Docs

Coupons 

Promotions and incentives play a key factor in driving customers towards a product and in boosting sales. Chargebee gives you the flexibility and ease of providing your customers with discounts, promotions, and special offers through coupons.

You can set up three types of coupons in your Chargebee site:

These coupons can be used any time and the discounts will be applied on the next invoice.

Discounts are applied before applying the taxes, if any.

Fixed Amount Coupons 

This coupon can be created to deduct a specific amount.

Fixed Amount coupons can be applied only once in a billing cycle. However, if there is a surplus in the discount after applying the coupon once, the surplus discount will be applied again when there is a change in subscription within the same billing cycle.

For example, if you offered the customer a $50 worth fixed amount coupon, but the total invoice amount is $10. The discount gets applied and the invoice amount is $0. At the same time, if the customer updates the subscription to a new plan that costs $100, the balance $40, gets applied to the new charge and customer pays only $60. To sum it up, this is displayed in the following table:

Invoice Invoice Amount Discount Applied Final Amount
Invoice #1 $10 $10(the coupon is left with a balance of $40) $0
Invoice #2 $100 $40 $60

Percentage Coupons 

This coupon deducts the specified percentage amount instead of just an amount from the invoice.

For example, a 50% coupon applied to an invoice that has a total of $200 will give a total discount of $100. This invoice may contain a plan with a setup fee and multiple addons and consist of various quantities.

Let's take a look at how the coupons works with the different Apply On options.

Coupons applied on Invoice Amount 

When a coupon is created to be applied on Invoice Amount, the discount amount or percentage specified is applicable on the total amount of the invoice. This discount is applicable irrespective of the line items on the invoice.

Let us look at a sample invoice.

The coupon applied (You are Special - Discount $1,250) in the example above is a deduction made on the total amount ($5,000) of the invoice.

Coupons applied on Each Specified Item 

When a coupon is created for Each Specified Item, the discount amount specified is applicable individually to each item specified. You can select the applicable item(s) for the discount from the following options:

  • Applicable Plans: While selecting the applicable plans, you can select the applicability in the following ways:
    • All plans are applicable
    • No plans are applicable
    • Specific plans are applicable
    • Based on selected criteria for product families, currencies, and billing frequencies
  • Applicable Addons: While selecting the applicable addons, you can select the applicability in the following ways:
    • All addons
    • No addons
    • Specific addon price points
    • Custom criteria based on specific product families, currencies, and billing frequencies
  • Applicable Charges: While selecting the applicable charges, you can select the applicability in the following ways:
    • All charges
    • No charges
    • Specific charge price points
    • Criteria based based on specific product families and currencies

For example, you can create a coupon and configure it to be applicable on all plan price points that are created for the currency USD.

Or you can create a coupon and configure it to be applicable on all addon price points that have a yearly billing frequency.

Note
  • Any new price point that's added to the plan, addon and charge automatically inherits the coupon applicability and conditions without any manual intervention.
  • 'Fixed Amount' and 'Percentage' coupons applicable to 'Each Specified Item' will not be applied to the setup fee of a plan if the plan has a setup fee configured.

Offer Quantity Coupons 

You can apply offer quantity coupons to subscriptions associated with per unit plans. These coupons provide a discount based on the number of units sold.

For example:

If you're selling 10 units at $100 per unit and want to give two units for free, you can apply an offer quantity coupon for 2 free units. This results in a $200 discount without reducing the total quantity offered.

  • Original price for 10 units: $1,000
  • Discounted price for 10 units: $800

Creating Coupons 

To create a coupon in your Chargebee site, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Product Catalog > Coupons > + Create Coupon.

  2. In the Create Coupon page, specify the following basic attributes of the coupon:

    • Coupon Name: Naming your coupon in a detailed way is quite useful during sign up. Your users can easily understand what the offer is all about, without checking the coupon details in your Chargebee site.
    • Coupon Id: The Id is a unique identifier of the coupon and when a subscription is created or updated via the API from your app/website, the Id is used to refer to the coupon.
    • Invoice Name: This name appears on the invoice sent to customers and appears on the HTML generated view of the invoice. You can also specify an invoice name or the default Invoice name will be used.
  3. Under Discount, specify the following details:

    • Discount Type: Select the discount type from the drop down and enter the discount amount or percentage.
    • Apply on: Select if you want to apply this coupon on the invoice amount or each specified items. If you select each specified items, you can choose the applicable plans, addons, and charges after you create the coupon.
  4. Under Duration, select the Duration Type for the coupon. This specifies how long a coupon can be applied to a subscription after being added. There are three types of durations:

    • One Time coupons can only be used once in a subscription and cannot be used again after being redeemed. Once the discount is applied on the initial charge, the coupon will no longer be applicable.
    • Forever coupons do not have an expiration time set, and the discount will be applied as long as the subscription is active.
    • Limited Period have a fixed time duration. Once this period is over, the coupon can no longer be applied to a subscription. For more details, see examples.
  5. Under Validity,

    • Select the expiration date in the Valid Till field. After this date passes, the coupon becomes invalid. For example, you could offer coupons during the festive season, with limited period saying they would be valid until December 25th.
    • Set the number of times a coupon can be redeemed using the Maximum Redemptions field. If a coupon has maxed out the number of redemptions, it becomes void and can no longer be used for new sign ups. For instance, you can apply an Early Bird coupon and set the redemption limit to 20.
  6. Click Save.

