What is a subscription?

Subscription processing results in a customer being charged periodically for a service.

General

The characteristics that influence the calculation of a subscription:

• Start date
• End date
• Period type
• Sequential
• Sign-up fee

First and subsequent runs
A distinction can be made between the first run and subsequent runs.
The first run can contain different dates. This depends on the run date, the start date, and the sequential flag.
Sign-up fee
If a sign-up fee is set for a customer and it is the first run, an extra line is created containing the amount of the sign-up fee.
Sequential
If Sequential = YES, the 'period from date' equals the 'next date'. If it is the first run, the 'period from date' equals the 'start date'. If Sequential = NO, the 'period from date' equals the 'next date', but that 'next date' was set in the previous run to the first day of the next month/year. If it is the first run, the 'period from date' equals the 'start date', but the 'period end date' then becomes the end of the month/year.
Override price
Each subscription has a price. It is possible to override this per customer.
Override next date
It is possible to override the 'next date'. This is done at the customer level, in the subscriptions block. Appropriate permissions are required.

Scenario 1

Summary: monthly subscription with a fixed date

Characteristics: Sequential = YES, start date January 10, monthly runs.
First run on February 1: One line is created from January 10 through February 9. The 'next date' is set to February 10.
Second run on March 1: One line is created from February 10 through March 9. The 'next date' is set to March 10.
Etc.

Scenario 2

Summary: monthly, per first day of the month

Characteristics: Sequential = NO, start date January 10, monthly runs.
First run on February 1: Two lines are created: one from January 10 through January 31 and a second from February 1 through February 28. The 'next date' is set to March 1.
Second run on March 1: One line is created from March 1 through March 31. The 'next date' is set to April 1.
Etc.

Scenario 3

Summary: 3-month subscription, per first day of the month

Characteristics: Sequential = NO, start date January 1, monthly processing runs.
First run on February 1: Two lines are created: one from January 1 through January 31 and a second from February 1 through April 30. The 'next date' is set to May 1.
Second run on March 1: no lines are created
Third run on April 1: no lines are created
Fourth run on May 1: One line is created from May 1 through July 31. The 'next date' is set to August 1.

Scenario 4

Summary: 3-month subscription, sequential

Characteristics: Sequential = YES, start date January 10, monthly processing runs.
First run on February 1: One line is created from January 10 through April 9. The 'next date' is set to April 10.
Second run on March 1: no lines are created
Third run on April 1: no lines are created
Fourth run on May 1: One line is created from April 10 through July 9. The 'next date' is set to July 10.