This article covers
How to start subscription to start in a past date?

Can I create a subscription for a pervious term?

This article is obsolete. Refer to this link to know more about backdating feature.

Summary

You can create a subscription in the past using the Subscription "Start Date" during the create subscription action (API & UI). 

You can select any date in the past that does not exceed the plans frequency from the current date. The system will generate an invoice with the start date you specified and the renewal will automatically be assigned. 

For example,

Let’s say a you want to bill  a customer on the 15th of every month. However today is the 13 of March, Where you want to bill this customer from 15 February.

Today on the 13th when you create the subscription

Using the Start Date you set date as 15-Feb

The subscription will be created with the first invoice date from the 15th of February to 15 of March

The next renewal will take place on the 15th of March (2 days form the date)

Solution

If you are using the Chargebee Admin Console.

• Go to the Create Subscription Page
• Select the Start Date under Billing
• Choose the date as required (not exceed the plan frequency)
• Continue with the Create subscription

If you are using our APIs

• During the create subscription API request.
• Include the Start Date parameter "start_date" 
• Subscription & Invoice will be created with specified dates. 

sample API request [cURL]

curl  https://demo-test.chargebee.com/api/v2/subscriptions \
     -u G8CcuDTW167eV1i63VvjPFh32F1VxbNwb:\
     -d plan_id="$0---fairlabour" \
     -d auto_collection="off" \
     -d customer[first_name]="John" \
     -d customer[last_name]="Doe" \
     -d customer[email]="john@user.com" \
     -d start_date="1564067616"\
     -d billing_address[first_name]="John" \
     -d billing_address[last_name]="Doe" \
     -d billing_address[line1]="PO Box 9999" \
     -d billing_address[city]="Walnut" \
     -d billing_address[state]="California" \
     -d billing_address[zip]="91789" \
     -d billing_address[country]="US"

Note you will need to use a Unix Time Stamp Eg; 1564067616 (for date - Thursday, July 25, 2019 3:13:36 PM)

If you wish to import a subscription with the past date that is much beyond 1 prior renewal, then you’d have to use the import subscription bulk operation. Our Migration team is also available to help you with your migration requirements.

Feel free to contact us if you have any question.