---
title: "How to set up a first-order discount that changes for recurring orders"
slug: "how-to-set-up-a-first-order-discount-that-changes-for-recurring-orders"
updated: 2025-12-05T18:58:29Z
published: 2025-12-05T18:58:29Z
---

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

# How to set up a first-order discount that changes for recurring orders

Learn how to configure a selling plan with a discount on the first order that automatically switches to a different discount for all recurring subscriptions.

For example, you might offer a larger discount to attract new subscribers on their first order, then apply a smaller recurring discount to maintain profitability while reducing churn. This configuration requires both a selling plan setup and a Journey automation to execute the discount change after the first order.

### Walkthrough

[Changing Product Price on Recurring Orders](https://fast.chameleon.io/edit/demos/68dd6f6379506d00142d5953)

## How to set up 20% off your first-order that changes to 10% off for recurring orders

### Step 1: Configure your selling plan with the first-order discount

1. In the lefthand menu of your **Skio Dashboard**, go to **Features** > **Selling Plans**.
2. Select the selling plan you want to edit, or create a new one.
3. Set the **Discount** field to **20% off** (this will apply to the first order).
4. Under **Recurring Policy**, set the discount display to **10% off** for orders after the first one.
5. Click **Save** to apply your changes.

> [!NOTE]
> The recurring policy setting is for *visual display* purposes only. It shows customers at checkout that the discount will change after their first order. You'll still need to create a Journey (**Step 2**) to actually apply the 20% discount to future orders.

### Step 2: Create a Journey to apply the recurring discount

1. In the lefthand menu of your **Skio Dashboard**, go to **Features** > **Journeys**.
2. Click **Create New Journey**.
3. Set the **Trigger** to **After Order** and add a filter for **Order # = 1** (this ensures the Journey only runs after the customer's first order).
4. Under **Conditions**, select **Contains Product** and filter by the product(s) you want to apply this discount structure to.
  - **Optional:** Add an additional filter by **Selling Plan ID** to ensure this Journey only applies to the specific selling plan you configured in Step 1.
5. Under **Actions**, choose **Update Product Price** > **Percentage Off**.
6. Set the percentage to **10%** (this discount will be calculated based on the original product base price).
7. Click **Save** and toggle the Journey to **Active**.

Your tiered discount structure is now live. Customers will receive 30% off their first order, and the Journey will automatically apply 20% off to all future recurring orders after the first one.

> [!NOTE]
> If you need to update discounts for customers who already have active subscriptions, you'll need to manually apply those changes using a [bulk operation](/help/docs/bulk-operations).

## Why use Journeys instead of discount codes?

The Journeys route lets you offer a higher discount on the first order without stacking discount codes. This matters because**discounts in Shopify are applied sequentially (one after another), not added together**.

**Example scenario:** You want to offer 30% off the first order and 20% off recurring orders.

> [!CAUTION]
> **The wrong way (stacking discounts):**
> 
> - Base recurring discount: 20% off
> - Add 10% discount code for first order
> - **Actual result:** 28% off (not 30%)

> [!TIP]
> **The right way (using Journeys):**
> 
> - First order: 30% off
> - Recurring orders: 20% off
> - **Actual result:** 30% off, then 20% off

**Here's why:** Shopify applies the 10% discount to the already-discounted price. So if a product is $100, the 20% subscription discount makes it $80, then the 10% code takes another $8 off for a total of $72 (28% off the original price).

Journeys applies the exact discount you want for each order in the sequence, giving you precise control over your pricing strategy.

> Learn more about[how discount stacking works in our guide here](/help/docs/how-discount-stacking-works-in-skio).

## Additional resources

- [Getting started with Selling Plans](/help/docs/getting-started-with-selling-plans)
- [Understanding Journeys](/help/docs/understanding-skio-journeys)