Relationships between accounts

Merchant accounts can be linked by various relationships. Each relationship represents the kinds of services that one account provides to the other.

A relationship is composed of the following attributes:

• A service provider.
• externalAccountId that represents the external identifier of the account that is configured for the relationship.
• The account receiving the service.
• The service or set of services being provided.

In the Merchant Accounts API, accounts can have the following relationships:

• Account aggregation: The service provider is an aggregator, like and advanced account, and has the accountAggregation service for their sub-accounts.

The service type defines the access level given to the service provider.

For example, here's how the Merchant Accounts API represents your account hierarchy if you're a third-party platform that manages sub-accounts on behalf of other merchants:

1. Service provider: Your advanced account.
2. Account receiving the service: A sub-account to represent the merchant under your advanced account.
3. service: accountAggregation, which gives your advanced account admin access to the sub-account.

For details about how to set up an advanced account and link to new merchant accounts, see Create and manage sub-accounts.