Why subscriptions and recurring payments?
Revenue that ends after a single sale means chasing new customers from scratch every month. Subscriptions and recurring payments, on the other hand, charge a signed-up customer automatically each month, giving you predictable, stable income. Meal kits, reusable side-dish deliveries, gym and Pilates memberships, cleaning services, online courses, and salon memberships — plenty of Korean businesses in Australia can move to a subscription model.
How does the billing work?
Two methods are common in Australia.
- Automatic card payments: Processors like Stripe or Square securely store the customer's card and charge it each month. Easy to set up and handles overseas cards too.
- Direct Debit: Money is withdrawn straight from the customer's bank account, with services like GoCardless being a popular option. Lower fees make it ideal for larger recurring amounts.
Things to get right
- Clear pricing: Show the monthly/weekly amount, billing cycle, and whether GST is included right on the page.
- Easy cancellation: Under Australian Consumer Law, customers must be able to cancel easily at any time. Making it hard only costs you trust.
- Handling failed payments: Turn on automatic retries and customer alerts for when a card expires or funds are short.
- Pre-billing reminders: A heads-up email a few days before the next charge dramatically reduces disputes and refund requests.
Start small
You don't need a complex tiered plan from day one. Open a monthly subscription option on one popular product first, then expand your plans as you see the response.
If you'd like to safely add subscriptions and recurring billing to your website, PICKTECH can help — from choosing a payment provider to setting up automatic reminders.