---
title: "Set up billing"
description: "Create tuition plans, get online payments turned on, and send your first invoice."
type: setup
updated: 2026-10-11
canonical_url: https://help.nestlicare.com/getting-started/set-up-billing
roles: ["center_admin", "super_admin"]
platforms: [web]
---
Billing in NestliCare has three parts: the **plans** that say what you charge, **online payments** so families can pay you, and the **invoices** that go out. NestliCare itself is free for your daycare; you keep your tuition, and online card and bank payments carry a small processing fee.

Prefer to watch? This short video sets up tuition and automatic invoices.

<VideoEmbed
  src="tuition-and-auto-invoices"
  title="Set up tuition and automatic invoices (narrated, 85 seconds)"
  captions={false}
/>

Want the details? These longer videos explain every setting, with examples:

<VideoEmbed
  src="billing-plans-explained"
  title="Billing plans, explained: plans, discounts, subsidies, credits and late fees on one invoice (narrated, 4 minutes)"
  captions={false}
/>

<VideoEmbed
  src="automatic-invoicing-explained"
  title="Automatic invoicing, explained (narrated, 4.5 minutes)"
  captions={false}
/>

<VideoEmbed
  src="payments-explained"
  title="Online payments, explained (narrated, 5 minutes)"
  captions={false}
/>

Turning on online payments for the first time? [Turn on online payments](/owners/billing/enable-online-payments) has its own short video.

## Step 1: Create your billing plans

A billing plan is a reusable price template, like "Toddler Full-Time, $1,200 per month". Create one for each way you charge.

1. Go to **Invoices & Finances → Billing**, then the **Billing Plans** tab.
2. Click **Create Plan** and set the name, amount, and billing interval.

Full details in [Create a billing plan](/owners/billing/create-a-billing-plan).

Then give each child a plan. You can pick a **Tuition plan** when you add the family. For a child who already exists, open their profile, go to **Details**, and set the **Billing plan**. The child needs a room first.

## Step 2: Get online payments enabled

Online payments aren't self-serve. Our team sets up your payment account by hand so payouts land in the right place.

1. Go to **Invoices & Finances → Finances**.
2. Click **Request payments setup** and send the request. We usually set it up within 1–2 business days.
3. When it's ready, finish identity and bank setup on the same Finances page.
4. On the **Payment settings** card, choose who pays the convenience fee: **Parent pays** or **Daycare pays**. In some places local rules mean the daycare must pay. See [Who pays the online payment fee?](/owners/faq/who-pays-the-processing-fee)

Only the owner can open the Finances page, unless you've given a center admin finance access.

Full details in [Enable online payments](/owners/billing/enable-online-payments). You can create and track invoices before this is done; families just can't pay online yet.

## Step 3: Send invoices

- **One at a time**: **Invoices & Finances → Invoices → Create Invoice**, for drop-ins or custom charges. See [Create and send an invoice](/owners/billing/generate-and-send-an-invoice).
- **Automatically**: turn on **Auto-Invoice Generation** so every family is billed on their plan's cadence. See [Auto-generate invoices on a schedule](/owners/billing/auto-invoice-generation).

<Callout kind="tip" title="Test with one family first">
Before you switch on billing for everyone, create a single invoice for one friendly family and walk it all the way through. It's the fastest way to catch a wrong amount or a plan that's set up differently than you expected.
</Callout>

## What families see

Families get an email and a push notification for each invoice. The email shows the amount and due date but has **no pay link**. Parents pay in the NestliCare app, or on the web after they sign in. Once online payments are on, they can pay by card or bank, save a payment method, and turn on auto-pay. Parents need an app invite to pay, so [invite them](/owners/families/invite-parents-to-the-app) first. See the parent side in [Pay an invoice](/parents/payments/pay-an-invoice).