How To Setup Google API Cloud Billing Account

Contents

This article explains how to setup billing on a new Google Cloud Account.

Google requires a valid billing account with a credit card for Maps API usage. While Google provides a generous free tier that covers most standard usage, a billing account is necessary to prevent error messages and service interruptions.

Key tasks:

Add Billing Account
Connect Billing Account to Project
Upgrade from a free trial to a full account

Required Steps

1. Create a Billing Account

Sign in to your Google account
Navigate to Google Cloud Billing:
https://console.cloud.google.com/billing
Click "Add Billing Account"
Complete the setup process:
- Accept the terms by clicking "Agree & Continue"
- Click "Create New Payments Profile"
- Select "Individual" as your organization type (recommended for simpler setup)
- Click "Add Payment Method"
- Enter your credit card information
- Click "Start Free" to complete the setup

Note: You can dismiss the survey that appears after completion.

2. Link Billing to Your Project

Return to the billing dashboard:
https://console.cloud.google.com/billing
Navigate to the "MY PROJECTS" tab
Locate your project and click the three-dots menu icon
Select "Change Billing"
Choose your newly created billing account
Click "SET ACCOUNT" to confirm

3. Upgrade Your Account (Important)

We recommend upgrading your account immediately to ensure uninterrupted service.

This step is crucial because:

The free trial period expires after 90 days
Your Google Maps API usage already qualifies for the free tier
Upgrading now prevents service interruptions

To upgrade your account:

Go to the billing dashboard: https://console.cloud.google.com/billing
Select the "MY BILLING ACCOUNTS" tab
Click on your billing account name
On the Account Overview panel, locate the "Free Trial Credit" card (usually in the lower right)
Click "Activate" and confirm the upgrade

Remember: This upgrade doesn't affect your access to Google's free tier services but ensures continuous operation of your Maps API integration.

Need Assistance With Billing?

If you also wish us to assist with Billing then you would need to set up a second role for the same Principle you set up above in "Give Us Access" (technical.editor@buyingbuddy.com).

1. Add Another Role

Go to https://console.cloud.google.com/iam-admin/iam
If technical.editor@buyingbuddy.com is already added then it will be shown in the Permissions panel.
Click the pencil EDIT icon for this email to update the role.
Click on '+ADD ANOTHER ROLE'.
Click the 'Role' button to show the roles.
Type 'billing' in the filter as shown below.
Then select "Project Billing Manager" and SAVE