How to Add a Startup Fee to a Subscription

Learn how to add a one-time startup fee to subscription products. Startup fees are charged once when customers first subscribe, in addition to the recurring subscription price.

Before You Begin

• You must be logged in to your account at https://app.joinzipper.com
• You need permission to manage products (typically organization owners and admins have this permission)
• A subscription product to configure
• Stripe connected (required for paid subscriptions)

Steps

Step 1: Navigate to Subscription Product

1. Log in to your account at https://app.joinzipper.com/auth/login
2. From the dashboard, click Products in the left sidebar
3. Find the subscription product you want to configure
4. Click on the product to open it

What happens next: You'll see the product edit form.

Step 2: Find Startup Fee Section

1. In the product edit form, find the Startup Fee section
2. This section contains:
   • Startup fee amount field
   • Waive for existing customers option
   • Startup fee configuration

Note: Startup fee settings are typically in the Pricing or Subscription section.

Step 3: Enter Startup Fee Amount

1. Enter the startup fee amount:

   • Set the one-time fee customers pay when subscribing
   • Example: $50.00 startup fee
   • Example: $100.00 startup fee
   • This is charged once, separate from recurring price

2. Startup fee considerations:

   • Charged when customer first subscribes
   • One-time payment, not recurring
   • In addition to recurring subscription price
   • Helps cover initial setup costs

Note: Startup fee is a one-time charge separate from the monthly/weekly/yearly subscription price.

Step 4: (Optional) Configure Waive for Existing Customers

1. Waive for existing customers (if available):

   • Toggle Waive for existing customers option
   • If On: Existing customers upgrading don't pay startup fee
   • If Off: All customers pay startup fee

2. When to waive:

   • Useful when existing customers upgrade
   • Prevents charging startup fee to loyal customers
   • Helps with customer retention

Note: Waiving startup fees for existing customers can improve retention.

Step 5: Save Product

1. Review your startup fee configuration:
   • Startup fee amount is set
   • Waive option is configured (if applicable)
   • Settings are appropriate
2. Click Save
   • Startup fee will be saved
   • You'll see a confirmation
3. Startup fee will take effect for new subscriptions

What happens next: Startup fee will be configured and:

• Charged when customers first subscribe
• One-time payment in addition to recurring price
• Waived for existing customers (if configured)
• Applied to new subscriptions automatically

How Startup Fees Work

When a startup fee is set:

1. During subscription:

   • Customer subscribes to product
   • Startup fee is charged immediately
   • Recurring price is set up for future billing
   • Both charges are processed

2. Billing breakdown:

   • First payment: Startup fee + first recurring payment (or just startup fee)
   • Future payments: Recurring price only
   • Startup fee is one-time only

3. For existing customers:

   • If waived: No startup fee charged
   • If not waived: Startup fee charged
   • Depends on waive setting

Tips

• Set startup fees to cover initial setup or onboarding costs
• Consider waiving for existing customers to improve retention
• Communicate startup fees clearly to customers
• Use startup fees for one-time setup costs
• Test subscription flow to ensure fees are charged correctly

Troubleshooting

Problem: I don't see Startup Fee section Solution: Check that:

• Product type is Subscription (startup fees are for subscriptions)
• You're editing the product (not just viewing)
• Startup fee feature is available

Solution: Make sure product is a subscription. Startup fees are only available for subscription products.

Problem: Startup fee isn't being charged Solution: Check that:

• Startup fee amount is set and saved
• Subscription is being created correctly
• Stripe is processing payments

Solution: Verify startup fee is set and saved. Check subscription creation and payment processing.

Problem: Existing customers are being charged startup fee Solution: Check waive setting:

• Enable "Waive for existing customers" if you want to waive
• Verify customer status (existing vs new)
• Check waive logic is working

Solution: Enable waive option if you want to exempt existing customers. Verify customer status.

Problem: I want to remove startup fee Solution: To remove startup fee:

• Edit subscription product
• Set startup fee to $0 or remove it
• Save changes
• New subscriptions won't have startup fee

Solution: Set startup fee to $0 or remove it. Existing subscriptions keep their original terms.