Configuring Applicable Items for a Coupon 

After you have created the coupon, you can configure the applicable Plans, Addons, and Charges in the coupon details page, by following these steps:

  1. Navigate to the coupon details page.
  2. In the Discount Details section, click Change and select the applicable Plans, Addons, and Charges.

You can select from one of the following options:

When you select specific plans are applicable, you can select the product family, plans, and price points that you want to add the coupon for, using the product family and billing frequency filters.
When you select based on selected criteria, you can select the product family, plans, and price points that you want to add the coupon for, using the product family, currency, and billing frequency filters.

Once you are done selecting, click Add.

Similarly, you can configure applicable addons and charges to the coupon as required.

Note
  • If a coupon has been added to a subscription, the redemption value reduces by one, regardless of whether the coupon has been applied to the invoice for the subscription or not.
  • You can reset the redemption value whenever needed while editing a coupon.

Editing Coupons 

After a coupon has been created and redeemed, only the Name, Code, Invoice Name, Valid Till, and Max Redemptions can be edited. If a coupon has not been used yet, then all the fields can be edited.

To edit a coupon, click the coupon name, and click Edit Coupon.

Deleting Coupons 

Coupons can be deleted or archived. This depends on whether the coupon has been redeemed or not.

To delete or archive a coupon, select the coupon and then click Delete Coupon.

When you delete a coupon that has no redemptions, the coupon gets completely removed from the system, and it does not appear on the list of coupons either. You can reuse a coupon name to create a new coupon if needed.

Note
  • Reusing a coupon name and coupon id is only possible if the original coupon has never been redeemed, renamed or completely deleted. If a coupon has been "Archived", the same coupon name/id cannot be re-used.
  • You can delete/archive multiple coupons in Chargebee in one-shot. To do this, go to Product Catalog > Coupons, select the coupons to be deleted and click the Delete button that appears above the list.

Cloning Coupons 

Cloning a coupon involves replicating an existing coupon to make changes to it. You can also use this option to increase the discount amount for new subscriptions while keeping your existing subscriptions on the old discount amount. Alternatively, if you want existing subscriptions to be charged onto the new price, you can use the ‘Edit Subscription' option.

You can make the following changes using the Clone Coupon option:

  • Extend or limit the duration of the coupon and the discount amount.
  • Associate new plans, addons or charges with the coupon.
  • Change the validity period of the coupon.

To clone a coupon in your Chargebee site, follow these steps:

  1. Click Product Catalog > Coupons > Select the coupon that you want to clone.
  2. In the coupon details page, click Clone Coupon.
  3. Make the necessary changes for the new coupon that you are creating and click Save.

Archiving Coupons 

When you delete a coupon that has been redeemed, it becomes archived. This means that it is not completely removed but is in archive mode, and will appear on the list of coupons. Archiving also prevents future usage of the coupon but existing users are not affected.

The same rules of deleting/archiving applies to coupon codes as well.

Applying multiple coupons to a subscription 

Multiple coupons can be applied to an existing subscription as per your business' requirements.

To enable this feature in your Chargebee site, follow these steps:

  1. Click Settings > Configure Chargebee > Billing LogIQ > Customers & Subscriptions > Multiple coupons for quotes and subscriptions.

  2. Enable Multiple coupons for quotes and subscriptions and click Apply.
    Note: Once enabled, you cannot disable this option.

    • When multiple coupons setting is enabled: When the setting is enabled, more than one coupon of the same type can be applied to a subscription. If you apply a coupon with the same discount type, then the previous coupon is not overwritten but gets added as an additional discount to the subscription. When there are multiple coupons of the same type on a subscription, they are applied in the following sequence:

      • Line level flat amount discount
      • Line level % discount
      • Invoice level flat amount discount
      • Invoice level % discount

      Refer to this example of how multiple coupons are applied on a subscription when the feature is enabled.

    • When multiple coupons setting is disabled: When you have not enabled the multiple coupons feature, you can still apply multiple coupons, as long as the coupons are not of the same discount type. If you apply a coupon with the same discount type, then the previous coupon gets overwritten. Refer to this example of how multiple coupons are applied on a subscription when the feature is disabled.

  3. Click Update Billing Rules.

After enabling this feature, users in your team can apply multiple coupons to a single subscription record.

If you would like to extend this capability to your customers as well, navigate to Settings > Configure Chargebee > Checkout and Self-Serve Portal and enable the setting to Allow customers to add multiple coupons. That way, your customers can also use multiple coupons on a single subscription during their checkout.

Multiple coupons applied on a subscription when the feature is enabled 

Let's look at an example of how multiple coupons are applied on a subscription when the feature is enabled.

