario describes billing for the renewal of a license-based free trial SaaS subscription. The renewal converts the free trial to a paid subscription at the end of the free trial period.

When you sign up for a free trial SaaS subscription, you often get a limited period to test the service. For instance, if you start a free trial on June 10, the trial period ends on July 10. At the end of the trial, your subscription is automatically converted to a paid plan without requiring any other action from you.

The reconciliation file includes these charges:

Purchase date Charge start date Charge end date Unit price Unit quantity Total amount Charge type Subscription description
06/10/2019 06/10/2019 07/09/2019 $0 1 $0 new Free trial
07/10/2019 07/10/2019 08/09/2019 $2 1 $2 renew Paid subscription

Cancel a free trial SaaS subscription

Tip

You can cancel a license-based free trial SaaS subscription any time during the free trial period.

In this scenario, you purchased a license-based free trial SaaS subscription on July 1, and then canceled it immediately in Partner Center.

The reconciliation file includes these charges:

Purchase date Charge start date Charge end date Unit price Unit quantity Total amount Charge type Subscription description
06/10/2019 06/10/2019 07/09/2019 $0 11 $0 new Free trial
06/10/2019 06/10/2019 07/09/2019 $0 11 $0 cancelImmediate Free trial

Convert custom meter SaaS subscription to another SKU

This scenario describes how to convert a custom meter SaaS subscription from one stock keeping unit (SKU) to another SKU for the same product, on the same date.

In this scenario, you purchased one SKU (Silver) under a product and converted it to another available SKU (Bronze) under this product on the same date.

The reconciliation file includes these charges:

Purchase date SKU Charge start date Charge end date Unit price Unit quantity Total amount Charge type Subscription description
06/10/2019 Silver 06/10/2019 06/10/2019 $20 1 $20 new Custom meter SaaS subscription
06/10/2019 Silver 06/10/2019 06/10/2019 $20 1 -$20 convert Prorated rebill for custom meter SaaS subscription
06/10/2019 Bronze 06/10/2019 06/10/2019 $10 1 $10 convert Custom meter SaaS subscription

Purchase and cancel a customer meter SaaS subscription on same date

This scenario describes billing for a customer meter SaaS subscription that you purchased and canceled through the Azure portal on the same date.

In this scenario, you purchased and canceled a custom meter SaaS subscription on the Azure portal on the same date.

Purchase date SKU Charge start date Charge end date Unit price Unit quantity Total amount Charge type Subscription description
06/10/2019 Bronze 06/10/2019 06/10/2019 $10 1 $10 new Custom meter SaaS subscription
06/10/2019 Bronze 06/10/2019 06/10/2019 $10 1 -$10 cancelImmediate Custom meter SaaS subscription