Create a subscription manually
Set up a subscription on behalf of a customer who requests one by email, phone, or in person — without waiting for them to go through your storefront.
Introduction
Not every subscriber starts from your product page. Sometimes a customer calls, emails, or asks in person to be put on a recurring order. Create subscription lets you build that subscription for them directly from your Joy Subscriptions admin, with full control over the products, plan, schedule, delivery, and payment.
To keep things compliant and transparent, you decide whether the subscription starts right away using a card already on file, or whether the customer confirms by email first. This means you can capture demand the moment a customer asks for it, while still making sure they agree to the recurring charges. The result is fewer missed sign-ups, less back-and-forth, and a smoother experience for customers who prefer a personal touch.
Understanding manual subscriptions
A manual subscription is one you create on the customer's behalf, rather than one they set up themselves on your storefront. Everything a normal subscription has — products, billing frequency, renewal day, delivery method — you configure on a single Create subscription page.
How the subscription activates depends on two things: payment and confirmation.
- Payment method on file — If the customer already has a saved card, you can select it and the subscription can begin on the order date you choose.
- No payment method — If the customer has no card connected, you can still save the contract. Joy Subscriptions sends them a secure link to add their payment details, and the subscription activates once they do.
- Email confirmation — When you turn on Send email confirmation, the subscription is created as Pending and the customer receives an email asking them to confirm before it activates. They can Confirm (the subscription becomes active) or Decline (it is cancelled and you're notified). This is the recommended way to document that the customer agreed to the recurring charge.
In short: you build the subscription, and the customer's confirmation and payment determine when it goes live.
How to create a subscription manually
Step 1: In your Joy Subscriptions admin, go to Subscriptions and click Create subscription.
Step 2: In the Customer section, search for an existing customer or click + Create new customer. The customer's contact and address details load automatically once selected.
Step 3: In the Payment method section, choose the card that will be used for the recurring charges. If the customer has no card on file, you'll see a notice that a link to add payment will be sent after you save — the subscription will activate once they add their details.
Step 4: In the Products section, click Browse or use the search field to add products. For each item, use More actions to Set as subscription or Set as one-time, and Edit product to adjust the Quantity or Price. At least one product must be a subscription item.
Step 5: In the Subscription plan section, set the Payment type and Billing frequency, then choose the Renewal day (and Renewal month for longer cycles). The help text confirms the cadence, for example "Pay every 2 months, 1 delivery each."
Step 6: In the Scheduling & requirements section, pick the Order date (today or later) and Order time. Optionally turn on Set minimum number of orders or Set maximum number of orders to control when the customer can cancel or when the plan expires.
Step 7: In the Delivery section, set the Shipping address and choose a delivery method — Shipping, Local pickup, or Local delivery. Click Edit shipping option to pick a standard rate or enter a Custom shipping price.
Step 8: In the Email confirmation section, turn on Send email confirmation if you want the customer to confirm before the subscription activates. A banner reminds you that the subscription will be created as Pending until they confirm.
Step 9: Review the Order summary, then tick the confirmation checkbox stating that the customer agrees to the recurring charges. Click Create subscription to finish.
Step 10: Joy Subscriptions finalizes the contract. If you sent an email confirmation, the subscription stays Pending until the customer confirms; otherwise it's ready to bill on the order date. You'll land on the subscription details screen once it's created.
What your customer receives
When you enable Send email confirmation, the customer gets an email summarizing the subscription — products, price, and schedule — with two buttons:
- Confirm — activates the subscription and starts the schedule you set. The customer sees a confirmation screen letting them know they're all set.
- Decline — cancels the pending subscription and notifies you, so nothing is charged.
If the customer has no payment method on file, the email also guides them to add their card details through a secure link. The subscription activates automatically once payment is in place — no extra work on your end.
Overall
Creating a subscription manually puts you in control of sign-ups that happen outside your storefront — over the phone, by email, or in person. You build the plan exactly the way the customer wants, choose whether to charge a card on file or send a payment link, and use email confirmation to document their agreement.
It's the fastest way to turn a customer request into a recurring order while keeping billing transparent and compliant. Next time a customer asks to be set up on a subscription, head to Subscriptions → Create subscription and have them live in minutes.