Set up a managed subscription

Managed subscriptions allow you to trigger each rebill on demand, either in the FastSpring app or via the /subscriptions/charge API endpoint. This gives you precise control over every charge after the customer's initial purchase. Each rebill charges the original amount unless you update the subscription's price by posting to the /subscriptions endpoint.

Note: The invoice payment method is not supported for managed subscriptions.

Set up a managed subscription

In the FastSpring app, follow these steps:

Go to Catalog > Subscriptions and open your subscription (if you haven't created one yet, see Create a subscription).
Under Pricing, click Edit to open the Edit Subscription Pricing modal.
Change Subscription Type to Managed (the Billing Cycle setting will be ignored).

For a Managed subscription, FastSpring will only charge the customer when you initiate the charge from the API or FastSpring app.
Click Save.

Charge a customer

You can trigger each subscription charge manually in the FastSpring app or programmatically via API. Choose your preferred method below.

FastSpring app

Charge customers directly in the FastSpring app by following the steps below:

Go to Sales > Subscriptions.
Select the subscription you want to charge. The subscription details page opens.
In the Current Period panel (right), click Charge.

The new charge occurs immediately. This will automatically reflect in the Charges section of the subscription details page.

Automate via API

Automate your managed subscription rebills via the REST API by posting to the /subscriptions/charge endpoint. Below you'll find the endpoint URL and a sample request body to trigger one or more rebills programmatically.

Endpoint

POST https://api.fastspring.com/subscriptions/charge

Request body

Replace your-subscription-ID with your subscription ID:

{
  "subscriptions": [
    {
      "subscription": "your-subscription-ID"
    }
  ]
}

See also: Create a subscription | Manage active subscriptions | Set up manual renewal