What is an order day?
By default, subscriptions renew according to the frequency selected at checkout. For example, a 30-day subscription renews every 30 days starting from the 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 your Skio dashboard click Products, then select 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 order 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.
What happens if a customer subscribes after the missed order day allowance?
If a customer subscribes after the missed order day allowance, they are automatically enrolled in the next subscription cycle. Their first subscription order will be scheduled for the next available order day in that cycle.
Example:
Order Day: 15
Missed Order Day Allowance: 20
Customer subscribes on January 22
Because January 22 falls after the allowance window, the customer joins the February billing cycle, and their first subscription order is scheduled for February 15.
By default, the first box is fulfilled on that scheduled order day. However, merchants may choose to ship the upcoming box early as part of their fulfillment workflow. Early fulfillment is an operational decision and does not change the customer’s billing schedule or future order dates.
Strict order day strictness
When Strict mode is selected, the option to set an order day cutoff appears.
In Strict mode, all orders — including the first order — are fulfilled on the scheduled order day rather than immediately at checkout. The next billing date is calculated from that order day.
Order day cutoff
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.
A cutoff day is the last day a customer can place an order for the current fulfillment cycle. Orders placed after this date are automatically moved to the next fulfillment cycle.
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 |