What is a billing period?
The length of time one recurring charge covers, and the point at which it renews.
Short answer
A billing period is the fixed span of time that one recurring charge covers, such as one month or one year. Each period begins on a renewal date, and the price for that period applies to the whole span.
How it works
The period sets when the next charge is due and what it covers. The same package is often offered on more than one period, such as monthly and yearly, and the customer chooses one before checkout.
Illustrative example
Hypothetical values: a service at $190 a month, or $1,900 a year. A customer who picks the yearly period pays once a year. The monthly equivalent is not charged each month.
Common confusion
A billing period is not the same as the length of the contract. A monthly period can run inside a longer agreement, and whether a subscription ends at the period end is a separate decision.
How Komashi handles it
Komashi packages can be offered on monthly and yearly billing periods. Each subscription shows its billing period, next renewal and payment state, and the storefront shows the period next to the price before checkout.
Common questions
Can one package be offered on more than one billing period?
Yes. A package can carry monthly and yearly billing, and the customer chooses one before checkout.
Does a yearly period cost twelve times the monthly price?
Not automatically. The price for each billing period is the one you set on the package, so a yearly price can differ from twelve monthly payments.