RocketMVPRocketMVP
Essential for most MVPs

Subscription Billing for MVPs

Recurring payment management, subscription tiers, trials, and billing lifecycle handling.

4-10 days
Typical Timeline
$1,500 - $4,000
Typical Cost

When to Include

  • SaaS business model
  • Membership sites
  • Content subscriptions
  • Recurring service payments

When to Skip

  • One-time payment products
  • Marketplace/transaction fee model
  • Usage-based pricing only

Technology Options

TechnologyProsCons
Stripe Billing
Subscription management by Stripe
  • Full control
  • Great API
  • Customer portal
  • Flexible pricing
  • Requires implementation
  • Tax handling separate
  • Complexity
Paddle
Merchant of record for software
  • Handles tax/VAT globally
  • Checkout included
  • Less compliance burden
  • Higher fees (5%+)
  • Less control
  • Approval needed
Lemon Squeezy
Simple selling for digital products
  • Easy setup
  • Handles taxes
  • Good for indie hackers
  • Less customizable
  • Newer platform
  • Limited features
Chargebee
Enterprise subscription management
  • Advanced billing logic
  • Revenue recognition
  • Multiple gateways
  • Complex
  • Enterprise pricing
  • Overkill for MVPs

Implementation Steps

1
Define pricing tiers and features
2
Choose billing platform
3
Implement checkout flow
4
Handle subscription webhook events
5
Build customer billing portal
6
Implement trial period logic
7
Add upgrade/downgrade flows
8
Set up dunning for failed payments

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not handling failed payments properly
  • Missing proration for plan changes
  • Complex pricing too early
  • Not offering trials
  • Hard cancellation instead of pause options
  • Not tracking subscription metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pricing tiers should my MVP have?

Start with 2-3 tiers. A free/trial option, a main paid tier, and optionally a premium tier. Add complexity when you understand customer segments.

Should I offer a free trial or freemium?

Free trials work for complex products needing time to show value. Freemium for products with quick value demonstration. Test both if unsure.

How do I handle failed payments?

Implement smart dunning: retry automatically (days 1, 3, 7), send emails, downgrade after grace period, make payment update easy.

Related Features

Payment Processing

Accept payments via credit cards, ACH, and digital wallets with proper security and compliance.

Learn more

Need Help Implementing Subscription Billing?

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