Third-party billing in ShipHero lets you charge shipping labels to a carrier account other than the one used for fulfillment. This is useful when fulfilling wholesale orders for a retailer, working with a 3PL client who has negotiated rates with a carrier, or billing shipping costs to a separate account.
This article covers how third-party billing works, what to set up before you begin, and links to carrier-specific setup guides.
ShipHero currently supports third-party billing for UPS and FedEx only. USPS, DHL, and regional providers are not supported for third-party billing. For connecting multiple accounts to a single carrier, see How to Connect Multiple Shipping Accounts to a Single Carrier.
Before You Begin
Before connecting a third-party billing account at the carrier account level, create a unique warehouse profile to associate with the third-party account. Orders assigned to that profile will use the third-party billing account for label charges. See How to Use Warehouse Profiles.
Note for 3PLs: Create the warehouse profile at the client account level so it can be assigned to orders using automation rules.
Table of Contents
3rd Party Billing Notes and Considerations
Review these limitations and requirements before connecting a third-party billing account.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Multi-Warehouse | If multi-warehouse is enabled, you must connect the third-party shipping account to each warehouse using it separately. |
| Carrier-Specific | UPS and FedEx have their own policies and technical requirements for third-party billing. Always confirm with the specific carrier for the most accurate and up-to-date information. |
| Rate Visibility | Viewing third-party account rates in ShipHero's quoting tools requires explicit authorization from the carrier. You must do this for both UPS and FedEx to see third-party billing rates. |
| Service Level | Some specialized or discounted service levels may not be available for third-party billing, or may have specific restrictions. |
| Account Verification | Carriers may periodically verify the validity of third-party accounts, which could temporarily affect label generation if discrepancies are found. |
| Invoicing | ShipHero facilitates label generation, but the actual invoices for third-party shipments come directly from the carrier to the third-party account holder. |
| International Shipping | International third-party shipping may have additional requirements, such as specific customs documentation or duties/taxes billing options. |
| Account Status | The third-party account must remain in good standing with the carrier. Past-due invoices on the third-party account can prevent label generation. |
Get Started with 3rd Party Billing
| Carrier | Setup Guide |
|---|---|
| UPS |
How to Set Up 3rd Party Billing for UPS in ShipHero — includes single-order billing and carrier account-level connection with all four billing configurations (shipping only, duties only, combined, separate accounts). |
| FedEx |
How to Set Up 3rd Party Billing for FedEx in ShipHero — carrier account-level connection with all four billing configurations (shipping only, duties only, combined, separate accounts). |
| Troubleshooting |
Troubleshooting 3rd Party Billing Shipping Accounts — common errors including invalid shipper number, billing information mismatch, rates not visible, and labels not generating. |