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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.
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 |
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
This section outlines the essential rules and limitations for creating coupons, allowing you to set targeted restrictions ensuring effective promotions and avoid misuse of coupons.
When creating a coupon, you have the option to define its eligibility. Using the Eligibility Type field, you can restrict the coupon to either New Customers or Existing Customers. Eligibility Type field is optional, and if no value is selected for this field, the coupon applies to all customers by default.
A customer is considered a New Customer when they have no prior non-void, non-zero-dollar invoices.
A customer is considered an existing customer when they have at least one non-void, non-zero-dollar invoice.
Loyalty & Retention Campaigns : Apply existing customer coupons to reward loyalty and drive retention by offering discounts on future purchases or renewals.
To create a coupon in your Chargebee site, follow these steps:
Go to Product Catalog > Coupons > + Create Coupon.
In the Create Coupon page, specify the following basic attributes of the coupon:
Under Discount, specify the following details:
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:
Under Validity,
In the Eligibility Type field, use the drop-down menu to specify the type of customer for whom the coupon is eligible for:
Click Save.
After you have created the coupon, you can configure the applicable Plans, Addons, and Charges in the coupon details page, by following these steps:
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.
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.
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.
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:
To clone a coupon in your Chargebee site, follow these steps:
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.
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:
Click Settings > Configure Chargebee > Billing LogIQ > Customers & Subscriptions > Multiple coupons for quotes and subscriptions.
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:
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.
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.
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:
The screenshot below displays how multiple coupons of the same type are applied on a subscription.
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)
Following are some useful tips for specific scenarios of creating and using coupons in Chargebee:
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.
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.
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.
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:
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
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.
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:
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