> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hyperline.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Subscription billing cycles

> Learn how to change the billing cycle alignment of a subscription using the advanced update feature

When a subscription is created, its billing cycle is determined by its start date or initial billing date. For example, a monthly subscription starting on March 10th renews on the 10th of each month. In some cases, you may need to realign the billing cycle—for instance, to have all your subscriptions renew on the 1st of the month.

This guide walks you through how to change the billing cycle alignment of a subscription using the [advanced update (transition)](/docs/subscriptions/update#advanced-update) feature.

## Change the billing cycle alignment

Use this when you want to shift a subscription's renewal date to a different day. For example, moving a monthly subscription that renews on the 10th to renew on the 1st instead.

### Step-by-step instructions

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the subscription and start an update">
    Navigate to the customer's subscription details page, click on the **Actions** dropdown, then select **Update subscription**.

    Choose **Advanced update** to access the full transition configuration.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose when to apply the update">
    Select **Scheduled date** and pick the date you want the new billing cycle to start on.

    This date should correspond to your desired new anchor date—either:

    * **A past date** matching the new anchor (e.g., the 1st of the current month if you want the subscription to renew on the 1st going forward)
    * **A future date** matching the new anchor (e.g., the 1st of the next month)

    <Card title="Example 💡">
      If today is January 15th and the subscription currently renews on the 10th, you could select:

      * **January 1st** (past) to retroactively realign the billing cycle from the beginning of the current month
      * **February 1st** (future) to realign starting from the next month
    </Card>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Keep the current subscription configuration">
    In the update source step, select **Update current subscription**. Since you only want to change the billing cycle alignment and not modify the products or pricing, keep the subscription configuration as-is.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure transition options">
    This step is key to realigning the billing cycle:

    1. Under **Billing cycle alignment**, select **Start new period**. This resets the subscription billing dates to start a fresh cycle from the selected transition date, effectively making that date the new anchor for all future renewals.
    2. Under **Transition invoice**, choose the option that fits your use case:
       * **Generate transition invoice** to settle the period between the last renewal and the transition date
       * **Waive transition invoice** to skip billing for the partial period

    <Tip>
      Use the invoice preview at this step to review both the transition invoice and the following invoice. This helps you verify that the new billing cycle alignment is correct before confirming.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and confirm">
    Review the update summary to verify that:

    * The transition date matches your desired new anchor date
    * **Start new period** is selected
    * The transition invoice setting is correct

    Confirm the update. The subscription will now follow the new billing cycle, renewing on the selected anchor date going forward.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### What happens after the update

Once the transition is applied:

* The subscription's billing cycle resets to start from the transition date
* All future renewals align to this new date (e.g., the 1st of each month)
* If a transition invoice was generated, it covers the partial period between the previous renewal and the new anchor date
* The subscription version history records this change in the [versions tab](/docs/subscriptions/update#subscription-versions)

<Card title="Example 💡">
  A monthly subscription renewing on the 10th is transitioned on February 1st with **Start new period** selected:

  * A transition invoice covers January 10th–January 31st (if not waived)
  * The new billing period runs from February 1st to February 28th
  * All future renewals happen on the 1st of each month
</Card>

<Info>
  Is something still unclear? Don't hesitate to reach out to our team via the in-app chat if you need additional support.
</Info>