This article will cover the following:
Invoice Lifecycle
Every payment in CAKE follows the same four-stage lifecycle.
| Stage | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Draft | Generated but not yet submitted. Amounts may still be adjusted. |
| Pending | Submitted and awaiting approval. No payment is processed at this stage. |
| Approved | Reviewed and confirmed. Payment processing begins. |
| Paid | Transaction complete. Can be downloaded from your invoice history at any time. |
Tip:
To find your invoices, go to Billing → Invoices. Filter by status, date range, or invoice number.
To find your invoices, go to Billing → Invoices. Filter by status, date range, or invoice number.
Payment Methods and Setup
For Affiliates
- PayPal — provide the email linked to your PayPal account. Payments arrive within 1–2 business days.
- Wire transfer / ACH — provide bank details. Processing usually 3–5 business days.
- Check — mailed to your address on file. Allow 7–10 business days.
- Other methods — some networks offer Payoneer or direct deposit.
To add or update your payment method, go to Account → Payment Settings.
Caution:
Make sure payment details are accurate before the billing cycle closes. Payments sent to incorrect information may be delayed or lost, and recovery can take several weeks.
Make sure payment details are accurate before the billing cycle closes. Payments sent to incorrect information may be delayed or lost, and recovery can take several weeks.
For Advertisers
- Prepay / credit balance — deposit funds in advance. CAKE deducts charges as conversions occur.
- Net terms billing — invoiced at end of each billing period, with payment due within the agreed timeframe.
Billing Cycles
| Cycle | How it works | Common use case |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Invoice generated every seven days. | High-volume affiliates or advertisers needing frequent reconciliation. |
| Bi-weekly | Invoice generated every two weeks. | Mid-volume partners wanting regular but not constant billing. |
| Monthly | Invoice generated once per month. | Standard for most networks and advertisers. |
| On demand | Affiliate requests payment manually when balance meets minimum threshold. | Affiliates who prefer to control payment timing. |
Note:
Not sure what billing cycle you're on? Check Account → Payment Settings (affiliates) or Billing → Billing Settings (advertisers).
Not sure what billing cycle you're on? Check Account → Payment Settings (affiliates) or Billing → Billing Settings (advertisers).
Minimum Payment Thresholds
A minimum payment threshold is the lowest balance you need to accumulate before a payment is issued. If your earnings fall short, the balance rolls over to the next period.
- $50 — typical for PayPal.
- $100–$500 — typical for wire transfers.
- $50–$100 — typical for check payments.
Caution:
Some networks have a dormancy policy where small unpaid balances may expire after 12 months of inactivity. Check your network's terms and conditions.
Some networks have a dormancy policy where small unpaid balances may expire after 12 months of inactivity. Check your network's terms and conditions.
Currency and Tax Settings
Your CAKE account may allow you to configure payout currency and tax classification. Contact your network account manager if you need to update these settings.
API: Billing & Payments Endpoints
List Invoices
GET /api/2/invoices.json
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| invoice_id | integer | No | Filter to a specific invoice by ID. |
| affiliate_id | integer | No | Filter invoices for a specific affiliate. |
| invoice_status | string | No | Filter by status: pending, approved, paid, or void. |
| start_date | date | No | Invoices with period starting on or after this date (YYYY-MM-DD). |
| end_date | date | No | Invoices with period ending on or before this date (YYYY-MM-DD). |
| start_at_row | integer | No | Row offset. Default: 0. |
| row_limit | integer | No | Max invoices. Default: 100. |
Sample request
GET https://yourdomain.cake.com/api/2/invoices.json
?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY
&affiliate_id=67890
&invoice_status=pending
&start_date=2024-01-01Sample response
{
"request_status": "Success",
"invoices": [{
"invoice_id": 4821,
"affiliate_id": 67890,
"invoice_status": "pending",
"total_amount": "1250.00",
"currency": "USD"
}]
}Create Invoice
POST /api/2/invoice.json
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| affiliate_id | integer | Yes | ID of the affiliate for whom the invoice is created. |
| start_date | date | Yes | Start of the billing period (YYYY-MM-DD). |
| end_date | date | Yes | End of the billing period (YYYY-MM-DD). |
| memo | string | No | Optional internal note. |
Sample request
POST https://yourdomain.cake.com/api/2/invoice.json?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY
{
"affiliate_id": 67890,
"start_date": "2024-01-01",
"end_date": "2024-01-31",
"memo": "January 2024 manual invoice"
}Sample response
{
"request_status": "Success",
"invoice": {
"invoice_id": 4822,
"invoice_status": "pending",
"total_amount": "980.50"
}
}Update Invoice
POST /api/2/update_invoice.json
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| invoice_id | integer | Yes | ID of the invoice to update. |
| invoice_status | string | No | New status: pending, approved, paid, or void. |
| memo | string | No | Updated internal note. |
| paid_at | datetime | No | Payment timestamp. Supply with invoice_status: paid. |
Sample request
POST https://yourdomain.cake.com/api/2/update_invoice.json?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY
{
"invoice_id": 4821,
"invoice_status": "paid",
"paid_at": "2024-02-15T10:00:00Z"
}Sample response
{
"request_status": "Success",
"invoice": {"invoice_id": 4821, "invoice_status": "paid"}
}If you have any questions, please reach out to your dedicated CAKE Client Success Manager/Account Manager or contact the CAKE Support Team at support@getCAKE.com.