How can I automatically bill for monthly subscriptions?

[domilab]

Hi,

I'm a long-time reader, first-time poster, and I plan to sell a monthly subscription-based newsletter. Are there any existing services (e.g., Web sites, eCommerce storefronts, etc.) that work as follows:

1. Customer navigates to my Web site
2. Customer subscribes to on-going monthly newsletter by providing his email address and relevant credit card information
3. System stores Customer's email address and credit card information in database(s)
4. System sends confirmation email
5. I upload a new newsletter at the end of the month
6. On the first of the new month, the System automatically emails the newsletter to every email address in database and bills each credit card the monthly fee
7. Newsletter provides link which gives Customer the option to cancel subscription at any time
8. System automatically emails me a summary after each batch of newsletters is sent (i.e., total amount billed, number of current subscribers, other relevant metrics)

I'm a software engineer by training, and I'm not afraid of a little code. But I have no experience with Web development, so I'd like to use as much existing technology as possible. I can find many solutions that allow a one-time purchase, but the on-going, monthly nature of my newsletter is where I have trouble.

Thanks very much!

Dominic

[coder]

Originally Posted by domilab

I'm a software engineer by training, and I'm not afraid of a little code. But I have no experience with Web development, so I'd like to use as much existing technology as possible.

I'm in the same boat. Have a look at Digital Products Retailer: Affiliate Program & Sell Online - ClickBank . They have a solution for recurring payment, but I haven't studied it in detail. Clickbank is, however, a payment service for producers of egoods (Like a newsletter).

[Vanessa]

For something closer to turnkey, with automatic billing and digital product delivery, stats and customized email deliver I'd look at e-Junkie, which I'm getting ready to use for an eBook. It runs for 5/mo. Another good contender is 1shoppingcart. I'm pretty sure that Erin uses 1shopping cart for her eCommerce portion of her site, or had in the past. 1shoppingcart costs range from 34-99/mo

If you want to do something custom coded and steer away from pre-configured software, you'll need a payment gateway that has a monthly recurring billing, like PayPal and Google Checkout to handle the billing portion of your project then another product to handle the recurring product (your monthly newsletter) management and emails for support and marketing.

[prasunsen]

Most online payment services provide subscription options. In addition to what the posters above suggested, check Paypal - it's probably the most popular

[domilab]

Thanks to all for the great suggestions!