Subscriptions & Billing
Managing account subscriptions and payments
Overview
This platform uses a subscription-based model powered by Stripe to provide premium features and services. Subscriptions are attached to accounts (not individual users), meaning one subscription covers all members of an account.
How Subscriptions Work
Per-Account Billing
Key concepts:
- Subscriptions are purchased for entire accounts, not individual users
- All members of a subscribed account get access to premium features
- Each account can have its own separate subscription
- Account Owners manage billing and subscriptions
What's Included
A subscription typically includes:
- Access to premium features (varies by plan)
- Increased limits (storage, members, courses, etc.)
- Priority support
- Additional customization options
- Advanced analytics and reporting (if available)
Specific features depend on your subscription plan and platform configuration.
Subscription Plans
Important: A subscription is required to access all platform features.
Available subscription plans and pricing are configured by the platform administrator. Plans may include different feature access levels, member limits, and capabilities. Contact the platform administrator for current plan details and pricing.
Note: Subscription plans and feature access can be modified at any time by the platform administrator to adjust which areas of the site are available to different subscription tiers.
Starting a Subscription
Who Can Subscribe?
Only Account Owners can manage subscriptions:
- You must have the Owner role in the account
- Admins and other roles cannot access billing
- This protects billing information and prevents unauthorized changes
How to Subscribe
- Switch to the account you want to subscribe
- Go to Account Settings or Billing
- Click "Upgrade" or "Subscribe"
- Choose your subscription plan
- Enter payment information (credit/debit card)
- Review and confirm the subscription
- You're subscribed! Premium features activate immediately
Stripe Checkout
Payment processing uses Stripe Checkout:
- Secure, industry-standard payment processing
- Your payment info is never stored on this platform
- Supports major credit and debit cards
- PCI-compliant and encrypted
Managing Your Subscription
Viewing Subscription Details
See your current subscription status:
- Go to Account Settings > Billing
- View your current plan
- See renewal date and amount
- Check payment method on file
Updating Payment Method
Change your credit card or billing information:
- Go to Billing settings
- Click "Update Payment Method"
- Enter new card details via Stripe
- Save the changes
Your next charge will use the new payment method.
Changing Plans
Upgrade or downgrade your subscription:
- Go to Billing settings
- Click "Change Plan"
- Select a new plan
- Confirm the change
Upgrades: Take effect immediately, with prorated charges.
Downgrades: May take effect at the next billing cycle.
Canceling Your Subscription
You can cancel anytime:
- Go to Billing settings
- Click "Cancel Subscription"
- Confirm cancellation
What happens when you cancel:
- Your subscription remains active until the end of the current billing period
- You won't be charged again
- Features remain available until the subscription ends
- After expiration, access to subscription features will be limited
- Your data is preserved - nothing is deleted
Reactivating a Canceled Subscription
Changed your mind? You can reactivate:
- Go back to Billing settings
- Click "Reactivate" or "Subscribe" again
- Confirm your payment method
- Your subscription resumes immediately
Billing and Receipts
Billing Cycle
Subscriptions typically bill on a recurring basis:
- Monthly - Charged every month on the subscription date
- Annual - Charged once per year (often with a discount)
- The cycle depends on the plan you choose
Viewing Receipts
Access all your payment receipts:
- Go to Billing settings
- Click "View Receipts" or "Billing History"
- See all past charges and invoices
- Download or print receipts as needed
Failed Payments
If a payment fails:
- You'll receive an email notification
- The platform will retry the charge automatically
- Update your payment method to resolve the issue
- If payment continues to fail, your subscription may be suspended
Stripe Customer Portal
Managing Billing via Stripe
The platform may provide direct access to Stripe's Customer Portal:
- Click "Manage Billing" in account settings
- Opens Stripe's secure portal
- Update payment methods
- View detailed billing history
- Download all receipts
- Manage subscriptions
Best Practices
For Account Owners
- Review your subscription regularly to ensure it meets your needs
- Keep payment information up to date to avoid service interruptions
- Download and save receipts for accounting purposes
- Consider annual billing for cost savings (if available)
- Monitor account usage to choose the right plan
For Team Members
- Contact your Account Owner for subscription questions
- Use premium features responsibly
- Understand that subscription benefits apply to the whole account
Budgeting
- Plan for subscription costs in your budget
- Consider growth when choosing a plan
- Take advantage of annual discounts if available
- Cancel before renewal if you no longer need the service
Security and Privacy
Payment Security
Your payment information is secure:
- Stripe handles all payment processing
- This platform never stores your credit card numbers
- All transactions are encrypted with industry-standard SSL
- PCI DSS compliant payment processing
Billing Information Privacy
- Only Account Owners can view billing information
- Other account members cannot see payment details
- Platform admins cannot access your credit card information
Troubleshooting
Can't Access Billing?
- Only Account Owners can access billing settings
- Make sure you have the Owner role
- Switch to the correct account if you own multiple
Payment Failed?
- Check that your card has sufficient funds
- Verify your card hasn't expired
- Contact your bank - they may have declined the charge
- Try a different payment method
- Update your billing information and retry
Subscription Not Activating?
- Refresh the page
- Log out and log back in
- Check that payment was successful
- Contact support if premium features still aren't available
Can't Find Receipts?
- Check your email for Stripe receipts
- Go to Billing settings and look for receipt history
- Access the Stripe Customer Portal
- Contact support for assistance
Charged Incorrectly?
- Review your subscription plan and billing cycle
- Check if you have multiple account subscriptions
- Contact support with your receipt details
- Disputes can be handled through Stripe
Getting Help
Billing Support
If you need help with billing:
- Check this documentation first
- Contact platform support with billing questions
- Include your account name and receipt details
- For payment processing issues, Stripe support may also help
Common Questions
Q: Can I get a refund?
A: Refund policies vary. Contact support to discuss your specific situation.
Q: What happens if my payment fails?
A: You'll be notified and given time to update payment. Service continues during the grace period.
Q: Can I switch from monthly to annual billing?
A: Yes, use the "Change Plan" feature to switch billing cycles.