Set Up Autoship Subscriptions for Shopify Products in Phoenix

Setting up autoship in Phoenix allows you to automatically enroll customers into recurring subscriptions after purchasing a product. This setup connects your Shopify products with Phoenix billing logic, enabling automated subscription billing based on your configuration.

What You’ll Configure

This process includes:

• Shopify products: Define which products trigger subscriptions and which do not.

• Billing types: Control when and how customers are charged.

• Product-to-billing mapping: Link products to billing logic.

• Subscription triggers: Define which product activates the subscription.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that:

• Your product already exists in Shopify.

• You have permission to duplicate and edit products in Shopify.

• Your store is connected in Phoenix.

• You have access to eCommerce and Stores in Phoenix.

Prepare Your Products in Shopify

To enable autoship, you must create two versions of the same product:

• A Subscribe & Save product (triggers the subscription).

• A One-Time Purchase product (no subscription).

Create Subscribe & Save Product

This product is what activates autoship in Phoenix.

1. In Shopify, locate your existing product.

2. Click Duplicate.

3. Rename the product (for example: Cloud Slides - Subscribe & Save).

4. Set the product as Unlisted (hidden from your storefront).

5. Click Duplicate Product.

6. Open the duplicated product and copy the Product ID.

7. Confirm the price (this will be used for recurring billing).

Create the One-Time Purchase Product

This product is for customers who don’t want a subscription.

1. Click Duplicate.

2. Rename the product (for example: Cloud Slides - OTP (One-Time Purchase)).

3. Set the product as Unlisted (hidden from your storefront).

4. Click Duplicate Product.

5. Copy the Product ID.

6. Adjust the price if needed (e.g., higher than subscription price).

7. Click Save to apply changes.

   Important

   Phoenix uses the Product ID, not the product name, to trigger subscriptions. Always store the correct IDs.

Create Billing Types in Phoenix

To enable autoship, you must create three billing types:

• Direct Sale (initial purchase).

• VIP Initial (trial or delayed charge).

• VIP Recurring (ongoing subscription).

Create Direct Sale

This billing type represents the initial purchase that starts the subscription flow.

To create the Direct Sale billing type:

1. Go to eCommerce.

2. Select Billing Types.

3. Click + Add Billing Type.

4. Complete the form using the following values:

   • Select Client: Select your client name.

   • Select Store: Select your store name.

   • Billing Type Name: Enter Direct Sale – [Product Name] (recommended for clarity)

   • Billing Type: Select Direct Sale

   • Reporting Type: Select Direct Sale

   • Billing Frequency: Select One Time

   • Payment Delay: Select No

   • Payment Mode: Select Sale

   • Next Billing Type: Select No

   • Next Billing Product: Select No

   • Use Same Product as Main Order: Optional

   • Set as Default: Optional

5. Click Confirm.

Create VIP Initial

This defines when the first subscription charge happens after the initial purchase.

To create the VIP Initial billing type:

1. Click + Add Billing Type.

2. Complete the form using the following values:

   • Select Client: Select your client name.

   • Select Store: Select your store name.

   • Billing Type Name: Enter VIP Initial – [Product Name]

   • Billing Type: Select Subscription

   • Reporting Type: Select VIP Initial

   • Billing Frequency: Select One Time

   • Payment Delay: Select Yes (In Days)

     • Trigger Payment Mode After: Enter your delay in days (for example, 14 or 30).

       Trial vs Delay

       This step can act as a free trial or simply delay the first charge. Example: 14 days = the customer’s next charge occurs on day 14.

   • Payment Mode: Select Authorize

     • Capture After: Enter 2 minutes (recommended).

       Info

       The system first authorizes the payment and captures it shortly after. This short delay helps ensure the order is properly processed before charging.

   • Next Billing Type: Select No

   • Next Billing Product: Select No

   • Use Same Product as Main Order: Optional

   • Set as Default: Optional

3. Click Confirm.

Create VIP Recurring

This defines the ongoing subscription charges.

