Frisbii Media generates invoices automatically based on the subscription type and payment method. As a general principle, an invoice is issued on the day of purchase and at the start of each subsequent accounting period. The exact timing, however, varies depending on the type of subscription. The sections below describe the invoice creation behavior for each subscription type, as well as the conditions under which the standard behavior differs.
Invoices are documented both in the customer account and via the navigation bar under Invoices.
Note
An invoice is only ever created when the amount due is greater than 0. Any free or zero-priced period produces no invoice — an order record is still created, just no invoice.
Time-Based Subscriptions
In a time-based subscription, the invoice is generated
on the day of purchase.
at the beginning of each accounting period.
If the first step is free of charge, no invoice is generated on day of purchase, but only when the next step starts.
Credit-Based Subscription
In a credit-based subscription (automatic recharge), the invoice is generated
on the day of purchase, and
each time the credit balance is used up.
Unlike time-based subscriptions, a pure credit-based subscription is not renewed on a fixed accounting period. The next invoice is created when the customer's remaining credits are consumed, so the interval between invoices depends on usage and varies from period to period.
In a credit-based subscription (time-based billing), the invoice is generated
on the day of purchase, and
at the beginning of each accounting period
Issue-Based Subscriptions
For issue-based subscriptions, the timing of recurring billing depends on whether the subscription is single-step or multi-step. In both cases, however, the first invoice is issued on the date of purchase.
Recurring, with one step
In a recurring single step subscription, the invoice for the new period is generated on the first publishing date of that period. This means the customer receives the invoice together with the first issue of the new period. Since the subscription offer remains unchanged throughout, the subscription number stays the same.
With several steps
In a multi-step subscription, the invoice for the upcoming step is generated on the last publishing date of the preceding step. This means the customer receives the invoice for the next step together with the final issue of the current step. Each step transition effectively represents a change to a new subscription, which is reflected by a new subscription number.
Multiuser Subscriptions
Family
All multiuser family offers operate on a pre-billing model, where charges are calculated and invoices at the beginning of each accounting period.
Corporate
All multiuser corporate offers operate on a post-billing model, where charges are calculated and invoiced at the conclusion of each accounting period. Billing calculations are based on the actual user subscriptions that were active during the specific accounting period, ensuring accurate usage-based pricing.
Special Cases
Subscriptions with a Future Start Date
When a subscription is purchased with a future start date, no invoice is generated at the time of purchase. The invoice is generated on the subscription's actual start date.
Payment by Credit Card, PayPal, or Similar
For non-invoice payment methods, an invoice is only generated once the transaction has been successfully processed. If a payment attempt fails, no invoice is generated. An invoice is issued either when the transaction succeeds or when the payment process is switched to invoice payment.
Up-/Down-Selling
When a subscription is changed via up- or down-selling, the invoice creation behavior depends on the transition mode configured for the offer.
A new invoice can be generated
immediately after the offer change — when the transition both grants access and starts billing at once.
with the next booking date — access may begin immediately, but the first invoice for the new offer follows on the next regular booking date.
retroactively — the switch takes effect from the current period, which is then (re)invoiced under the new offer.
Note
Immediate access does not always mean an immediate invoice. In one transition mode the customer gains access to the new offer straight away while billing stays aligned to the next booking date.
More details on the different transition options can be found here: Up-/Down-Selling