The main workflow, step by step
The window follows one member from a free trial to a renewal, and the content and finance views behind the scenes. Pick a step to see its screen. The learning brand, the member and the courses are invented for the demonstration.
Choose a plan
Lumen Craft SchoolTrial started- Plan
- All courses, monthly
- Trial
- Free period, then billed
- Payment method
- Card saved, not yet charged
- Reminder
- Before the trial ends
Off the pathA card that has already been used for a trial is offered the paid plan directly, under the rule you set.
Continue learning
Hand-built ceramicsLesson seven of twenty| Lesson | State |
|---|---|
| Wedging clay | Watched |
| Pinch pots | Watched |
| Coil building | Halfway, resume |
| Project file | Downloaded |
Off the pathA lesson downloaded for offline viewing expires when the subscription does, and says so before it stops playing.
My plan
Member M-55102Active- Next payment
- Date and amount shown
- Switch plan
- Yearly, at a lower rate
- Pause
- Available for a set period
- Cancel
- Takes effect at period end
Off the pathA member who starts to cancel is shown what they will lose and offered a pause, once, without obstruction.
Course release
Glazing fundamentalsScheduled| Item | State |
|---|---|
| Lessons | Twelve, all uploaded |
| Subtitles | Two languages |
| Release | Weekly, one module at a time |
| Announcement | Queued for members |
Off the pathA lesson whose video failed processing blocks the release of its module and names the file to upload again.
Billing health
This monthPayments to recover| Group | State |
|---|---|
| Renewed | Most members |
| Payment failed | Retry scheduled |
| Cancelled | Reasons recorded |
Off the pathAfter the last retry fails, access is paused instead of deleted, so that a member who updates a card resumes at once.
Who uses it, and what each role can do
A subscription business is run by a small team with distinct jobs. The roles separate teaching, content, support and money.
| Role | Sees | Can do |
|---|---|---|
| Member | The library, their progress and their plan | Watch, download, track progress and manage billing |
| Instructor | Their own courses and learner questions | Upload lessons and answer questions |
| Content manager | All courses, schedules and categories | Publish, schedule and organize the library |
| Support agent | Member accounts and billing history | Resolve access and payment issues, issue refunds within limits |
| Finance lead | Revenue, renewals, churn and payouts | Reconcile income and pay instructors |
When the work leaves the usual path
Recurring billing produces a steady stream of edge cases, and each one touches a paying member. They are designed for from the start.
| Situation | What the system does | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal payment fails | Retries on a schedule and asks for a new card | Finance lead |
| Trial ends without a valid card | Moves the member to a limited free state | Support agent |
| Member cancels mid-period | Keeps access until the period ends | Support agent |
| Refund requested | Applies your policy, with a limit per agent | Support agent |
| Account shared widely | Flags unusual simultaneous use for review | Support agent |
| Video fails to process | Blocks that module's release and reports the file | Content manager |
| Price changes for existing members | Notifies in advance, as your terms require | Finance lead |
What it connects to
The platform is built around a few specialist services that do one job well. Which providers are used depends on your markets and existing tools.
| System | What moves | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription billing provider | Plans, trials, renewals, retries and invoices | Both ways |
| Video hosting and delivery | Encoding, streaming and playback progress | Both ways |
| Email and messaging tool | Onboarding, reminders and announcements | Out of the platform |
| Analytics | Viewing and retention events, without personal details | Out of the platform |
| App stores, if apps are offered | In-app subscriptions and their status | Both ways |
What a first release includes
Plans and checkout
Monthly and yearly plans, free trials, discount codes and a checkout that works on a phone.
Content library
Courses, modules and lessons with video, files and transcripts, organized by topic and level.
Learning experience
Resume where you stopped, progress per course, notes and downloads for offline viewing.
Subscription management
Self-service plan changes, pause and cancellation, with invoices and saved payment methods in the member area.
Publishing tools
Upload, scheduling, gradual release by module and announcements to members, all without a developer.
Retention reporting
Renewals, failed payments, cancellations with reasons, and viewing by course and lesson.
Often added after the first release
- Mobile and television apps
- Live classes and replays
- Community discussion
- Gift subscriptions and team plans
- Certificates of completion
What we need from you
- Your course catalogue and how often new content is released
- Plans and prices you intend to offer, and the trial policy
- The countries you sell in, for payment methods and tax
- Where your videos are hosted today
- A content manager and a support agent to test with real members
Ownership and licensing terms are defined in the project agreement.
What to do next
Send us your catalogue, your intended plans and where your current members come from. We reply with a first release, the providers we would build on and a proposal. Start a conversation or book a 30-minute call.
Common questions
Why not sell courses on an existing course marketplace?
Marketplaces bring an audience and take a share, set the rules on pricing and keep the customer relationship. They are a reasonable start. Your own platform makes sense once you have a following: you keep the revenue, the member data and the freedom to bundle, price and brand as you wish.
Do subscriptions sold in a mobile app have to use the app stores' billing?
Digital content consumed in an app generally falls under the stores' own billing rules, which carry a fee, and the details have been changing and differ by region. We plan web and app subscriptions together, so that a member who subscribes in one place has access in the other, and we check current store policies before the design is fixed.
How is video protected from copying?
Streaming with signed, expiring links and device limits stops casual sharing, and stronger protection is available from video providers at extra cost. No measure prevents a determined person from recording a screen. Most course businesses choose sensible protection and put their effort into releasing new content that makes staying subscribed worthwhile.
How is tax on subscriptions handled?
Tax on digital services sold to consumers depends on where the member is, and the rules vary by country. Subscription billing providers can calculate and collect it for many markets. Your accountant should confirm where you must register and what invoices must show. The platform passes the right details to the billing provider.