> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://alguna.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create Your First Subscription

> Step-by-step guide to creating subscriptions

This guide walks you through creating your first subscription in the Alguna dashboard.

<Info>
  **Prerequisites:** At least one plan configured in your account
</Info>

***

## Step 1: Create a Customer

Before creating a subscription, you need a customer to assign it to.

1. Navigate to **Customers** in the sidebar
2. Click **New Customer**
3. Fill in customer details:

| Field               | Description                               |
| ------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| **Name**            | Company or customer name                  |
| **Email**           | Billing email address                     |
| **Billing Address** | Street, city, state, postal code, country |
| **External ID**     | Your internal customer ID (optional)      |

4. Click **Create**

***

## Step 2: Create a Subscription

1. Navigate to **Subscriptions** in the sidebar
2. Click **New Subscription**
3. Configure the subscription:

| Field               | Description                          |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| **Customer**        | Select the customer you created      |
| **Plan**            | Choose from your product catalog     |
| **Start Date**      | Today or a future date               |
| **Contract Length** | Optional: 12 months, 24 months, etc. |

4. Review the pricing summary
5. Click **Create & Activate**

Your first subscription is now live!

***

## What Happens After Activation

1. **Subscription becomes active** - Status changes to "Active"
2. **First invoice generated** - Based on your billing configuration
3. **Payment collected** - If auto-charge is enabled and payment method exists
4. **Webhooks sent** - `subscription.activated` and `invoice.issued` events

***

## Optional: Add Payment Method

For customers paying by card, they need to add a payment method:

### Option 1: Send Portal Link

1. Go to **Customers → \[Customer Name]**
2. Click **Send Billing Portal Link**
3. Customer receives email with secure link to add payment

### Option 2: Send Checkout Link

1. Go to **Customers → \[Customer Name]**
2. Click **Create Checkout Session**
3. Select the plan
4. Send the checkout link to customer

***

## Subscription Variations

### Subscription with Trial

1. When creating the subscription, expand **Trial Settings**
2. Set trial duration (e.g., 14 days)
3. Choose whether payment method is required
4. Create & Activate

### Future-Dated Subscription

1. Set **Start Date** to a future date
2. Create & Activate
3. Subscription activates immediately but billing starts on the future date

### Custom Line Items

Instead of selecting a plan:

1. Click **Custom Subscription**
2. Add products and quantities manually
3. Set pricing for each line item
4. Create & Activate

***

## Managing the Subscription

### View Subscription Details

1. Navigate to **Subscriptions**
2. Click on the subscription
3. View:
   * Current status
   * Billing period
   * Line items and pricing
   * Invoice history
   * Activity log

### Make Changes

See [Amendments](/subscriptions/amendments) for upgrading, downgrading, or modifying subscriptions.

### Cancel Subscription

See [Canceling Subscriptions](/subscriptions/canceling-subscriptions) for ending subscriptions.

***

## Troubleshooting

### Subscription Stuck in Draft

Subscriptions are created in "Draft" status by default. Click **Activate** to start billing.

### Invoice Not Generated

Check:

* Is the start date today or in the past?
* Is billing set to "In Advance" or "In Arrears"?
* Review billing schedule settings on the plan

### Customer Already Has Subscription

By default, customers can have multiple subscriptions. This is normal for complex billing scenarios.

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Subscription Lifecycle" icon="arrows-spin" href="/subscriptions/overview-subscriptions">
    Understand subscription statuses and lifecycle.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Webhooks" icon="bell" href="/guides/webhooks-quickstart">
    Set up event notifications.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>