# Initiate a monthly automatic bill (/archive/paypal-payments-standard/integration-guide/manage-billing-plans)



> **Warning:** This product is [deprecated](/archive/product-lifecycle) and should not be used for new integrations. Use [Payment Links and Buttons](/payment-links-buttons/overview) instead. For information about migrating, visit the [Upgrade Hub](https://developer.paypal.com/upgrade/wps/guide/).

For Automatic Billing buttons, PayPal does not collect payments from buyers until you initiate a monthly bill. When you know the amount you want to bill a customer each month, you need to initiate a billing request to collect the payment. After you initiate the bill, PayPal collects the payment automatically. You can only bill a customer once in any monthly billing cycle.

1. Log in to your PayPal Business or Premier account at [www.paypal.com](https://www.paypal.com).

2. Click **All Tools** at the top of the page and then select the **Recurring Payments** item on the All Tools page.

   > **Note:** **Tip:** To add Recurring payments to your Tools menu, click the Recurring payments **heart** on the All Tools webpage.

   The Recurring payments dashboard opens.

3. In the **My customers** list, find the customer you want to bill, then click the customer's name.

   The Automatic billing details page opens.

   ![](https://www.paypalobjects.com/webstatic/en_US/developer/docs/pps/demo_autobill-click-link-to-bill.gif)

4. In the **Billing details** section, click **Bill now**.

   The Automatically bill your customer dialog opens.

5. In the **Amount to bill** text box, enter the amount you want to bill the customer for the month. Do not exceed the billing limit displayed, which is the amount your customer set for the maximum billing amount when they signed up for the automatic billing plan.

6. Click **Bill now**.

   PayPal automatically bills your customer for the amount you entered.

## Additional information [#additional-information]

* [Recurring payments dashboard](/archive/paypal-payments-standard/integration-guide/recurring-payments-dashboard)

* [View transactions](/archive/paypal-payments-standard/integration-guide/manage-transaction-activity)

* [Automatic Billing: basic payment options](/archive/paypal-payments-standard/integration-guide/auto-bill-step-1)