Recurring Subscription Plan

Recurring

A recurring subscription plan is the foundation of subscription-based businesses. With this model, customers are charged automatically on a fixed schedule (daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly).

This plan is ideal for products or services that customers require ongoing access to, such as memberships, tools, or content subscriptions. It ensures steady revenue for your business and convenience for your customers.

Here’s an example of a recurring subscription plan from Netflix:

Key Features

Customizable billing cycles: Set flexible schedules: daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly.
Flexible start dates: Choose when billing begins, including proration options.
Signup fees: Add a one-time activation or setup fee at the start.
Free trials: Let customers try before they buy, with billing starting after the trial.

Let’s understand the concept of signup fees and free trials in case of recurring digital product subscriptions:

Rarely makes sense (e.g., for software or streaming, customers expect only subscription costs).
If added, position as “activation” or “setup” when onboarding requires extra support.

Free Trials for Recurring Subscriptions

Highly effective since there’s no extra cost to deliver access.
Examples:
- Tools offers a 14-day free trial.
- Online courses with a free first module.
- Streaming platforms like Netflix offer a free trial month.

Example Use Cases

Digital content and e-learning: Charge annually for online courses or tutorials.
Streaming platforms: Monthly billing for services like Netflix or Spotify.
Membership programs: Ongoing access to premium communities or tools.

Setting Up a WooCommerce Recurring Subscription Plan in Sublium

Navigate to Subscriptions → Create New Plan. From there, select Recurring plan.

Configure:

Billing frequency (e.g., monthly)
Trial period (optional), if you want to offer a free trial for a specific number of days
Signup fee (optional) if you want to put a one-time upfront subscription fee
Discounts