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How to Configure Custom Billing Intervals for Memberships

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In today’s dynamic business environment, offering flexible payment options is crucial for maximizing customer retention and revenue. While monthly subscriptions are the industry standard, many businesses—from coaching services to software platforms—benefit from weekly, quarterly, or annual billing cycles.

4Geeks Payments allows you to configure these custom billing intervals easily within the console. This guide explains how to set up flexible recurring plans that match your specific business model.

Prerequisites

Before configuring your billing intervals, ensure you meet the following requirements:

  • Active Account: You must have an active admin account on 4Geeks Console.
  • 4Geeks Payments Enabled: The Payments module must be active and configured with a payment gateway.
  • Permissions: You need “Admin” or “Sales” permissions to create recurring plans.

How to Set Up Custom Intervals

Follow these steps to define the frequency at which your customers are charged.

Step 1: Access the Recurring Plans Section

  1. Log in to the 4Geeks Console.
  2. On the main navigation menu (left side), click Sales to expand the submenu.
  3. Select Recurring plans from the list.

Step 2: Create a New Plan

  1. Click the Create Plan button located at the top-right corner of the Recurring plans page.
  2. This opens the plan configuration form where you will define the billing logic.

Step 3: Configure the Interval

This is the critical step for defining your custom schedule.

  1. Name: Give your plan a clear name (e.g., “VIP Coaching - Weekly”).
  2. Amount: Enter the price per cycle.
  3. Interval: Select your desired frequency from the dropdown menu:
    • Daily: Best for short-term, high-intensity access.
    • Weekly: Ideal for coaching, tutoring, or service retainers.
    • Monthly: The standard for SaaS and memberships.
    • Yearly: Perfect for offering annual discounts (see use cases below).
  4. Trial Period: (Optional) Enter the number of days for a free trial before the first custom interval begins.
  5. Click Create Plan to save it.

Note: Once a plan is created, you cannot change its interval. If you need a different frequency, you must create a new plan.

Common Use Cases

Scenario 1: The “Annual Discount” Strategy

Situation: You want to improve cash flow by encouraging customers to pay upfront for a year. Configuration: * Plan A (Monthly): \(50 / Month (\)600/year). * Plan B (Yearly): $500 / Year (Interval set to Yearly). Result: Customers are incentivized to choose the Yearly plan to save $100, and you secure 12 months of revenue instantly.

Scenario 2: Weekly Retainers for Service Providers

Situation: A fitness trainer charges clients every week for personalized plans. Configuration: * Interval: Weekly * Amount: $25 Result: The system automatically charges the client $25 every 7 days, eliminating the need to manually ask for payment before every session.

Troubleshooting

Issue 1: I cannot find a “Quarterly” option

  • Solution: Currently, standard intervals (Weekly, Monthly, Yearly) are available in the dropdown. To achieve a Quarterly billing cycle, you may need to use the API to define a custom interval count (e.g., interval_count: 3, interval: month) or contact support for advanced configuration.

Issue 2: The plan is not renewing

  • Cause: The plan may have been deleted or the customer’s payment method has expired.
  • Solution: Check the Subscriptions tab to view the status of the specific user. If the status is “Past Due,” refer to our Dunning Management guide.

FAQs

Can I switch a subscriber from Monthly to Yearly?

You cannot directly “edit” the subscription interval. Instead, you should cancel their current Monthly subscription and subscribe them to the new Yearly plan. You can do this manually in the console or invite them to do it via the Customer Portal.

Do custom intervals work with trial periods?

Yes. If you set a 7-day Trial on a Yearly plan, the customer will have free access for 7 days. On day 8, they will be charged the full annual amount for the year ahead.