> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rc.cleverhub.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Balance Management Guide

> An introduction to how Clever Connect manages your funds: the key terms, how your balance model is set during onboarding, and what it means for existing merchants.

Clever Connect introduces a more flexible way for merchants to manage the money flowing through their account. Instead of forcing every business to track funds in exactly the same way, Clever Connect lets each merchant choose the balance structure that best fits how their business is organised.

In practice, this means you can either keep one shared pot of money for your whole business, or separate pots of money for each part of it. Both approaches are fully supported; the right choice simply depends on how you prefer to see, reconcile, and move your funds.

This guide first explains the two balance models, then the two account types that use them, and finally how money moves in and out.

<Warning>
  Your balance model is chosen once, during onboarding, and cannot be changed after your account is activated. Because of this, it is worth understanding both options before you decide.
</Warning>

***

## Key terms

A few terms come up throughout this section. It helps to be clear on them from the start.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Merchant" icon="building">
    Your overall business account with Clever Connect.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Payments Account" icon="store">
    A sub-account inside your merchant account, used to accept and manage payments. See [Payments Accounts](/platform-overview/clever-concepts/payments-accounts).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Treasury Account" icon="building-columns">
    A newer, currency-specific account used to hold, receive, and move funds. See [Treasury Accounts](/platform-overview/clever-concepts/treasury-accounts).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Balance model" icon="layer-group">
    How funds are tracked across your accounts: either Aggregated Balance or Dedicated Balance. See [balance models](/platform-overview/clever-concepts/balance-models).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Settlement" icon="arrow-up-from-bracket">
    Moving available funds out of a Payments Account. See [moving money](/platform-overview/clever-concepts/moving-money).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Withdrawal" icon="money-bill-transfer">
    Moving funds out of your Clever balance to your own bank account. See [moving money](/platform-overview/clever-concepts/moving-money).
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Merchant onboarding

When a new merchant is onboarded, the Support team sets the balance model as part of setup. The two options are Aggregated Balance and Dedicated Balance.

The chosen option becomes permanent once the account is activated and cannot be changed afterwards. For that reason, it is best to confirm the right model with the merchant before activation.

<Note>
  Because the choice is permanent, take a moment to match the model to the business before going live. The [balance models](/platform-overview/clever-concepts/balance-models) page walks through how to choose.
</Note>

***

## Existing merchants

If your account was created before the Clever Connect launch, nothing changes for you. You continue to use the Aggregated Balance model exactly as before.

Specifically, there is:

* **No balance migration**: your funds stay where they are.
* **No historical transaction migration**: your past transactions are not moved.
* **No impact on existing settlements or withdrawals**: these keep working as they did.

All your current workflows remain the same, and no action is required on your part.

<Tip>
  Ready to understand the two models in full? Continue to [balance models](/platform-overview/clever-concepts/balance-models).
</Tip>


## Related topics

- [Clever Connect Overview](/platform-overview/clever-concepts/overview.md)
- [Managing Balances and Accounts](/portal/balances.md)
- [Merchant Account Settings and Team Management](/portal/account-settings.md)