Setting up Meta billing, step by step

Meta charges you for WhatsApp template messages directly, at its published rates — we never touch that money. So your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) needs a payment method. You do this once.

Tip: Meta renames menus now and then. If a label below doesn’t match, look for the nearest equivalent — the steps stay the same.

Before you start

Connected WhatsApp. Finish Connect WhatsApp first — that creates your WABA.
Admin access to your Meta Business Manager at business.facebook.com.
A card in the business’s name. Read step 4 before you choose one.
Your GSTIN, so you can claim input tax credit on Meta’s charges.

1. Find the right WhatsApp account

Open Business settings → Accounts → WhatsApp accounts and select the one connected to Zanoo.

Billing attaches to the WABA, not the whole business. A card on the wrong WABA makes sends fail with a payment error.

2. Open payment settings

With that WABA selected, open Payment settings (sometimes Billing & payments). Meta’s message charges land here.

3. Set currency and time zone first

Set the currency to INR and the time zone to Asia/Kolkata before adding a card.

Treat both as permanent. Changing them later can mean a new account and re-approving your templates.
The time zone also decides when your billing month rolls over.

4. Add a payment method

Click Add payment method and add a card. Some Indian cards fail on Meta’s recurring charge because of RBI’s e-mandate rules. If yours is declined, or works once and then stops:

Use a credit card with international transactions turned on.
Keep the card’s transaction limit above your expected monthly message spend.
Approve the e-mandate when your bank sends the SMS or app prompt. Ignoring it looks like a declined card to Meta.

5. Add your GSTIN

In the same screen, add your GSTIN and the business name and address exactly as on your GST registration.

Do it before your first charge. Meta’s invoice uses whatever is on file at the time, and an invoice without a GSTIN can’t be claimed.
Meta adds 18% GST to its charges, as we do on the plan fee. Both are claimable.

6. Set your payment threshold

Meta charges you when your balance reaches a payment threshold, or at month end — whichever comes first. The threshold rises automatically as you build payment history.

Lower threshold: more, smaller charges. Catches a card problem early.
Higher threshold: fewer, larger charges. Less reconciliation.
For your first month, go lower.

7. Send one message and check the charge

Send one template to your own number from Zanoo. Then open Payment settings → Billing activity.

You should see one charge at Meta’s rate for that category: ₹0.8631 for marketing, ₹0.115 for utility or authentication.
If it matches, every future invoice can be checked the same way against Meta’s rate card.

Troubleshooting

“Payment method declined”, but the card works elsewhere. Almost always an unapproved e-mandate. Check for a pending request from your bank (step 4).

Sends fail with a billing error, though there’s a card. The card is on a different WABA. Go back to step 1.

Invoice has no GSTIN. It was added after the charge. Add it now and ask Meta support to reissue the invoice, within the same financial year.

Charge doesn’t match the rate. Check the template’s category in Zanoo. An “order update” approved as marketing costs about 7.5× the utility rate.

Still stuck? Message us on WhatsApp or email support@zanoo.in.