How to Set Up Stripe Recurring Payments on your Phone

The International Data Corporation predicted that in 2022, 53% of all software revenue will be generated by recurring payments. We’re already in that year, meaning recurring payments aren’t the future but the here and now. 

For small businesses or contractors that provide ongoing services (like delivery subscriptions, health professional appointments, or cleaning services), setting up recurring payments for clients is an excellent way to control cash flow and improve financial planning.

If you use Stripe as a payment method for your business, you can also benefit from setting up a subscription-based payment for your clients.

This article will give you a simple walkthrough of how to set Stripe recurring payments using the ChargeStripe app.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What is a recurring payment on Stripe?
• The types of Stripe recurring payments
• How do I set up Stripe recurring payments with ChargeStripe?
• How do Stripe recurring payments help my business?
• More questions about Stripe recurring payments
• Conclusion

What is a recurring payment or subscription model on Stripe?

The recurring payment (or subscription) model on Stripe is where customers permit a business to extract funds from their bank accounts or credit cards at regular intervals for the goods or services provided to them on an ongoing basis. When the customer gives their permission, the subscription will be automatically renewed at set intervals until they withdraw their consent or the subscription expires. 

For example, if you’re a contractor and cut someone’s lawn every two weeks, you can offer recurring Stripe payments to your customers at a predefined interval so they won’t forget to pay you the next time you cut their lawn. 

Popular SaaS companies like MeetEdgar offer recurring payments on their annual and monthly plans. Customers can keep their card on file, and when their subscription is about to expire, MeetEdgar will automatically bill them for the service, so it never lapses.

If you have a business that works with recurring services or if you serve clients regularly, this is the best way to ensure you never miss a payment from a customer. 

The Types of Stripe Recurring Payments 

The two types of Stripe recurring payments are fixed (regular) and variable (irregular). There are two primary types of recurring payments – fixed and variable. To understand how to offer recurring payments, you must first know how they differ. The recurring payment type most suitable for your customers’ needs depends on the goods or services you offer. 

Fixed (regular) payments

Fixed payments are recurring payments when businesses charge customers the same amount for every billing cycle. The amount never changes, regardless of the product or service received for that particular billing period. 

Common fixed payments are: 

• Magazine subscriptions
• Gym memberships
• Rent 
• Streaming services like Netflix or Disney+

Variable (irregular) payments

Variable payments recur when businesses charge customers according to their product or service usage during a fixed period. The amount charged to the customer varies for each billing cycle. Billing is either usage-based or quantity-based within these variable payments. 

Examples of recurring payment models include:

• Utility billing like electricity or water
• Phone bills 
• SaaS products 
• Certain contracting services 

How do I set a Stripe recurring payment with ChargeStripe?

Once you’ve chosen the recurring payment model most suitable for your business, you’re ready to set up ChargeStripe. If you have a Stripe account to manage your payments, you can use the ChargeStripe app to set up subscriptions right from your phone in just a few steps. 

Step 1: Download ChargeStripe

The ChargeStripe app is available through the iOS and Google Play stores and is free to download.

 

Step 2: Log in with your Stripe Account

After downloading the ChargeStripe app on your phone, Stripe users must log in using their account. If you are not a Stripe user, you need to set up your account.

Step 3: Create Subscriptions Plans

After logging in, follow these steps to create a recurring payment:

1. Find the subscription feature on ChargeStripe’s menu.
2. Click on + to add a new subscription plan to your Stripe account.
3. Set up the Stripe recurring payment information (Product/Service name, amount, frequency).
4. Click Save.

Now that you created the subscription plan, you will need to select the customer or clients that will pay for this recurring service or product.

1. Go back to the subscription feature on ChargeStripe’s menu.
2. Click on the subscription you created.
3. Add client’s personal and credit card information.
4. Click Save.

Then, your client will be charged the amount you set up on the subscription plan with the frequency you defined.

How do I check if I got paid correctly?

Sometimes payment systems cannot complete recurring payments due to credit card information that is out of date or canceled. So even though you set up a subscription to guarantee your client’s amount, it is good to confirm your payments every once in a while to ensure they are completed. You can easily do that using your ChargeStripe account by accessing previous transactions on the app’s menu.

How the Stripe recurring payments feature can help your business

Setting up a recurring payment plan or a subscription feature is a way to boost your business or service revenue. And ChargeStripe makes it easy by allowing you to do this right from your mobile phone. It is a perfect way to charge for ongoing services. Independent professionals can benefit from a trusted payment service that accepts credit cards and allows them to easily collect payment for missed appointments.

Using ChargeStripe’s subscription feature can also help:

Reduce late payments (that harm your cash flow)

Late payments can wreak havoc on your business. From your credit score to revenue, in extreme cases, it can mean having to shut down your business entirely if you can’t meet operation expectations. 

Recurring payments solve this concern. You can up the regular payment initially, and after that, the payment will automatically draw from your customers’ accounts based on the predefined payment schedule. 

A predictable monthly cash flow will allow companies to avoid making educated guesses about how much money they will have available. 

Minimize the invoice and paperwork

Automated recurring payments can save time and money by eliminating the need for manual invoicing and payment processing. Once you establish the payment plan with the customer, ChargeStripe handles the rest for you without needing manual intervention. You’ll only need to intervene when you need to make changes to the payment or subscription type or the amount charged. 

Reduce costs by gaining more free time

With recurring payments, you won’t need to chase down customers and force them to fork over their money. Recurring payments leave time for more pressing executive tasks. 

Also, like other green business practices, recurring payments can reduce paper waste and additional associated costs. A U.S. Chamber of Commerce study found that for every million dollars in revenue, a business creates 7.8 metric tons of waste, 40% of which is paper. 

So, Stripe recurring payments not only help you save money but also help save the environment. 

Improve your customer experience and relationships

Recurring payments are convenient for customers and improve their overall experience because they can set up their subscription and forget it. Customers won’t need annoying reminder emails to pay outstanding bills or enter their payment details every billing cycle. When done right, recurring payments can build a sense of benevolence between the company and its customers, preserving a healthy customer relationship.

Guarantee a safe payment environment and procedure for you and your customers

Everyone is fully paid up, and everyone is happy. What more could you ask for? 

More questions about Stripe recurring payments

What are Stripe recurring payments? 

A recurring payment is a payment that will be made according to a schedule set out in advance. These payments may be due at regular intervals, such as weekly or monthly. The payment amount may vary, but it is usually the same amount each time.

How to cancel a recurring payment on Stripe?

You can manually cancel your customers’ subscriptions through the Subscription API or the Dashboard.

How can I set up a recurring payment with Stripe using ChargeStripe?

All you need to do is sign up for ChargeStripe, log into your Stripe account, and then set up your subscription plan.

Why are Stripe recurring payments beneficial to me? 

Generally, recurring payments are cheaper than one-time charges because they reduce the time it takes to get paid. They also reduce the risk of fraud as customers know they will be getting charged regularly over time.

Conclusion

Setting up a Stripe recurring payment plan or a subscription feature is a great way to boost your business or service revenue. And ChargeStripe makes it easy for businesses to implement this in only a few steps. It is a perfect way to charge for ongoing services and products and guarantee set payments every month. Independent professionals can benefit from a trusted payment service that accepts credit cards and allows them to easily collect payment for missed appointments. 

Need help with ChargeStripe?

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