What is an order day?
By default, subscriptions recur based on the frequency customers select at checkout. For example, a customer who selects a 30-day subscription will be billed every 30 days from their initial order date.
Order days override this default behavior. Instead, you can set all subscriptions using a specific selling plan to process:
On a specific day of the month for monthly frequencies (e.g., the 15th)
On a specific day of the week for weekly frequencies (e.g., every Monday)
Why use order days?
Order days are useful when you need to consolidate recurring orders for operational efficiency or align subscription renewals with your fulfillment schedule. Common use cases include:
Subscription boxes with rotating content: Ensure customers receive the correct monthly box by controlling when recurring orders process
Batch fulfillment: Process all subscription orders on specific days to streamline warehouse operations
Fixed delivery schedules: Align subscription renewals with your shipping calendar
How do I set up order days?
Step 1: Navigate to selling plan settings
In the lefthand menu of your Skio Dashboard, go to Features > Selling Plans
Step 2: Configure order day settings
Click the Order day toggle to enable it
Choose your order day type:
Order day of month for monthly frequencies (select dates like 1st, 15th, etc.)
Order day of week for weekly frequencies (select days like Monday, Tuesday, etc.)
Select either flexible or strict mode depending on your fulfillment model:
Flexible: Best if you fulfill initial orders immediately on the day they're placed
Strict: Best if you only fulfill orders on the order day
Understanding oder day strictness
Flexible order day strictness
When Flexible mode is selected, the option to set a Missed order day allowance appears.
Flexible mode calculates recurring orders by rounding the initial order date to the closest order day.
What is a missed order day allowance?
A missed order day allowance modifies the rounding behavior in flexible mode. If a customer places their initial order before the missed order day allowance date, their next billing date is calculated as if the initial order was placed on the previous order day.
Example: You want all subscriptions for Product A to recur on the 15th of each month. You set a missed order day allowance on the 20th.
Customer checks out on January 17: Their next order processes on February 15 (within the allowance window)
Customer checks out on January 22: Their next order processes on March 15 (after the allowance, so they skip February)
Order day
Missed order day allowance
Checkout date
1st recurring order (order #2)
15
20
February 1
March 15
15
20
January 22
March 15
15
20
January 17
February 15
15
none
February 1
March 15
15
none
January 29
February 15
This prevents customers who order just after the order day from receiving duplicate content in the same billing cycle—especially important for subscription boxes with rotating monthly content.
Strict order day strictness
When Strict mode is selected, the option to set an order day cutoff appears.
Strict mode assumes all orders—including initial orders—are fulfilled only on the order day.
The first recurring order is calculated by assuming the initial order is fulfilled on the next order day, then adding one subscription interval to that date.
Order day cutoff
A cutoff day gives you additional preparation time by pushing the initial order fulfillment to the following order day if the customer orders after the cutoff.
Example: Order day is the 15th, cutoff day is the 10th. A customer orders on February 12 (after the cutoff). Their initial order is fulfilled on March 15, and their first recurring order processes on April 15.
Order day
Cutoff day
Checkout date
1st recurring order (order #2)
15
none
February 1
March 15
15
none
February 16
April 15
15
10
February 1
March 15
15
10
February 12
April 15
15
10
February 16
April 15
Order days give you control over when subscriptions renew, helping you optimize fulfillment operations and ensure customers receive the right products at the right time.