How to set up a subscription product in Flodesk Checkout

Flodesk makes it easy to collect recurring payments for subscription-based offerings like paid newsletters, memberships, coaching sessions, or digital communities. This guide walks you through setting up subscription payment options at checkout using Flodesk Checkout.

You can only use this feature with a Flodesk plan that includes Flodesk Checkout (learn how to upgrade here) and if you have a connected Stripe Standard account. 

• If you’re still using Stripe Express with Flodesk Checkout, find here the steps of how to migrate to Stripe Standard

• If you cancel or downgrade your Flodesk checkout plan, we will immediately terminate any active subscriptions tied to your Checkout/Standard account

If you’re a member currently on the initial Flodesk free trial with a connected Stripe Standard account, you can create and publish a checkout with a recurring product, but note the following:

• If at the end of the free trial you convert to a Flodesk plan that includes Checkout, the subscriptions (if purchased) will continue to process

• If your trial ends and you don’t convert to a suitable paid Flodesk plan, we will terminate all subscription payments automatically

When a customer completes your checkout with a subscription product:

• They are automatically enrolled in a recurring payment plan

• The customer receives confirmation and initial purchase receipt via email sent by Flodesk

  • This email contains a link to the Customer Portal in Stripe, where they can view and manage their subscription

• For subsequent payments, the payment confirmation emails will be directly sent from Stripe

• Charges occur monthly (or based on the interval you set)

• Payments will be processed on the day that the buyer purchased the subscription

Step 1. 

Navigate to Checkouts in your Flodesk dashboard and click + New checkout

Step 2.

Select one of the Checkout templates to customize it. Or edit an already existing Checkout.

Step 3. 

Click the Setup button in the top right corner to access the Product tab. You will have the option to set a “One-time” price or a “Recurring” one.

Step 4. 

Select the “Recurring” option to add a subscription by setting the payment amount and billing frequency (e.g., monthly, annually, quarterly). 

You can add more subscription options by clicking the “Add another” button. In the below example, we added an additional annual subscription option to the previously selected monthly recurring option.

You can drag and drop subscription options. This order will be reflected in the Checkout when a buyer accesses the checkout page, and the first option will be the default selected one.

If you want to delete (remove) a subscription option, hover over it, and click the trash bin icon.

Step 5. 

Fill in your product name and description, upload a product image and find or create a product segment where customers purchasing your product will be added.

How to use the ‘product segment’?

By adding a product segment—as shown in the screenshot below—you can assign customers who purchase your product to a dedicated segment. Based on your setup, this segment can trigger a workflow that sends them more details about their purchased subscription product or any additional relevant information.

You can also use this product segment to send targeted emails to your subscription customers only.

Note: In case of subscription products, those customers who cancel or fail to pay are automatically removed from the segment you specify as the “product segment.” If they come back and start paying again, you’ll need to manually add them back to the segment.

Step 6. 

Continue customizing your offer by adding 

• An optional Upsell product, 

• A newsletter opt-in box via the Contact tab, 

• A customer testimonial, or 

• Discount codes. 

Important: Before adding and activating any discount codes for subscription-based products, read the scenarios below carefully.

You can use discount codes with subscription-based products, and here’s how they’re applied during checkout and beyond:

If you’re using an amount-based discount that applies to “All Products”, here’s how it will behave during checkout and for future subscription payments.

The discount is applied to the Main product first: 

• The discount is deducted from the Main product before anything else. 

• The discount applies to all recurring payments.

If the Discount Amount is Less Than the Main Product Price:

• Today’s Total: You pay the main product price minus the discount.

• Future Payments: The same discount applies to each subscription payment.

Note: Any upsell products added during checkout will not receive a discount.

If the Discount Covers the Full Main Product but Not the Upsell

• No Upsell Added?

  • The main product is free for the first payment.

  • Any unused portion of the discount will not carry over to future payments.

• Upsell Added?

  • The discount is applied to both the main product and the upsell.

  • Today’s Total: (Main Product + Upsell) – Discount.

  • Future Payments: $0 — your next subscription payment is free!

If the Discount Covers Both the Main Product and the Upsell

• Today’s Total: $0 — your entire order is free!

• Future Payments: $0 — your next subscription payment is also free.

Note: Any leftover discount will not apply to future charges.

Discount codes only apply once. Any extra amount beyond your initial order will not carry over.

If you’re using an amount-based discount that only applies to the “Main product”, here’s how it will behave during checkout and for future subscription payments.

If the Discount is Less Than the Main Product Price:

• Today’s Total: You’ll pay the price of the main product minus the discount amount.

• Next Payment: The same discount applies to each subscription payment.

Example:

If your main product is $20 and the discount is $5:

• Today: You pay $15

• Next Payment: You pay $15

If the Discount is Equal to or Greater Than the Main Product Price

This depends on whether or not you add an upsell at checkout.

No Upsell Added

• Today’s Total: Free

• Next Payment: Free

You’re not charged at all today, and your first subscription payment will also be free!

Upsell Added

• Today’s Total: You’ll only pay for the upsell product.

• Next Payment: Free

The discount covers the main product, and the upsell is charged as usual. Your first recurring payment will be free.

Note: Discount codes only apply to the initial purchase. Any unused discount does not carry over beyond the first payment.

If you’re using an amount-based discount that only applies to the “Upsell”, the collection of payment for the Main Product (subscription) will be unaffected. The discount amount will be deducted from the Upsell price.

