Subscription Setup Guide

Create and configure subscriptions in Advanced Billing by selecting Customers, defining billing behavior, and choosing what to charge. Control how invoices are generated, when billing starts, and how pricing is structured, including plan-based and planless options.

See also: For step-by-step instructions, refer to the Create a Subscription article.

What you need to know

When you create a subscription, you’ll typically choose:

1. Who the subscription is for (customer)
2. Who pays (if payer hierarchy is enabled)
3. How billing should work (collection method, first bill timing, invoice email preference)
4. What is being billed (offer/plan, product, components, coupons — or planless setup)
5. Optional prepaid settings
6. Cost preview before finalizing

Choose a Customer

Start by selecting an existing Customer or creating a new one.

After selection, you can usually edit Customer details without leaving the Subscription form.

Choose WhoPays (if available)

If your account uses payer hierarchy settings, you may see a WhoPays section.

Common options include:

• The customer pays (separate invoice)
• The customer pays (consolidated invoice)
• A parent/ancestor pays (if available)

If billing is consolidated, additional invoice timing options may appear to control how signup charges are handled.

Set billing and payment behavior

Collection method

Choose how the subscription should be collected:

• Automatic (charge payment method on file)
• Remittance (invoice sent; payment collected manually)
• Prepaid (if enabled)

Payment method

If needed, add or select a saved payment method/profile.

Invoice email preference

Choose whether this subscription should:

• Use site default behavior
• Always receive invoices
• Never receive invoices

First billing date

Depending on your account configuration, you may be able to bill:

• Immediately
• On a specified future date
• On a calendar billing schedule

Some future-date options create the Subscription in an awaiting signup state until the selected date.

Net terms

If shown, net terms control invoice due date timing (for example, due X days after invoice issue date).

Configure what the Customer is buying

You can usually create the Subscription in one of two ways:

• Select a predefined offer/plan
• Build it manually with product + components + coupons

After choosing either path, complete any additional required fields and optional custom fields.

Subscription-specific trial configuration (Optional)

You can define trial terms at the moment of subscription creation instead of using only the default trial settings from the selected Product Price Point.

How to use:

1. Locate and enable Add Trial in the Create Subscription form.
2. Enter the trial values:
   • Price: cost of the trial period
   • Duration: trial length (for example, 7, 14, or 30)
   • Unit: Days or Months

Once changed, these trial settings apply only to that subscription and are no longer tied to product default trial values.

Learn more: Trialing Subscriptions

Planless Subscriptions

Some sites allow planless subscriptions. This means you can create a subscription without selecting a base product/offer first, and bill using components (usage or other configured component charges).

When to use planless subscriptions

Planless subscriptions are useful in the following scenarios:

• Bill only usage- or component-based charges.
• Start with a minimal subscription shell and add billable items over time.
• Avoid attaching a fixed recurring base plan.

Keep in mind Planless availability depends on site feature settings.

Learn more: Understand Planless Subscriptions

Prepaid Subscriptions (if enabled)

If you choose Prepaid collection:

• Set an Initial Charge (starting balance).
• Optionally enable automatic refill:
  • Minimum Balance trigger
  • Refill Amount

Usage and eligible charges draw down from the prepaid balance.

Preview cost before creating

Use Preview Cost to estimate signup charges based on current settings, including:

• Product/offer charges
• Components
• Coupons
• Applicable taxes

This helps verify expected charges before you finalize.

Create the Subscription

When all required sections are complete:

1. Review customer and payer details.
2. Confirm billing options and payment setup.
3. Verify plan/planless configuration and pricing.
4. Click Create Subscription.

Best practices

Follow these best practices to ensure accurate subscription setup:

• Use Preview Cost after changing components, coupons, or billing options.
• If using consolidated billing, verify who pays and first-invoice timing before creating.
• If using future-date billing, communicate clearly when service and billing begin.

FAQs

Can I edit customer info during subscription creation?

Yes, customer details can typically be edited from within the flow.

What if I don’t want a base plan?

If enabled on your site, use the planless path and configure component-based billing.

Why don’t I see some options in this guide?

Available options depend on your site features and billing configuration.