These two terms describe how a climbing wall handles memberships start date and billing cycle.
Your billing date is your "Anniversary" date.
In a rolling subscription, the customers billing cycle begins on the day they signed up. If they sign up on the 14th of the month, their next bill will always be on the 14th.
How it works: A customer pay the full price immediately for a full month of service.
How it works: If a customer sign up on the 14th of the month, customers will be billed on the 14th of every month moving forward.
The Benefit: Customers always get a full 30 days of service for every payment they make. There are no partial charges or "catch-up" bills.
Understand the Rolling Subscription Billing Cycle
Click to expand the above diagram.
In a pro-rated subscription, subscriptions have a fixed billing date for everyone (ie the 1st of every month). If a member signs up in the middle of the month, BETA will "pro-rate" (proportionally adjust) the cost.
How it works: If a Pro-rated recurring subscription (membership) costs $30/month and a customer joins on the 15th, the customer will be charged $15 for the remaining half of that month. On the 1st of the next month, you will be charged the full $30.
BETA will bill pro-rated subscriptions on the [1st] of the month.
Your first pro-rated bill: If new customers sign up mid-month, new customers will only be charged for the remaining days of that month.
Subsequent bills: On the 1st of the next month, you will begin your regular full-price billing cycle.
Upgrades/Downgrades: If a customer changes the plan mid-month, BETA will apply a credit for your old plan and only charge the difference for the new plan for the rest of the month. The existing pass will be set to expire today, and the new pass will begin tomorrow.
Summary Table
Rolling Subscription
Pro-rated Subscription
Billing Date
Based on your first signup date
(e.g., the 14th).Fixed for everyone
(e.g., the 1st).First Payment
Full price for a full cycle.
Partial price for the remaining days till he 1st.
Mid-Month Changes
Usually restarts the cycle on that day - allowing for simpler and clear changes.
Adjusts the price for the current month.
The start date (13 Aug) is included in the pass. If the pass also expired on 13 Sep, it would add an extra day. Instead, the pass is valid from 13 Aug up to (but not including) 13 Sep, ensuring the correct length while allowing check-in on the first day.
Billing happens on the next billing date, not the day the pass is issued. This allows payments to run during normal waking hours, giving members time to resolve any billing issues before the next pass period starts. Note: You can adjust your billing automation time if you prefer it to run at midnight.
With delayed payment methods (ACH or bank transfer), payment confirmation may take time. During this period, the pass remains active and the next billing date is set as normal. If the payment does not succeed within the allowed timeframe, the pass will be revoked.
