> 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/subscription-billing-status-and-activating-pausing-or-canceling.md).

# Subscription billing, status, and activating, pausing, or canceling

A subscription moves through statuses: Draft, Scheduled (saved with a future start date - stored as not\_started), Active (billing on schedule), Paused, Canceled, and Complete. A draft subscription is started with Activate Subscription.

If a Draft sits past its start date, reopening or refreshing it moves the schedule shown in Duration forward: the start date moves to today, and a fixed end date moves with it so the subscription keeps the same length (for example, a draft that ran one month still runs one month). You can choose today or a future start date, but not a past date. Review and Save the updated schedule before activating. Essential only does this while the subscription is a Draft; it does not move a live subscription's dates.

Once active, the action menu offers Pause Subscription (stops generating invoices until resumed), Resume Subscription, and Cancel Subscription (stops future billing for good; existing invoices remain due).

Each cycle it bills the recurring total either by automatically charging a saved payment method or by emailing the invoice to the customer to pay, depending on its type. The next invoice date - shown as Next invoice on in the header and Next invoice send date in the settings - is only meaningful while the subscription is active or scheduled; a paused, canceled, or completed subscription has no upcoming invoice.

Use the subscription's own controls for status changes. The Essential Assistant can read and explain a subscription, but it does not activate, pause, resume, or cancel it for you.

> **Where to find it:** On the open subscription, the Activate / Pause / Resume / Cancel controls in the action bar at the top

## Related guides

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


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