# Entities

| Entity | Description | Identifier |
|  --- | --- | --- |
| **Partner Profile** | **Partner**A partner is a payment service provider (PSP) or a marketplace.**Relationship between partner and partner profile**A partner can have one or several partner profiles based on the pricing and conditions agreed on with Ratepay.**Partner profile**A partner profile includes all payment methods, pricing and conditions for a specific country, currency and/or risk class.A partner profile is identified by a `partner_profile_id`, which is generated and provided by Ratepay. The `partner_profile_id` is used to register shops via the Merchant Registration API and to submit payment requests via the Ratepay Gateway API.A partner profile can include one or several merchants and shops. | `partner_profile_id` |
| **Shop** | A shop is the entity that submits the payment requests.This entity contains merchant legal information and correspondence settings, which are needed for the buyer communication and for collection purposes.It is mandatory to register the shop before submitting payment requests.The registration request for the shop needs to include a `shop_id`, which is generated by the partner. It serves as a unique identifier for the shop under the respective partner profile | `shop_id` |