Create and Manage Product Subscriptions for Your E-commerce Business

Create and Manage Product Subscriptions for Your E-commerce Business

By Michael Chen

December 27, 2024 at 08:35 PM

Having your customers purchase products on a recurring basis through subscriptions is a great way to generate predictable revenue. Product subscriptions work well for regularly ordered items like food, beverages, cosmetics, and ongoing services.

To offer product subscriptions, you'll need:

  • E-Commerce Advanced subscription
  • Activated customer accounts
  • Physical products or services (no digital items/donations)
  • Squarespace Payments or Stripe integration

Black Wallet on White Background

Black Wallet on White Background

Key details about product subscriptions:

  • Must be created on desktop
  • Can't set stock limits
  • Quantity becomes unlimited when converting existing products
  • Version 7.1 allows both one-time and subscription purchases

Creating a subscription product:

  1. Go to Pages > Shop
  2. Add new product or edit existing
  3. Navigate to Inventory > Subscriptions
  4. Choose purchase options and renewal frequency
  5. Set billing periods (unlimited or fixed number)
  6. Add optional subscription discount
  7. Save changes

Chocolate of the Month

Chocolate of the Month

Subscription renewals:

  • Monthly renewals occur on same date each month
  • Weekly renewals happen same day/time each week
  • Enable renewal notifications to alert customers 15 days before charge
  • Failed payments retry twice over 10 days before canceling

Managing subscriptions:

  • Edit prices (apply to new or all customers)
  • Delay renewal dates
  • Cancel individual subscriptions
  • View subscriber details in Contacts menu
  • Customers manage subscriptions through their accounts

Squarespace Payment Error Message

Squarespace Payment Error Message

Important notes:

  • Customers need accounts to subscribe
  • Only one subscription product per order
  • Stored payment method charges automatically
  • No gift card purchases allowed
  • Integrates with ShipStation and eCommerce APIs
  • Subscriptions cancel if site expires/downgrades

Best practices:

  • Promote with email campaigns
  • Add SEO descriptions
  • Sell through social media
  • Communicate changes to subscribers
  • Enable renewal notifications

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