ABC's Monthly Online Member Newsletter

Ask ABC: What goes into the audit billing process? What are excess and rebate invoices? What are the components of an initial audit?

Below is an overview of ABC’s billing process, including key components of membership invoices, reconciliation (excess and rebate) invoices and information on initial audits.

Types of ABC Invoices:

• Membership—This includes access fees, dues, images fees and advance audit costs
• Audit—Reconciliation of audit charges versus advance audit costs
• Service—Online access, e-Data tools and hard-copy reports
• Miscellaneous

Payment Cycles

Most ABC publisher members that are audited annually are invoiced on a quarterly basis, but members can elect semi-annual billing as an option. Those members audited every other year generally are invoiced every six months.

Any difference between the amount paid and the actual cost of the audit is reconciled and billed after the audit is released.

Components of the Membership Invoice

• Access Fees (dues and images fees)
  • Based on circulation size (per the last released Publisher’s Statement) and division
• Advance Audit Costs
  • Based on audit manager’s evaluation of audit circumstances and current hourly audit rates
• Invoice is mailed to bookkeeping contact as designated by the member

Initial Audit Process

For publishers wishing to join ABC, a deposit is required before any work can be performed. The deposit is quoted from a rate card, which is based on average distribution by membership class. The deposit is only an estimate of the actual cost involved to conduct the audit. The audit manager reconciles the audit charges after completion of the audit and also gains approval of the marketing manager assigned to the member’s division.

Membership becomes official upon completion and release of the initial audit report.

After the initial audit is approved, the budget is set for the next audit. This budget is monitored on an ongoing basis, and adjusted if necessary by the audit manager. An advance invoice could be issued at this point to get the member on track for the next audit.

Reconciliation (Excess and Rebate) Invoice

Some audits can result in a credit due to the member if the deposits exceed the actual audit charges. In this case, the member is sent a credit memo, which they can apply to future invoices or request a refund.

If you have any questions on ABC’s billing process you can contact at (847)-879-8424 or at (847)-879-8291.

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