Managing Billing Cycles

Reading time: 4 minutes | Difficulty: Beginner

Overview

Control how long subscriptions run by limiting billing cycles. This guide covers setting up fixed-term subscriptions and payment plans.

Prerequisites

• A subscription price option configured
• Understanding of your subscription model

What are Billing Cycles?

A billing cycle is one recurring payment. By default, subscriptions continue indefinitely. Limiting cycles creates fixed-term subscriptions.

Type	Behavior
Unlimited	Continues until cancelled
Limited	Ends after X payments

Step 1: Access Subscription Settings

1. Edit your payment form
2. Click the Price Options tab
3. Expand your subscription price option

Step 2: Limit Billing Cycles

1. Find the Billing Cycles or Total Cycles setting
2. Enter the number of payments
3. Save the form

Examples

12-Month Payment Plan

Amount: $50/month
Interval: Monthly
Cycles: 12

Customer pays:
- 12 payments of $50
- Total: $600
- Subscription ends automatically

Annual Subscription (One Year)

Amount: $99/year
Interval: Yearly
Cycles: 1

Customer pays:
- 1 payment of $99
- Subscription ends after one year

Quarterly for One Year

Amount: $75/quarter
Interval: 3 Months
Cycles: 4

Customer pays:
- 4 payments of $75
- Total: $300
- Subscription ends after 1 year

Semester Course

Amount: $199/month
Interval: Monthly
Cycles: 6

Customer pays:
- 6 payments of $199
- Total: $1,194
- Access ends after 6 months

Use Cases

Payment Plans

Split a large purchase into installments:

Product Value: $600
Payment Plan: $50/month × 12
Benefit: Lower barrier to purchase

Fixed-Term Memberships

Memberships that don’t auto-renew:

Annual Membership: $200/year × 1
Benefit: No surprise renewals

Course Access

Match billing to course duration:

12-Week Course: $49/week × 12
Benefit: Payment matches content delivery

Contract Services

Services with defined terms:

6-Month Retainer: $500/month × 6
Benefit: Clear service commitment

What Happens When Cycles Complete

1. Final payment is processed
2. Subscription status changes to “Completed”
3. No further charges occur
4. Customer receives completion notification (if configured)

The subscription doesn’t auto-renew. Customers must subscribe again if they want to continue.

Combining with Other Features

With Trial Period

Trial: 14 days free
Then: $29/month × 12

Timeline:
- Days 1-14: Free trial
- Months 1-12: $29/month
- After Month 12: Subscription ends

With Setup Fee

Setup Fee: $49 (one-time)
Then: $29/month × 6

Customer pays:
- $49 at signup
- $29/month for 6 months
- Total: $223

Unlimited vs Limited Comparison

Aspect	Unlimited	Limited
Duration	Forever	Fixed term
Customer action	Must cancel	Auto-ends
Revenue	Ongoing	Predictable
Renewal	Automatic	Manual re-subscribe
Best for	Ongoing services	Courses, payment plans

Renewal Options

When cycles complete, customers can:

1. Subscribe again – Start a new subscription
2. Move on – No further action needed

To encourage renewal:

• Send a “subscription ending” email
• Offer a renewal discount
• Provide easy re-subscribe link

Tracking Cycle Progress

View remaining cycles in subscription details:

1. Go to WP Payment Pal > Subscriptions
2. Click on a subscription
3. See completed vs total cycles

Early Cancellation

Customers can cancel before cycles complete:

• Remaining cycles are forfeited
• No further charges occur
• Access typically ends at current cycle

Changing Cycle Limits

You cannot change cycles for existing subscriptions. To modify:

1. Cancel the current subscription
2. Create a new subscription with different terms
3. Possibly offer credit for paid cycles

Best Practices

1. Clear communication – State total payments upfront
2. Show value – Explain what each payment covers
3. Renewal reminders – Email before subscription ends
4. Easy renewal – Make re-subscribing simple
5. Match to value – Align cycles with content/service delivery

Common Questions

Can customers add more cycles?

Not to an existing subscription. They’d need to subscribe again or to an unlimited plan.

What if payment fails on the last cycle?

PayPal retries. If it ultimately fails, the subscription may end without completing all cycles.

Can I offer both limited and unlimited options?

Yes! Create two price options on the same form.

What’s Next?

• Managing Subscriptions in Admin – View cycle progress
• Subscription Email Notifications – Completion emails
• Creating a Subscription Plan – Full setup guide