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How to Configure Custom Billing Intervals for Memberships

Allan Porras

Allan Porras

— 4 min read

In today's dynamic business environment, offering flexible payment options is crucial for maximizing customer retention and revenue. 4Geeks Payments allows administrators to go beyond standard monthly subscriptions by configuring custom billing intervals.

Whether you need to charge users on a daily basis for short-term access, weekly for service-based retainers, or yearly for discounted enterprise plans, the 4Geeks platform provides the flexibility to structure your memberships exactly how your business model requires. This article guides you through the process of setting up these custom intervals within the 4Geeks Console.

Prerequisites

Before attempting to configure billing intervals, ensure you meet the following requirements:

  • Active Account: You must have an active administrative account on the 4Geeks Console.
  • Permissions: Your user role must have "Billing Admin" or "Product Manager" permissions.
  • Payment Gateway: A valid payment gateway (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) must be integrated and active within your 4Geeks Payments settings.
  • Existing Product: You should have at least one Product created to which you will attach this pricing plan.

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How to Configure Custom Intervals

Follow these steps to set up a new membership plan with a custom billing cycle.

Step 1: Access the Payments Dashboard

Log in to your 4Geeks Console. On the main navigation sidebar, locate and click on the Payments module.

Step 2: Navigate to Plans

Within the Payments dashboard, click on the "Plans" or "Pricing" tab. This section displays all active and archived subscription models.

  • The dashboard displays a list of current plans with columns for Name, Interval, Price, and Status.

Step 3: Create a New Plan

Click the "+ Create New Plan" button located in the top right corner of the screen.

  • A configuration modal or page will appear, asking for plan details.

Step 4: Define Billing Frequency

Locate the section labeled "Billing Cycle" or "Frequency". By default, this may be set to "Monthly." Click the dropdown menu to reveal standard options.

To set a specific interval:

  1. Select "Custom" from the dropdown menu.
  2. Interval Count: Enter the numeric value (e.g., 1, 2, 14).
  3. Interval Unit: Select the unit of time (Day, Week, Month, Year).
Example: To create a quarterly billing cycle, enter 3 in the Interval Count and select Month in the Interval Unit. To create a bi-weekly plan, enter 2 and select Week.

Step 5: Set Pricing and Currency

Enter the amount to be charged per the interval defined above. Ensure the correct currency is selected based on your target audience.

Step 6: Save and Publish

Review your settings. Once confirmed, click "Save Plan". If you are ready for customers to subscribe immediately, toggle the status to "Active".

Common Use Cases

Understanding when to use specific intervals can help optimize your revenue strategy.

  • Scenario 1: Daily Rates for Short-Term AccessA co-working space using 4Geeks Asset to manage desk bookings may want to offer a "Digital Nomad Pass." By configuring a Daily billing interval, the system automatically charges the user every 24 hours they retain the booking, eliminating the need for manual daily invoicing.
  • Scenario 2: Annual Enterprise ContractsA company using 4Geeks Talent to source candidates might offer a significant discount to clients who commit long-term. You can create a Yearly billing interval that charges a lump sum once every 12 months. This improves your cash flow and reduces the risk of churn associated with monthly decisions.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues while creating custom intervals, check the following:

  • Issue 1: The "Custom" option is not visible.
    • Solution: Ensure your connected payment gateway supports the specific interval you are trying to create. Some legacy gateways do not support daily billing. Check your gateway settings in 4Geeks Payments.
  • Issue 2: Unable to edit an active plan.
    • Solution: For compliance and data integrity, you cannot change the billing interval of a plan once it has active subscribers. You must create a new plan with the desired interval and migrate users or hide the old plan.
  • Issue 3: Pro-ration calculations seem incorrect.
    • Solution: If a user switches from a Monthly to a Weekly plan mid-cycle, verify your "Proration Behavior" settings in the main configuration menu. Ensure it is set to "Always Prorate" to credit unused time correctly.

FAQs

Can I limit how many times a daily plan renews?

Yes. In the "Advanced Settings" of the plan configuration, you can set a "Billing Cycles" limit. For example, setting this to 7 on a daily plan will charge the user for 7 days and then automatically cancel or expire the subscription.

Does this affect payroll if I am billing contractors?

If you are using 4Geeks Payroll to manage outgoing funds, billing intervals for incoming revenue are handled separately. However, you can align your payroll cycles (e.g., Weekly) to match your revenue cycles for better cash flow management.

Conclusion

Configuring custom billing intervals in the 4Geeks ecosystem provides the agility required to meet diverse customer needs. By following the steps above, you can launch daily, weekly, or yearly plans that automate revenue collection and reduce administrative overhead.

For further assistance with integrations or advanced logic, please contact our support team.

Additional Resources

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