Product Types Explained

Understand the differences between One-Time, Subscription, and Access Code products to choose the right type for your offerings

Where to find this: Payments → Products → + Create Product (select type)

Three product types

CoachIQ offers three product types, each designed for different business models:

One-Time

Single purchase, immediate access

Subscription

Recurring billing, automatic renewal

Access Code

Code redemption, special access

You select the product type when creating a new product. The type determines available settings and how the product behaves.

One-Time Products

What it is

Single purchase with one-time payment

Client pays once and receives immediate access to what they purchased.

No recurring billing. No automatic renewals. One transaction, one delivery.

When to use

Best for individual purchases:

• Single training sessions
• Skills assessments or evaluations
• One-time workshops or clinics
• Summer camps
• Multi-session packages (pay once, use over time)
• Program access with lifetime purchase
• Merchandise or equipment

Use One-Time products when clients buy something specific with no ongoing billing.

Key settings

Required:

• Product name
• Price

Optional but common:

• Credits: Issue credits for session bookings
• Credit expiration: When credits expire
• Processing fee: Who pays Stripe fees
• Confirmation page: Where client goes after purchase

Customer experience:

1. Client selects product
2. Pays once
3. Receives credits or access immediately
4. No future charges

Simplest product type. Great starting point for most coaches.

Examples

Single session:

• Name: “60-Minute Training Session”
• Price: $75
• Credits: None
• Use: Client books one session

Session package:

• Name: “10-Session Package”
• Price: $650
• Credits: 10 credits
• Expiration: 90 days
• Use: Client books 10 sessions over 3 months

Workshop:

• Name: “Weekend Skills Clinic”
• Price: $150
• Credits: None
• Use: Client registers for specific event

Subscription Products

What it is

Recurring billing on a schedule

Client’s card charges automatically each billing period (monthly, quarterly, annually) until they cancel.

Automatic renewal. No manual re-purchasing. Charges continue until canceled.

When to use

Best for recurring revenue:

• Monthly unlimited training
• Weekly session packages (e.g., 4 credits per month)
• Facility memberships
• Program access with monthly fee
• Ongoing coaching packages
• VIP or premium tiers

Use Subscription products when you want predictable recurring revenue and clients want ongoing access.

Subscriptions reduce administrative work. No chasing payments each month—billing happens automatically.

Key settings

Required:

• Product name
• Price
• Payment frequency (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually)

Optional but common:

• Trial period: Free days before first charge
• Credits per period: Renew credits each billing cycle
• Credit expiration: Typically “when subscription ends”
• Processing fee: Who pays Stripe fees

Customer experience:

1. Client subscribes with card on file
2. First charge processes (or after trial period)
3. Credits issued (if configured)
4. Card charges automatically each period
5. New credits issued with each renewal
6. Client cancels when done

Clients can cancel subscriptions anytime. No penalties. Billing stops at end of current period.

Examples

Unlimited monthly:

• Name: “Unlimited Monthly Membership”
• Price: $200/month
• Frequency: Monthly
• Credits: 999 per month (effectively unlimited)
• Use: Client books as many sessions as they want

4-session monthly package:

• Name: “4 Sessions Per Month”
• Price: $280/month
• Frequency: Monthly
• Credits: 4 per month
• Expiration: End of billing period
• Use: Client gets 4 credits every month, unused credits don’t roll over

Quarterly program access:

• Name: “Quarterly Training Program”
• Price: $450 every 3 months
• Frequency: Quarterly
• Credits: None (access-based, not session-based)
• Use: Client maintains access to program content as long as subscribed

Access Code Products

What it is

Code redemption for special access

Client enters a specific code during checkout to receive a discount or free access.

Code required. Without the code, this product doesn’t appear as a purchase option.

When to use

Best for special access scenarios:

• Corporate partnership codes (company pays for employees)
• Sponsor or donor free access
• Team discount codes
• Referral program offers
• Promotional campaigns
• Scholarship codes
• Beta tester access

Use Access Code products when specific groups need special pricing or free access that shouldn’t be publicly available.

Access Code products are hidden from regular purchase flows. Only people with the code can access them.

Key settings

Required:

• Product name
• Price (can be $0 for free access)
• Access codes (at least one code)

Optional but common:

• Redemption limits: How many times each code can be used
• Credits: Issue credits upon redemption
• Processing fee: Who pays Stripe fees (if price > $0)

Customer experience:

1. Client receives code from you or partner
2. Client enters code during booking or checkout
3. Discount applies or product becomes free
4. Client completes purchase
5. Access or credits granted

Track code usage in the Product Builder to see how many times each code has been redeemed.

Examples

Corporate partnership (free):

• Name: “IBM Employee Access”
• Price: $0
• Code: IBM2025
• Redemption limit: 500 uses
• Use: IBM employees train for free

Sponsor discount:

• Name: “Sponsor Partnership - 50% Off”
• Price: $37.50 (50$75)
• Code: SPONSOR50
• Redemption limit: 100 uses
• Use: Sponsor’s clients get half-price sessions

Team code:

• Name: “High School Team Package”
• Price: $500 (normally $750)
• Code: HSBASKETBALL
• Redemption limit: 15 uses (one per player)
• Use: Team gets bulk discount

Product type comparison

Feature	One-Time	Subscription	Access Code
Payment	Single charge	Recurring billing	Single charge
Billing frequency	Once	Monthly/Quarterly/Annual	Once
Price	Any amount	Any amount	Any amount (including $0)
Credits	Optional	Optional (renews each period)	Optional
Code required	No	No	Yes
Trial period	No	Yes	No
Automatic renewal	Never	Until canceled	Never
Best for	Sessions, packages, events	Memberships, ongoing access	Partners, promos, scholarships

Choosing the right type

1. Ask: How often do they pay?

   Once → One-Time or Access Code

   Recurring → Subscription

2. Ask: Is this publicly available?

   Yes, anyone can buy → One-Time or Subscription

   No, special access only → Access Code

3. Ask: What are they buying?

   Specific session(s) → One-Time

   Ongoing access or credits → Subscription

   Discounted or free access → Access Code

Can you change product type later?

No. Product type is permanent once created.

If you need to change types:

1. Create a new product with correct type
2. Archive the old product
3. Update schedulers/programs to use new product

Changing product type requires creating a new product. Existing purchases and active subscriptions continue with the old product.

Multiple product types for the same offering

You can create multiple products for the same service:

Example: Training sessions

• One-Time: “$75 Single Session”
• One-Time: “$650 for 10 Sessions”
• Subscription: “$280/month for 4 Sessions”
• Access Code: “Corporate Partner - Free”

All products attach to the same scheduler. Client chooses which payment option works best for them.

Offering multiple pricing options increases conversions. Some clients prefer packages, others prefer subscriptions.

Related articles

• Product Builder: Complete Reference
• Coupons Overview