How to Add a Startup Fee to a Subscription

Before You Begin

• Ensure you have owner or admin permissions
• Have Stripe connected (required for paid subscriptions)

Steps

Step 1: Open the subscription product

1. Go to Products & Services > Manage Plans
2. Find and click the subscription product you want to configure

Step 2: Set the startup fee

1. Find the Startup Fee section (in the Pricing or Subscription area)
2. Enter the one-time fee amount — this is charged once at sign-up, separate from the recurring price
3. (Optional) Toggle Waive for existing customers if you want to exempt customers who are upgrading from an existing subscription

Step 3: Save

1. Click Save
2. The startup fee takes effect for new subscriptions immediately

How Startup Fees Work

• First payment: startup fee + first recurring charge (billed together)
• Future payments: recurring price only
• Existing customers: fee is waived if the toggle is enabled; otherwise charged like new customers

Troubleshooting

Startup Fee section isn’t visible. Confirm the product type is Subscription — startup fees only apply to subscription products.

Startup fee isn’t being charged. Confirm the fee amount is saved and that Stripe is connected and processing correctly.

Existing customers are being charged the fee. Enable the Waive for existing customers toggle and save.

To remove a startup fee. Edit the product, set the startup fee to $0, and save.

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Need a hand?

Email our team at support@joinzipper.com and we'll usually reply within a few hours.

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