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Referral Purchases, Invoices & Billing

Access complete transaction history, download PDF invoices, and manage your referral expenses with transparent billing documentation

Brandon Austin avatar
Written by Brandon Austin
Updated over 3 weeks ago

Referral Purchases, Invoices & Billing

Quick Answer

Every referral purchase generates an individual invoice accessible through Account Settings → Billing → Referral Purchases. Payments are processed immediately via Stripe using credit or debit cards. Separate documentation is provided for each lead, including the date, amount, referral ID, and tax details. You can download PDF invoices for accounting, export transaction history to CSV, and track all purchases across both email (Stripe) and dashboard payment methods in one centralized billing location.

Overview

Heritage Web's billing system provides complete transparency and documentation for all referral purchases. Whether you buy leads via email or dashboard, manage hundreds of transactions monthly, or need detailed records for tax purposes, the billing infrastructure supports professional accounting requirements while maintaining simplicity for individual users. Understanding how to access, manage, and utilize your billing information is essential for proper expense tracking and effective financial management.

Accessing Your Billing Information

Navigation Path

Primary Access:

  1. Log into Heritage Web account

  2. Click Account Settings (top right)

  3. Select "Billing" from menu

  4. Click "Referral Purchases" tab

  5. View complete transaction history

Billing Dashboard Layout

Information Displayed:

Column

Description

Use Case

Date

Purchase date/time

Chronological tracking

Referral ID

Unique identifier

Individual lead tracking

Type

Lead category/specialty

Expense categorization

Amount

Price paid (pre-tax)

Cost analysis

Tax

Tax amount charged

Tax documentation

Total

Final amount charged

Payment reconciliation

Status

Payment status

Verification

Invoice

PDF download link

Documentation

Filtering and Search Options

Available Filters:

  • Date range selector

  • Minimum/maximum amount

  • Lead type/category

  • Payment status

  • Search by Referral ID

  • Search by amount

Export Options:

  • PDF for individual invoices

  • CSV for bulk transactions

  • Date range exports

  • Full history download

Invoice Details and Structure

Individual Invoice Components

Header Information:

  • Heritage Web logo and address

  • Invoice number (unique)

  • Invoice date

  • Due date (immediate)

  • Payment status

Your Information:

  • Account holder name

  • Billing address

  • Email address

  • Account ID

Line Items:

  • Lead description

  • Referral ID

  • Category/specialty

  • Publication source

  • Base price

Financial Details:

  • Subtotal

  • Tax rate applied

  • Tax amount

  • Total amount

  • Payment method (last 4 digits)

Invoice Numbering System

Format: INV-YYYY-MM-XXXXX

  • YYYY: Year

  • MM: Month

  • XXXXX: Sequential number

Example: INV-2025-08-00234

Tax Handling

Tax Calculation:

  • Based on billing address

  • State and local rates applied

  • Calculated before purchase

  • Displayed separately on invoice

  • Included in total charge

Tax Documentation:

  • Itemized on each invoice

  • Annual summary available

  • 1099 forms if applicable

  • Export for tax preparation

Payment Processing Details

Immediate Processing

Transaction Flow:

  1. Purchase initiated (email or dashboard)

  2. Payment authorization

  3. Immediate charge to card

  4. Instant lead delivery

  5. Invoice generation

  6. Email confirmation

Payment Methods on File

Managing Cards:

Adding Payment Method:

  1. Account Settings → Payment Methods

  2. Click "Add Payment Method"

  3. Enter card details:

    • Card number

    • Expiration date

    • CVC code

    • Billing ZIP

  4. Save and set as default (optional)

Multiple Cards:

  • Store multiple payment methods

  • Set primary/default card

  • Choose per transaction

  • Remove outdated cards

  • Update before expiration

Security and Compliance

PCI Compliance:

  • Level 1 PCI DSS compliant

  • No full card storage

  • Tokenized transactions

  • Encrypted transmission

  • Secure payment gateway

Stripe Integration:

  • Industry-standard processor

  • Fraud protection

  • 3D Secure support

  • Dispute handling

  • Global payment support

Transaction Types and Categories

Purchase via Email

Billing Characteristics:

  • Processed through Stripe checkout

  • External invoice from Stripe

  • Also recorded in Heritage Web

  • Dual confirmation emails

  • Same pricing as dashboard

Documentation Trail:

  1. Heritage Web notification email

  2. Stripe payment confirmation

  3. Heritage Web invoice generation

  4. Lead delivery confirmation

  5. Billing dashboard record

Purchase via Dashboard

Billing Characteristics:

  • In-app payment processing

  • Immediate invoice creation

  • Single system record

  • Instant dashboard update

  • Direct invoice access

Documentation Trail:

  1. Dashboard purchase action

  2. Payment pop-up completion

  3. Instant invoice generation

  4. Email confirmation

  5. Purchased tab update

Refunded Transactions

Refund Processing:

  • Shows as separate line item

  • Original invoice retained

  • Refund invoice generated

  • Net calculation available

  • Status marked "Refunded"

