Stripe 101 for Services: One-Time, Subscriptions, Invoices—Which Fits Your Model?

TL;DR

• One-time for fixed projects and deposits.
• Subscriptions for retainers and maintenance plans.
• Invoices for variable or milestone-based work.

Map your offer to a payment model

• Project work (fixed or milestone): One-time payments or staged invoices. A small deposit reduces no-shows.
• Ongoing services: Subscriptions with clear deliverables (e.g., monthly updates, support hours).
• Variable scope: Invoices tied to specific deliverables or time spent.

Pricing psychology that helps buyers decide

• Anchor with a “starting at” price: Sets expectations and filters tire-kickers.
• Tier where useful: Good/Better/Best works if tiers are real, not fluff.
• Bundle strategically: Package common add-ons; keep surprises out of scope.

Policies that avoid pain later

• Proposals & contracts: Spell out scope, timelines, and payment terms.
• Refunds & revisions: Make the boundaries clear.
• Late payments: Automate reminders; communicate early.

Reducing failed payments (dunning 101)

• Offer multiple payment methods.
• Use email/SMS reminders for expiring cards.
• Keep subscriptions simple: monthly or quarterly.
• For high-ticket retainers, consider ACH.

Owner’s Corner: make payments effortless

• Put the “Pay” or “Book” link where people decide (proposal, email, confirmation page).
• Keep forms short; only collect what you need to process payment and receipt.
• Send a friendly confirmation with next steps and contact info.

FAQ