To create the VIP Recurring billing type:

1. Click + Add Billing Type.

2. Complete the form using the following values:

   • Select Client: Select your client name.

   • Select Store: Select your store name.

   • Billing Type Name: Enter VIP Recurring - [Product Name]

   • Billing Type: Select Subscription

   • Reporting Type: Select Monthly Rebill

   • Billing Frequency: Select Multiple

   • Payment Delay: Select Yes (In Days)

     • Trigger Payment Mode After: Enter your delay in days (for example, 14 or 30).

   • Payment Mode: Select Authorize

     • Capture After: Enter 2 minutes (recommended).

   • Next Billing Type: Select No

   • Next Billing Product: Select No

   • Use Same Product as Main Order: Optional

   • Set as Default: Optional

3. Click Confirm.

Assign Billing Type to the Subscribe Product

Only the Subscribe & Save product should trigger billing.

To assign the billing type:

1. Go to eCommerce > Products to view and manage all products.

2. Click View.

3. Locate the Subscribe & Save product and click the edit (pencil) icon.

4. In the Billing Types field, select the Direct Sale - [Product Name].

5. Click Update.

   Important

   Don't assign billing types to the One-Time Purchase product.

   Assignment Scope

   You can apply billing types at the product level (affects all variants) or at the variant level (only specific variants trigger billing), depending on your setup.

Link Billing Types (Subscription Flow)

Now you connect how billing progresses over time.

1. Go to eCommerce > Billing Types.

2. Locate Direct Sale – [Product Name] and click the edit (pencil) icon.

3. Enable Add Next Billing Type.

4. Select VIP Initial – [Product Name].

5. Click Confirm.

6. Locate VIP Initial – [Product Name] and click the edit (pencil) icon.

7. Enable Add Next Billing Type.

8. Select VIP Recurring.

9. Click Confirm.

How the Flow Works

When a customer purchases the subscription product:

• The Direct Sale charge happens immediately

• Then VIP Initial controls when the next charge occurs (trial or delay)

• After that, VIP Recurring charges the customer automatically on a recurring basis

This creates a fully automated subscription lifecycle.

Configure Subscription Order Behavior

This ensures recurring orders are correctly sent to Shopify.

For both VIP Initial and VIP Recurring:

1. Click the edit (pencil) icon.

2. Enable Use same product as main order.

3. Select All Products.

4. (Optional) Exclude any products if needed.

5. Click Confirm.

Configure Subscription Rules (Trigger)

This step defines which product activates autoship.

1. Go to Stores.

2. Locate your store and click the edit (pencil) icon.

3. Select the Subscription Rules tab.

4. In the Subscription Trigger field, select Specific Products.

5. Paste the Product ID of the Subscribe & Save product. Confirm that the correct product appears.

6. Click Continue through each tab until you reach the final step.

7. Click Update Storefront.

   Info

   The subscription will only trigger when this specific product is purchased.

Enable Shopify Order Sync and Notifications

This step ensures that all subscription orders are properly sent back to Shopify for fulfillment and that customers receive confirmation emails for their recurring orders.

Without this configuration, subscriptions may still run in Phoenix, but orders will not be synced to Shopify and customers may not be notified.

To enable sync and notifications:

1. Go to Stores.

2. Locate your store and click the edit (pencil) icon.

3. Select the Other Options tab.

4. Enable Send Shopify Order for Subscription and Email Customers on Subscription Order.

5. Click Continue until you reach the final step.

6. Click Update Storefront.

   Info

   Depending on your setup, you may need to click Continue through multiple tabs before saving.

After completing this setup:

• Customers who purchase the Subscribe & Save product are automatically enrolled in autoship.

• The first charge happens immediately (Direct Sale).

• The next charge follows your delay or trial (VIP Initial).

• Ongoing charges happen automatically (VIP Recurring).

• Orders are sent to Shopify for fulfillment.

• Customers receive confirmation emails.

Related Guides

To continue configuring your subscription setup, review these guides:

• Set Up a VIP Subscription Enrollment in Phoenix

• Connect Your Checkout to a Store and Gateway

• Create and Customize Your Checkout