Refund Timeline:

  • Request: Within 7 days

  • Review: 48 hours

  • Processing: 3-5 business days

  • Bank posting: 5-10 days

Monthly Billing Statements

Statement Components

Summary Section:

  • Month/year covered

  • Total leads purchased

  • Total amount spent

  • Average lead price

  • Tax paid

  • Net total

Detail Section:

  • Chronological transaction list

  • Running balance

  • Category breakdown

  • Payment method used

  • Refunds/credits

Subscription Charges

Sponsor Fees:

  • Billed separately from leads

  • Monthly recurring

  • Different invoice series

  • Auto-renewal

  • Separate line items

Pro Bono Subscription:

  • $25/month if subscribed

  • Not mixed with lead purchases

  • Own billing cycle

  • Cancelable anytime

Annual Billing Summary

Year-End Documentation

Annual Report Includes:

Section

Details

Total Spent

Sum of all purchases

Lead Count

Number of referrals bought

Average Price

Mean lead cost

Category Breakdown

Spending by specialty

Monthly Trends

Spending patterns

Tax Summary

Total tax paid

ROI Metrics

If tracked in system

Tax Documentation

1099 Forms:

  • Issued if thresholds met

  • Sent by January 31

  • Electronic delivery option

  • IRS reporting included

Expense Reports:

  • IRS-compliant format

  • Categorized by type

  • Quarterly summaries

  • Annual totals

  • Export to tax software

Billing Disputes and Issues

Common Billing Issues

Issue

Cause

Resolution

Duplicate charge

Technical error

Contact support for refund

Wrong amount

Display issue

Verify invoice details

Missing invoice

Delivery failure

Check spam, request resend

Tax error

Address issue

Update billing address

Failed payment

Card problem

Update payment method

Dispute Process

Steps to Dispute:

  1. Review invoice details

  2. Gather documentation

  3. Provide transaction details:

    • Invoice number

    • Referral ID

    • Amount disputed

    • Reason for dispute

  4. Await investigation (48-72 hours)

Chargebacks

Important: Contact Heritage Web before initiating chargeback

  • May result in account suspension

  • Affects future purchase ability

  • Usually unnecessary

  • Support resolves most issues

Expense Management Best Practices

Budget Tracking

Weekly Review:

  • Check current spending

  • Compare to budget

  • Adjust purchase strategy

  • Project monthly total

Monthly Analysis:

  • Export transactions

  • Calculate ROI

  • Identify patterns

  • Adjust next month

Accounting Integration

QuickBooks/Xero:

  1. Export CSV monthly

  2. Map categories

  3. Import transactions

  4. Reconcile accounts

  5. Attach PDF invoices

Expense Tracking Apps:

  • Forward invoice emails

  • Use API if available

  • Tag as business expense

  • Set category rules

Business Expense Documentation

For Tax Deduction:

  • Keep all invoices

  • Document business purpose

  • Track conversion rates

  • Calculate ROI

  • Maintain for 7 years

Automated Billing Features

Email Notifications

Automatic Emails:

  • Purchase confirmation

  • Invoice delivery

  • Payment failure alert

  • Monthly summary

  • Annual report

Recurring Charges

Sponsor Subscriptions:

  • Auto-renewal enabled

  • Notification before charge

  • Update card automatically

  • Cancel anytime

  • Prorated refunds

Failed Payment Handling

Automatic Retry:

  • First retry: 24 hours

  • Second retry: 3 days

  • Third retry: 5 days

  • Notification each attempt

  • Service suspension after failures

Important Billing Notes

  • All prices in USD

  • International cards accepted

  • Currency conversion by bank

  • No hidden fees

  • Immediate processing

  • Non-reversible purchases (except refunds)

  • Invoices permanently available

FAQs

Q: Can I get a single invoice for multiple purchases? A: No, each lead purchase generates a separate invoice for accurate tracking and accounting purposes.

Q: How far back can I access invoices? A: All invoices remain permanently accessible in your billing dashboard from your first purchase forward.

Q: Are invoices legally compliant for business expenses? A: Yes, invoices include all required information for tax deduction and business expense documentation.

Q: Can I change the billing address on past invoices? A: No, past invoices cannot be modified, but you can update your billing address for future purchases.

Q: Do I get different invoices for email vs. dashboard purchases? A: Both methods generate Heritage Web invoices in your billing dashboard, though email purchases also generate Stripe receipts.

Q: How do I get my annual spending report? A: Annual summaries are automatically generated in January and available in your billing dashboard year-round.

Next Steps

  • Review your current billing settings

  • Update payment methods if needed

  • Export recent transactions

  • Set up monthly expense tracking

  • Download invoices for accounting

  • Configure email notifications

  • Plan your lead purchase budget

Related Articles

  • Referral Pricing & Payment Terms

  • Understanding Your ROI

  • Tax Documentation for Purchased Referrals

  • Managing Payment Methods

  • Sponsor Billing and Subscriptions

  • Export Your Transaction History

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