> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://learn.withessential.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://learn.withessential.com/revenue/subscriptions/create-a-subscription-for-recurring-invoices.md).

# Create a subscription for recurring invoices

A subscription is a template that generates invoices on a repeating schedule. You build it on one page. First, pick the customer and property and fill out the invoice itself - description, line items, discounts, payment terms, and any attachments - exactly as you would a one-off invoice; this becomes the template every generated invoice is based on, and a live preview shows on the right.

Next, set the Duration: a start date and either an end date or "No end" for an open-ended subscription. When you set an end date, the panel tells you how many total invoices will be generated and the date of the last one, flagging it if that date is already in the past.

Then set "Bill Every" - a number plus a unit of Week, Month, Quarter, or Year - which controls how often an invoice is created (for example, every 1 Month or every 3 Months). The panel also previews the first and next invoice send dates.

Finally choose how the customer is billed and the email recipients. Save creates the subscription as a Draft; activating it is a separate step. The invoices it generates are listed on the subscription page with their statuses and amounts.

You can also use AI to draft the subscription's recurring line items while the subscription is still a Draft. On a new subscription, choose the customer, property, start date, and billing settings first; generation saves a draft subscription and opens it so you can review the generated rows before activating.

You can start a subscription from the New shortcut at the top of the app. When you start from a customer, property, or contact page, Essential carries that context into the subscription when it applies, so the customer, property, or recipient may already be filled in.

> **Where to find it:** Go to Invoices, then Subscriptions, and click New Subscription. The page has the invoice template on the left, a Duration and Bill Every settings panel below it, and a live preview on the right.

## Related guides

* [A subscription's generated invoices and metrics](/revenue/subscriptions/a-subscriptions-generated-invoices-and-metrics.md)
* [Generate a subscription draft with AI](/revenue/subscriptions/generate-a-subscription-draft-with-ai.md)
* [See and browse your subscriptions (the Subscriptions page)](/revenue/subscriptions/see-and-browse-your-subscriptions-the-subscriptions-page.md)
* [What the subscription page shows](/revenue/subscriptions/what-the-subscription-page-shows.md)
* [Auto-charge vs manual billing on a subscription](/revenue/subscriptions/auto-charge-vs-manual-billing-on-a-subscription.md)
* [Do I need Stripe for recurring invoices?](/revenue/subscriptions/do-i-need-stripe-for-recurring-invoices.md)


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