How does SMS Billing Work (limited release)
Birthday Club's Smart SMS feature is designed to be simple, predictable, and automated. Smart SMS has been successfully used by several of our customers over an extended period.
Smart SMS is now available for selected users — to sign up customers with SMS and bring them back with SMS reniunders. Easy setup. High engagement.
This article explains how SMS billing works so you always know what to expect.
1. Monthly Plan
When you enable SMS in Birthday Club, you choose a monthly plan. Each allowance is billed at the start of your billing period/month (not the calendar month). SMS are sold in blocks of 100 messages. Click to see the pricing.
2. Automatic Adjustments
If you use up your monthly allowance, the system automatically adds another block of 100 SMS for $9. This ensures that your Birthday Club keeps running without interruption.
Adjustments are billed immediately to the card on file and are valid until the end of the billing month.
3. Monthly Spend Safeguard
To protect you from unexpected costs, you set a maximum spend safeguard when you configure SMS. This safeguard must be at least one block higher than your base allowance.
Example: If you select 200 SMS, your safeguard must be at least 300 SMS.
In case the maximum spend is approaching you will receive warnings via email. If the maximum limit is reached SMS will be disabled, which also mean customers will not be able to sign up.
4. Example Billing Scenarios
Here are some examples of how SMS billing works:
• A small café chooses 100 SMS ($9). They use 90 SMS this month. No plan adjustements added. Their total is $9.
• A local car wash chooses 200 SMS ($18). They use 250 SMS during the course of the month. The plan is increased to 300 SMS in the middle of the month. Their prorated total is $24.50 for the given month, and continues at 300 SMS ($27 the next billing cycle).
5. Why This Model?
This billing model ensures that you can enjoy a hands-off SMS solution that grows with your business, while staying confident about costs.
• Your Birthday Club SMS service is not interrupted.
• You are always billed in simple, predictable $9 increments.
• You have control over your maximum monthly spend.
• Riiwards can keep SMS costs prepaid, so there are no unpaid balances.
7. Billing Cycle
⚡ When you first enable SMS in Birthday Club, a one-time setup fee (currently $49) is charged. This includes 100 SMS for your first month.
📅 Your billing month begins 7 days after you order the SMS feature and pay the setup fee. During these 7 days, Riiwards prepares your dedicated toll-free SMS number. You will also receive access to QR codes for posters, tents, menus, and more. This gives you time to prepare your collateral (print and online) before customers begin signing up.
🔧 By default, Birthday Club automatically sets your monthly allowance to $9 (100 SMS) and your safeguard limit to $27.