Pricing Your Subscription Plans for Service Businesses

A practical handbook for subscription pricing for service businesses: models, anchoring, promos and payment‑day strategy — plus ready‑to‑use pricing tables by niche.

Table of contents

Common pricing models

The most common models for service subscriptions are flat, tiered, and usage-linked. For local services, we recommend starting with a flat monthly plan, then layering tiers (e.g., basic/standard/premium) when you have clear value differences, or usage when session counts vary widely.

  • Flat: One monthly price for a defined bundle (e.g., 2 cleans/month).
  • Tiered: Good/better/best packages with clear added benefits.
  • Usage: Price scales by number of visits or time; cap usage to keep margins predictable.

Anchoring and value metrics

Price perception improves when you anchor against retail value, time saved, or outcomes. Use a value metric that matches customer goals (e.g., visits/month, hours saved, areas cleaned) and present a "retail vs. member" comparison. On your plan card, include: normal price, member price, and you save X%.

Trial vs. discount vs. first-month promos

Trials reduce friction but can attract tire‑kickers; discounts convert faster but risk anchoring low. For most service businesses we suggest a modest first‑month discount (10–20%) with clear renewal to the standard price. If you use free trials, require a card and limit benefits.

Setting payment day strategy

Align the billing day with cash‑flow needs and customer expectations. Popular options are anniversary billing (same day each month) or a chosen preferred payment day (e.g., the 1st or 15th). If your business is busiest at month‑end, collect earlier to avoid payment collisions. Monthly Club supports preferred payment day configuration.

Example pricing tables by niche

Use these as starting points and adjust for local rates and demand.

Business TypeBasicStandardPremium
Home Cleaning£49/mo (1 clean)£89/mo (2 cleans)£129/mo (3 cleans + deep clean 1x/qtr)
Hair & Beauty£35/mo (1 blow dry)£65/mo (2 blow dries)£99/mo (3 blow dries + treatment)
Dog Grooming£29/mo (bath)£55/mo (bath + tidy)£85/mo (full groom + nail trim)
Personal Training£79/mo (1 session)£149/mo (2 sessions)£219/mo (3 sessions + plan)

Next steps

  • Start with a simple flat plan; add a tier if demand outstrips capacity.
  • Anchor prices with retail comparison and hours saved.
  • Test a first‑month discount; keep renewal price clear.
  • Pick a payment day that smooths cash flow.