If you’re using a percentage-based discount that applies to “All Products”, here’s how it will behave during checkout and for future subscription payments.

If the Discount is Less Than 100%

• The discount is applied to both the Main Product (subscription) and any Upsell products in the cart.

• The same percentage discount will also be applied to all future recurring payments of the subscription.

The discount will keep applying to future charges, unless you  manually deactivate or delete  the discount code.

If the Discount is Exactly 100%

• The entire order is free — both the main subscription and any upsell products.

• Payment details will NOT be collected at checkout.

• Future payments will also be completely free.

Order Details:

• Today’s Total: $0 (Free)

• Next Payment: $0 (Free)

Note: 100% discounts result in a free order with no recurring billing.

If your discount is set to apply to the Main Product only (such as a subscription), and it’s a percentage-based discount, here’s what to expect:

If the Discount is Less Than 100%

• The discount is applied only to the Main Product (e.g., the subscription).

• Upsell products (if any) will be charged at full price.

• The discount will continue to apply to each recurring subscription payment.

The recurring discount stays active unless the discount code is manually deactivated or deleted.

If the Discount is Exactly 100%

• The entire Main Product is free.

• Payment details will NOT be collected from the buyer at checkout.

• All future subscription payments will also be free.

Order Summary:

• Today’s Total: $0 (Free)

• Next Payment: $0 (Free)

Even if there are upsell products in the cart, only the Main Product will be free. If upsells are present, payment may still be collected for those.

If your discount is set to apply to Upsell items only and uses a percentage, here’s how it works during checkout and beyond:

If the Discount is Less Than 100%

• The discount is applied only to the Upsell product(s) in the order.

• The Main Product (subscription) is charged at full price.

• The discount applies one time only, during the initial purchase.

If the Discount is Exactly 100%

• Only the Upsell product is free.

• You will still be charged the full price for the Main Product.

• Future subscription payments will follow the regular subscription pricing.

Order Summary:

• Today’s Total: Main Product price

• Next Payment: Full subscription price (charged on [month] [day], [year])

Note: This type of discount is ideal if you want to give buyers a deal on add-ons without affecting the subscription pricing.

If you no longer want a discount to be used in new purchases, you can delete it.

1. Go to the Discounts tab

2. Find the discount you want to remove

3. Click the three dots quick access menu and hit Delete

4. A confirmation popup will appear if the discount is still being used in any active subscriptions

• New Purchases: The discount will no longer be available during checkout.

• Existing Subscriptions: Any subscriptions that are already using the discount will continue to receive it. Their recurring charges will stay the same.

Note: Deleting a discount does not affect customers who already have it applied. It simply prevents new subscriptions from using it going forward.

You can edit or deactivate a discount code at any time. Here’s how changes affect new and existing subscriptions.

• Discount name

• Code (what customers enter)

• Discount type (e.g., % or $ off)

• Amount

• What it applies to (Main product, Upsell, or All)

• Active status (on/off)

• New Subscription Purchases: Will use the updated discount immediately after changes are saved.

• Existing Subscriptions: Will not be affected. These will continue using the discount that was active at the time of the original purchase.

  • The original discount continues to apply on recurring invoices until the subscription is cancelled.

Instead of deleting a discount, you can simply toggle it inactive. This makes it unavailable for new purchases without affecting existing subscribers.

• New Subscriptions: Can no longer use the discount.

• Existing Subscriptions: Will continue to apply the original discount as long as the subscription is active.

You can change the discount’s Active status at any time by editing the discount.

Before publishing your Checkout to activate your subscription offer, remember to edit the Checkout link via the Advanced tab.

Also, make sure you’ve edited the main Sales page and the Delivery page to reflect the product you offer.

On the Sales page, you can connect each CTA button to a specific subscription option, allowing you to showcase all available subscription options. When your customer clicks the button, it directs them directly to the corresponding subscription option on the Checkout page.

For example, clicking the CTA button connected to the monthly subscription payments will look similar to the below example with the "monthly" payment option pre-selected:

All that is left is to share your checkout link with your audience.

• Clearly describe what subscribers will receive and when

• Use testimonials, value bullet points, or FAQs 

• Set up automated onboarding emails using Flodesk workflows

• Offer an incentive (like a discount or bonus content) to boost sign-ups

• Be transparent about billing frequency and cancellation terms

Can I offer both one-time and subscription payments on the same checkout page?

No. Each Flodesk checkout supports one pricing model per page.

When a customer checks out and buys my subscription product, does Flodesk send them a monthly subscription reminder before charging them?

At this time, Flodesk sends subscription renewal reminder emails only to customers with an annual product subscription. Customers subscribed to a monthly product do not receive a reminder email before each charge.

What payment methods are available for subscription payments at checkout?

You can use the following payment methods when setting up subscription payments:

• Credit & Debit Card

• ApplePay

• GooglePay

Can customers cancel their own subscription?

Yes. Upon purchase, customers receive a confirmation and initial purchase receipt via email sent by Flodesk. This email contains a link to the Customer Portal in Stripe, where they can view and manage their subscription payment.

Note: Customers do not need to create a Stripe account to access the Customer Portal. Each portal link is unique and secure.

Where can I view and manage customers?

Use the Customers tab on the Audience dashboard in Flodesk to see who purchased your product(s). Learn more about it here.