A custom role in Relay is a permission set you build yourself to match how someone works in your business, created from the Roles page on Relay on web in about 2 minutes.
Use a custom role when you need finer control than a preset role provides. For example, you might want someone who can manage bills and view selected bank accounts, without access to team management, integrations, or subscription settings.
What you need before you start
A Relay account with Administrator permissions (team members) or Super Administrator permissions (advisors)
Access to Relay on web, since custom roles cannot be created from the mobile app
The work email of the team member or advisor if you plan to invite someone at the same time
Who can create custom roles in Relay?
Only users with permission to manage team access can create, assign, or update custom roles. That includes:
Team members with Administrator permissions
Advisors with Super Administrator permissions, where applicable
If you do not see the option to create or edit roles, your permission level does not include role management. Ask an Administrator on the account to update your permissions or create the role for you.
Where can I create and assign custom roles?
Custom roles are created from Relay on web. Once a custom role exists, you can assign it from either web or mobile.
If you try to create a custom role from the Relay mobile app, you will see a message directing you to sign in from a browser. Custom roles work for both team members and advisors, depending on the access you want to provide.
How do custom roles work?
Custom roles live on the Roles page in Relay, alongside Relay's preset roles. The Roles page shows:
Relay's preset roles
Any custom roles created for your business
A summary of each role's business-level and bank account-level permissions
The team members currently assigned to each role
Custom roles are labelled as custom so you can tell them apart from preset roles at a glance.
How do I create a custom role?
Follow these steps from Relay on web:
Sign in to Relay on web.
Go to Team.
Select Roles.
Click Add custom role.
Enter a role name.
Add a description so other administrators understand who the role is for.
Choose the role's business permissions.
Choose the role's bank account permissions.
Review the role details.
Click Create role.
Once created, the custom role appears in your Roles list and can be assigned to eligible team members or advisors.
How do I choose the right business permissions?
Business permissions control what a role can do across Relay, grouped by category. Depending on your account, plan, and available Relay features, you may be able to customize access across:
Cards: card creation, card management, card controls, and card-related activity
Payments: payee management, payment creation, payment review, and payment approvals
Invoices: invoice creation, invoice management, payment requests, and invoice settings
Expenses: expense review, receipt workflows, categorization, and expense management settings
Team: team member invitations, role management, and user access
Settings: business details, subscription settings, billing settings, and account preferences
Integrations: accounting integrations and other connected apps
You can start from a preset role as a template, then adjust the permissions to fit the role you have in mind. The categories and options you see may vary depending on your account, plan, and available Relay features.
How do I set bank account permissions?
Bank account permissions control what a role can see or do within checking and savings accounts. You can either apply the same permissions to every bank account or customize permissions by account.
When customizing by account, you can set different access for each one. One account may have full access, another may have limited access, and a third may have no access.
Depending on the permissions you select, account-level access may include the ability to:
View balances, transactions, and account details
Download statements or account documents
Send payments
Transfer money
Deposit checks
Access only selected checking or savings accounts
Any team member with permission to transact on Relay, including card transactions, is required to provide a personal address to maintain security standards. This does not apply to business owners who already have an address on file.
How do I review and create the role?
Before you click Create role, confirm each of the following:
The role name
The role description
Business permissions
Bank account permissions
Any account-specific customizations
If everything looks right, click Create role. The new role is added to your Roles list and is ready to assign.
How do I assign a custom role to a new team member?
You can assign a custom role while inviting someone to Relay:
Sign in to Relay on web.
Go to Team.
Click Invite team member.
Enter the person's work email.
If the person is an external accountant, bookkeeper, or advisor, select the advisor option so the correct role types appear.
Choose a preset role or custom role.
Review the permissions.
Send the invite.
The invited user receives an email from Relay. They need to accept the invite and create their login before they can access the business.
How do I assign a custom role to an existing team member?
To change the role of someone already on the account:
Sign in to Relay on web.
Go to Team.
Select the team member or advisor you want to update.
Click Edit.
Choose the custom role you want to assign.
Review the permissions.
Save your changes.
Some administrator-level roles may not be editable from the same flow. If you cannot change a user's role, confirm that you have the correct permissions and that changing the role would not remove required administrator access from the account.
Common issues
The Add custom role button is missing. Your permission level does not include role management. Ask an Administrator on the account to create the role or update your permissions.
The mobile app blocks role creation. Custom roles can only be created from Relay on web. Sign in from a browser to continue.
You cannot edit an existing user's role. The user may hold an administrator-level role that requires a different flow, or changing the role would remove required administrator access. Confirm your permissions and the account's administrator coverage before trying again.
The invited user is stuck. They need to accept the emailed invite and create their login before they can access the business. Ask them to check spam if the invite has not arrived.
Permission categories look different from what you expected. The categories and options you see depend on your account, plan, and available Relay features. If a feature is not enabled on your account, its permissions will not appear.
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit a custom role after creating it?
Yes. Go to Team > Roles, select the custom role, then update the permissions. Review the changes before saving.
Can I use a preset role as a starting point?
Yes. When creating a custom role, you can start from an existing preset template and adjust the permissions from there.
Can I give different access to different bank accounts?
Yes. You can apply the same permissions to every bank account or customize permissions account by account.
Can I assign a custom role while inviting someone?
Yes. Custom roles can be selected during the invite flow. You can also create a new custom role during the invite flow if you need a fresh permission set before sending the invite.
Why can't I create or assign a custom role?
You may not have permission to manage roles. Custom roles can only be created or assigned by users with permission to manage team access, typically Administrators or Super Administrators.
What's the difference between a preset role and a custom role?
Preset roles are Relay's default permission levels. Custom roles are permission sets your business creates to match a specific workflow or responsibility.
Can custom roles be used for both team members and advisors?
Yes. Custom roles can be created for both team members and advisors, depending on the permissions you want that person to have.
Can I create a custom role from the mobile app?
No. Custom roles can only be created from Relay on web. If you try to create one from the mobile app, you will see a message directing you to sign in from a browser.
Can I assign a custom role from the mobile app?
Yes. Once a custom role has been created, it can be assigned from web or mobile.
Related articles
How to invite team members and advisors to your Relay account
Why Relay Needs a Personal Address for Team Members With Transaction Permissions
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