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Subscriptions are a simple option for creators to earn a profit from their work and earn an income that is recurring and passive. The service is perfect for software services, subscription services, online course collections, coaching, consulting companies, and much more. The e-commerce platform of's allows you to create and modify a subscription program with just four steps.
How Does Subscription-Based Pricing Perform?
So how does a subscription service operate? Rather than making a single payment to purchase the purchase of a service or product the customer will pay recurring payments--often to access a higher amount of content, but at an affordable price in comparison to the purchase price upfront. There are a few different types of subscription models that are available.
- Unlimited Subscription: Perhaps the most common subscription form Unlimited subscriptions allow customers to enroll in an ongoing service that will continue to run until the client can cancel.
- Limited Subscriptions: Often used to create installment plans for payments, these types of subscriptions charge recurring payments for a limited amount of duration.
- Offer Free Trials. You can give a trial at no cost to increase confidence in buying by inviting interested buyers to try your subscription for free. What is the reason to offer a trial for free? Researchers at the University of Washington tested the efficacy of these offers. Their study found that 7-day free trials boost customer retention by 6.4% and increase a subscription's revenue return to 7.91 %.
- Paid Trials: Do you want to give your customers a way to test your products and services at with a reduced price? A paid trial is an answer you've been searching for! This feature of paid trials can also work in reverse--letting you choose a greater price upfront before gaining access to a lower subscription price. A higher initial trial fee is typically used by companies for a way to pay off set-up expenses as well as onboarding costs.
supports all of these models of subscription to help online sellers design their perfect subscription service. Read on for our 4-step tutorial on developing a recurring subscription model, either with or without trial. Watch the video below to see co-founder, Scott Moran, builds an unreal membership for an online online course within the field of guitar instruction.
Subscribe Step 1: Create an Original Product
In the tab Products in your Account, click on the + New product button. You can follow the on-screen guidance to fill out the form with your product name and description.
Subscription Step 2: Recurring Pricing
Within the Pricing Type drop-down menu, choose "Recurring." After that define the conditions of your subscription:
- Subscription Cost Input the default cost for your membership or subscription service.
- The Recurring Period can be set to set the subscription to renew each week, every month, once a quarter or even every year. The duration of the subscription reflects how often clients are being charged.
Subscription Step 3 Trial Optional Period
If you do not want to offer a subscription trial you can simply turn the trial Period switch off. However, if you choose to include a trial, you will have two options:
- Free Trial: Switch the Trial Period toggle on and select Free Trial to give your customers free access to your subscription. You can then select the length of time that customers will be able to access the trial before making their first payment is made.
- Paid Trial: Switch the Trial Period toggle on and choose Paid Trial with an upfront trial subscription charge. After that, you can enter the price you want to pay for your first trial and specify how long you'd like this trial period to last.
Subscription Step 4: Design the Product
Once you finalize your subscription details, click Create Product. The button will take you to your product's dashboard which is where you'll be able to create your sales page, refine the details of your product, choose your preferred payment method, and start selling the subscription.
How do I manage my Customers' Subscriptions?
It automatically creates a portal on which customers are able to manage their subscription. However, still allows you to be in the driving seat of your business by giving you the ability to modify which subscription features you extend to customers.
- Self-Cancellation Feature: You can activate the feature for self-cancellation when you wish to let clients to terminate their subscription at any time. This feature will save your time and effort for customers who want to end or modify their subscription.
- Subscription Saver: What can happen when customers do not change their information on payment? 's Subscription Saver can help! Included in Scale and Enterprise memberships, this function will immediately go to work to notify and recover customers who have their subscriptions denied by their payment method. The Subscription Saver will help you avoid losing subscribers (and revenue) and also avoid from the stress of sending out urgent emails to customers.
- Subscription Charge Reminder: You are able to select whether or no to notify subscribers about coming renewals of their memberships using's Subscription Charge Reminder.