How Subscription pricing differs across Invoices, Reports, and Subscription pages

Introduction

This article explains how License-Based Subscription pricing is displayed across different areas of the Platform. Seller Admins will learn why prices may differ between the Subscription Form, Invoices, and Reports, and understand when price recalculation occurs. This knowledge helps users accurately interpret pricing information and make informed decisions about subscription management.

In this article:

• Understanding subscription pricing sources
• When price recalculation occurs
• Pricing scenario examples

Understanding subscription pricing sources

Subscription pricing appears in three different locations on the Platform. Each source serves a distinct purpose and may display different pricing information.

Subscription Form

The Subscription Form displays a calculated Price based on the Vendor pricing from the purchase or renewal date, combined with applicable Markup percentages or Discount values. This pricing helps guide decisions about enabling Auto-Renewal, adjusting Quantity, and other subscription modifications.

Invoices

Invoices reflect the actual Price that different stakeholders are charged. Distributors, Sellers, and Customers receive charges from relevant entities based on the specific Billing Period shown on each Invoice.

Reports

The subscription report in the Reports section provides a snapshot of subscription configuration at recalculation dates. This report should not be used to guide invoicing decisions, as numerous scenarios can cause report pricing to differ from actual Customer charges, primarily due to Proration and price configuration corrections.

When price recalculation occurs

Understanding when the Platform recalculates pricing helps explain why prices differ across various sources.

Price recalculation triggers

Price recalculation occurs during these events:

• Subscription is purchased
• Subscription is renewed
• Quantity is changed for quantity-dependent price-leveled Offers
• Billing Frequency is changed
• Upgrade or downgrade is performed
• Seller to Customer Markup is updated
• Distributor to Seller Markup is updated via the Subscription Form

When price recalculation does not occur

The Platform does not recalculate pricing when:

• Distributor to Seller Markup is updated by assigning the Seller to a different Customer Segment
• Distributor to Seller Markup is updated by changing the generic, Vendor, or SKU Markup in the Seller's current Customer Segment
• Offer Price is changed by the Vendor

Pricing scenario examples

The following scenarios demonstrate how pricing differs across sources based on various configuration changes.

Scenario 1: Distributor to Seller markup changed via Subscription Form

Consider this scenario:

1. In January, a Customer purchased a one-year Subscription with Monthly Billing, Quantity equals 1
2. In March, the Distributor to Seller Markup was updated by changing the markup percentage on the Subscription Form
3. Exchange rates differ each month

Results in June:

The June Invoice shows the Price based on the Vendor's January price list, with the Distributor to Seller Markup from March and the exchange rate from May.

The Subscription Form displays the Price based on the Vendor's January price list, with the Distributor to Seller Markup from March and the current exchange rate from June.

Reports show the starting Price based on the Vendor's January price list with the Distributor to Seller Markup from March and the exchange rate from January. The current date Price uses the same price list and Markup with the June exchange rate. The renewal configuration displays the Markup from March.

Scenario 2: Distributor to Seller markup changed via Customer Segment

Consider this scenario:

1. In January, a Customer purchased a one-year Subscription with Monthly Billing, Quantity equals 1
2. In March, the Distributor to Seller Markup was updated by assigning a different Customer Segment to the Seller, or by changing the Vendor or SKU price Markup in the Seller's current Customer Segment
3. Exchange rates differ each month

Results in June:

The June Invoice shows the Price based on the Vendor's January price list, with the Distributor to Seller Markup from January and the exchange rate from May.

The Subscription Form displays the Price based on the Vendor's January price list, with the Distributor to Seller Markup from January and the current exchange rate from June.

Reports show the starting Price based on the Vendor's January price list with the Distributor to Seller Markup from January and the exchange rate from January. The current date Price uses the same price list and Markup with the June exchange rate. The renewal configuration displays the Markup from March.

Scenario 3: Seller to Customer markup changed

Consider this scenario:

1. In January, a Customer purchased a one-year Subscription with Monthly Billing, Quantity equals 1
2. In March, the Seller to Customer Markup was updated by changing the markup percentage on the Subscription Form
3. Exchange rates differ each month

Results in June:

The June Invoice shows the Price based on the Vendor's January price list, with the Seller to Customer Markup from March and the exchange rate from May.

The Subscription Form displays the Price based on the Vendor's January price list, with the Seller to Customer Markup from March and the current exchange rate from June.

Reports show the starting Price based on the Vendor's January price list with the Seller to Customer Markup from January and the exchange rate from January. The current date Price uses the same price list with the Markup from March and the June exchange rate. The renewal configuration displays the Markup from March.

Summary

Subscription pricing displays differently across the Subscription Form, Invoices, and Reports because each serves a distinct purpose. The Subscription Form helps guide future decisions, Invoices reflect actual charges for specific Billing Periods, and Reports provide configuration snapshots at recalculation dates. Price recalculation occurs during specific events such as purchase, renewal, Quantity changes, and direct Markup updates via the Subscription Form. Understanding these differences enables Seller Admins to accurately interpret pricing information across the Platform.

Related content

• How to add Customer Segment to the Organization?
• How to edit Subscriptions?
• Navigating the Invoices