When you have already applied two coupons as displayed below:

Discount Type: Percentage (10%)

Discount Type: Percentage (5%)

When you are applying a third coupon of Discount Type: Fixed Amount ($10)

All the three coupons are applicable on the subscription in the following sequence:

  1. Discount Type: Fixed Amount ($10)
  2. Discount Type: Percentage (10%)
  3. Discount Type: Percentage (5%)

The screenshot below displays how multiple coupons of the same type are applied on a subscription.

Multiple coupons applied on a subscription when the feature is disabled 

Let's look at an example of how multiple coupons are applied on a subscription when the feature is disabled.

When you have already applied two coupons as displayed below:

Discount Type: Percentage (10%)

Discount Type: Fixed Amount ($10)

You cannot add another percentage type discount coupon, but you can overwrite the existing coupon and replace it with the new percentage coupon.

When you apply another percentage coupon, say 15%, it replaces the 10% coupon that has already been redeemed.

Discount Type: Percentage (15%)

Discount Type: Fixed Amount ($10)

Coupons Cheat Sheet 

Following are some useful tips for specific scenarios of creating and using coupons in Chargebee:

When a coupon's discount amount is more than the plan price 

Imagine you give a buyer a $50 coupon, and they make a purchase for $20 and apply the coupon, the total becomes -$30.

If this is the case, Chargebee will just deduct the total value of the purchase from the coupon and the total price becomes $0.

Example

Plan Price: $10

Addon Price: $5

Fixed Amount Coupon Value: $20

Apply On: Invoice Amount

Total Invoice Amount: $15

Discount Value will be $15

If the coupon value is greater than the total price of the subscription, it will not become a negative total; instead it will be $0.

Do coupons have a recurring option? 

The Duration Type deals with the recurring functionality of coupons. This specifies how long a coupon can be applied to a subscription after being added.

There are three types of durations:

One Time coupons can only be used once in a subscription and cannot be used again after being redeemed. Once the discount is applied on the initial charge, the coupon will no longer be applicable.

Forever coupons do not have an expiration time set, and the discount will be applied as long as the subscription is active.

Limited Period have a fixed time duration. Once this period is over, the coupon can no longer be applied to a subscription. For example, if the coupon is set for three months, the discount is applicable to the following three months only. After that, the configured price for the plan is applicable.

Note

However, the validity period of the limited period coupon may be extended based on specific conditions that arise from the application of multiple coupons. If multiple coupons are applied, each coupon is applied individually to determine future invoices.

Let's review the following examples to understand this better:

Example

Customer purchases a $100 plan with a 75% flat discount and a 50% discount two-month limited period coupon.
Original Plan: $100
Invoice 1
Apply coupon with 75% discount = ($100 - 75% discount) = $25
Apply coupon with 50% discount = ($25 - 50% discount) = $12.50
Invoice 2
Apply coupon with 50% discount = ($100 - 50% discount) = $50

Example

Customer purchases a $100 plan with a 100% flat discount and a 50% discount two-month limited period coupon.
Original Plan: $100
Invoice 1
Apply coupon with 100% discount = ($100 - 100% discount) = $0
No further discounts apply since the invoice amount is now zero.
Invoice 2
Apply coupon with 50% discount = (100 - 50% discount)= $50
Invoice 3
Apply coupon with 50% discount = (100 - 50% discount)= $50
In this scenario, the validity period of the limited period coupon is extended to three months to ensure that customers can avail the benefits associated with the coupons applied.

FAQ 

1) Can I add Coupons to the Subscriptions on Customer's request?

Yes, you can add coupons to the subscription in your Chargebee on customer's request.

There are three scenarios where you can add the coupon:

  • While creating a Subscription

    If you are adding a coupon/coupon code on behalf of your Customer while creating a new Subscription for them, navigate to Subscription Info section in the ‘Create Subscription' page, select a plan using Add Plan and you will find the option to Add Coupon/Coupon Code.

  • During Subscription change

    If you're applying the coupon on your Customer's behalf during a Subscription change, you will find the option in the Change Subscription page.

  • Add the Coupon/Coupon Code to the Subscription

    If you're adding the coupon/coupon code for the customer, at any point of time in the billing cycle, navigate to the respective Subscription and find the Add Coupon option on the Action Panel.

2) Can coupons be added while creating a Quote?

Yes, coupons can be added while creating a quote.

3) Can I apply multiple coupons of the same type to a subscription?

Yes, you can add up to ten coupons to a subscription. Learn more about applying multiple coupons to a subscription.

4) Can I change the scope of coupon applicability?

Yes, you can always upgrade the scope of coupon applicability.
Note: Once a coupon is added to a subscription, its scope cannot be reduced, even if the subscription is deleted or the coupon is removed at the subscription level.
Restrictions:

  • You cannot change the coupon scope from SPECIFIC to CRITERIA/NONE.
  • You cannot change the coupon scope from ALL to SPECIFIC/CRITERIA/NONE.
    Attempting to make these changes will result in an error.
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