Charging for online subscriptions

[Deisel Weisel]

I’m looking at creating a website, whose income will depend on monthly subscriptions. I might also choose to offer, alongside the monthly option, a single upfront 12 month payment, with the incentive of a discount.

I’m a bit of a numbskull when it comes to all things banking, so I’m hoping you can bring me up to speed on the basics.

Phrases that come to mind are ‘Direct Debit’ and ‘Standing Order’. I don’t know what category of payment style, is best suited to my site. Mostly subscribers will be charged one standard rate, say £20 per month, but with others, maybe more, £25. These payments won't vary through the 12 month payment cycle.

There will be some kind of paywall page, incorporated into the website, to facilitate these payments securely. That’s what I invisage.

I guess this would naturally get discussed with the website builder, but I am yet to choose one, so not at that stage yet.

Any insight appreciated, before I get to meet a website builder.

 

[fisicx]

It all depends on your payment provider. But it won’t normally be Direct Debit or a Standing Order as these require a whole load of additional processes. Online Subscriptions usually get the user to enter a credit or debit card from which the monthly subscription is taken.

What are you selling and to whom? This can dictate what system you use.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

All will depend on your 'paywall', but if you are using membership msystems they will generally allow you to take regular payments via card.

Using popular platforms like Joomla, WP etc allow you can be set up with a cheap plugins (tens of £'s) in a couple of minutes, using a processor like Stripe or Paypal.

 

[DontAsk]

But it won’t normally be Direct Debit or a Standing Order as these require a whole load of additional processes.

Standing order can be setup by the payer by anyone, top pay anyone.

No additional processes required by the payee, other than the usual bank reconciliation.

 

[fisicx]

Standing order can be setup by the payer by anyone, top pay anyone.

No additional processes required by the payee, other than the usual bank reconciliation.

Yes, but not via a subscription website. It’s something you do within your banking app.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Doesn't GoCardless collect DD's?

 

[Nick@Daydot]

Are you targeting consumers or businesses? The process can differ.

If you're getting someone to build it you should find someone with experience of building subscription sites who knows what works and what doesn't. A lot of testing and research has been done in this area and you don't want to reinvent the wheel, or go with someone cheap who tanks your business.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

We run a subscription site and use Worldpay to collect the payments.

We've looked at direct debits but there is a lot of movement in terms of personnel within the community clubs we serve. We want any newcomers holding the purse strings to understand what they are buying and make a payment based on that rather than just seeing it as an expense that pops up as a DD. They have a set in stone online annual payment date but have the flexibility to pay a few weeks early or a couple of weeks late, which suits volunteer led organisations.