# 🧠 How to Set Up Recurring Service Subscription in Cowlendar

> Complete guide to setting up recurring service subscriptions and memberships in Cowlendar.

**Category:** Recurring Subscriptions


{% hint style="warning" %}
Subscriptions are available on the Ultra plan and only for Regular booking services.
{% endhint %}

Subscriptions are one of the most requested and powerful features in Cowlendar.

They allow you to offer **recurring bookings with recurring payments**, directly tied to your services, so customers can commit long‑term while you generate predictable revenue.

With Subscriptions, you can:

* Sell time‑based services on a recurring basis
* Automatically bill customers at fixed intervals
* Give customers booking credits they can use flexibly
* Create multiple subscription plans inside the same service



### Key Strengths of the Subscription Feature

**Recurring revenue** with automated billing via Shopify
**Multiple subscription plans per service** (customers choose the one they want)
**Fully customizable rules** (commitment, credits, booking limits)
**Customer self‑management** (pause / cancel, if enabled)
**Flexible booking model** using credits instead of fixed dates
**Perfect for routines, programs, and long‑term engagements**

Each subscription is independent, clearly displayed, and easy for customers to understand when booking.


### What You Can Build With Subscriptions

Subscriptions allow you to sell **recurring access to time slots**.

Instead of selling a single appointment, you sell:

A **billing cycle** (weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.)
A **set number of booking credits per cycle**
A **commitment structure**, if needed

> Important concept: 1 credit = 1 booking


### How to Enable Subscriptions

From your **Shopify admin**, go to **Apps**
Open **Cowlendar**
Go to **My Services**
Click **Edit** on your service

<figure><img src="https://awvaqoxnpuqzxaopzgen.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/github/Untitled_design_18_.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Make sure the service type is **Regular booking**
Go to the **General** tab
Scroll to the bottom and find the **Subscriptions** section

<figure><img src="https://awvaqoxnpuqzxaopzgen.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/github/subscription.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Enable **Subscriptions**
Create and customize your subscription plans


### Subscription Configuration – Step by Step

Each service can contain **multiple subscription plans**. Customers will see them and select the one that best fits their needs.

<figure><img src="https://awvaqoxnpuqzxaopzgen.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/github/subscripcion_edit.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 1. Title and Description

Each subscription has:

**Title**: Visible to customers (e.g. _Monthly Yoga Pass_)
**Description**: Explain what’s included, rules, or benefits

This helps customers clearly compare plans.


#### 2. Price

This is the **recurring amount charged to the customer**.

Example:

* Price: **$100**

This price will be charged repeatedly based on the interval configuration.


#### 3. Billing Interval

**Interval Count**

Defines **how often the charge occurs**.

**Interval**

Choose the billing unit:

* Day
* Week
* Month
* Year

**Example**:

* Price: $100
* Interval count: 1
* Interval: Month

➡️ The customer will be billed **$100 every month**.

#### 4. Credits Per Period

This defines how many bookings the customer can make **per billing cycle**.

* 1 credit = 1 booking
* Credits refresh every billing period

Examples:

* 4 credits per month → up to 4 bookings per month
* 20 credits per month → ideal for daily or frequent services


### 5. Subscription Rules (Optional)

These rules can be enabled or disabled independently for each subscription.

#### Minimum Commitment

The customer must stay subscribed for a minimum number of billing periods.

Examples:

* 3 months minimum
* 6 billing cycles

Useful to:

* Reduce churn
* Secure long‑term clients
* Support structured programs

#### Minimum Initial Bookings

Defines how many bookings the customer must schedule **when purchasing the subscription**.

Examples:

* Require at least 2 bookings on first purchase
* Force initial planning and commitment

### 6. Customer Actions (Optional)

#### Allow Customers to Pause Subscription

When enabled:

* Customers can pause their subscription indefinitely
* Billing stops while paused
* **Subscriptions do not auto‑resume** (Shopify limitation)
* Only the customer can resume from their Shopify customer portal

Useful for:

* Vacations
* Temporary schedule changes

#### Allow Customers to Cancel Subscription

* If enabled: customers can cancel anytime (respecting minimum commitment)
* If disabled: customers must contact support to cancel


### 7. Promotional Options

#### Promotional Badge

* Display a badge on the subscription plan
* Useful for highlighting best value or recommended plans

#### Selected by Default

* Automatically pre‑selects this subscription in the booking widget
* Ideal for guiding customers toward your preferred option


#### Managing the Subscription as a Customer



{% content-ref url="how-your-customers-manage-and-renew-subscriptions.md" %}
[how-your-customers-manage-and-renew-subscriptions.md](how-your-customers-manage-and-renew-subscriptions.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


#### Managing the Subscription as an Admin&#x20;

{% content-ref url="how-admins-manage-subscriptions-in-cowlendar.md" %}
[how-admins-manage-subscriptions-in-cowlendar.md](how-admins-manage-subscriptions-in-cowlendar.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### Use Cases by Industry:


{% content-ref url="use-case-wellness-and-fitness-selling-class-passes-and-monthly-memberships.md" %}
[use-case-wellness-and-fitness-selling-class-passes-and-monthly-memberships.md](use-case-wellness-and-fitness-selling-class-passes-and-monthly-memberships.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}



{% content-ref url="use-case-education-and-coaching-setting-up-recurring-tutoring-sessions.md" %}
[use-case-education-and-coaching-setting-up-recurring-tutoring-sessions.md](use-case-education-and-coaching-setting-up-recurring-tutoring-sessions.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


{% content-ref url="use-case-automating-monthly-home-or-professional-maintenance-services.md" %}
[use-case-automating-monthly-home-or-professional-maintenance-services.md](use-case-automating-monthly-home-or-professional-maintenance-services.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


### Final Notes

Subscriptions transform Cowlendar from a simple booking tool into a **long‑term business engine**.

They are best used when:

* Services are recurring
* Clients benefit from routines
* Predictable revenue matters

If you offer time‑based services and want stability, Subscriptions are one of the most powerful tools available in Cowlendar.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Reminder**: Subscriptions are available on the **Ultra plan** and **only for Regular booking services**.
{% endhint %}