Configure Installment Plans

Installment plans offer your constituents the flexibility they need to pay for large purchases over time. Using installment plans is a great option when:

• You want to allow exhibitors to pay for their booth in tranches
• You have donors who have made pledges for the future
• You have corporate members who want to break up their payments

These installment plans are configured on a product-by-product basis, while the installment plan configuration lives in the Finance and Billing app.

Create an Installment Plan

1. Navigate to the Finance and Billing app.
2. In the left toolbar, select Setup and then Installment Plans.
3. Click the Create Installment Plan button.
4. Give the installment plan a name, and the ID will auto-generate.

Require Upfront Payments

Optionally, you can determine if constituents should make an upfront payment as part of the installment plan. Here, you have a few options:

• Charge a fixed amount
• Charge a percentage
• Charge both a fixed amount and a percentage, but note - the fixed amount is applied first, and then the percentage

From here, you can determine the schedule of the installment plan. There are three options:

• Regular Fixed Schedule: Bills the installment on a regular cadence.
  • Frequency: yearly, monthly, weekly, or daily
  • Day or date: day of the week or specific date within a month
  • Time: the specific time you'd like to charge their card
• Exact Dates: Bills the installment on a specific date on the calendar.
  • Date: month, day, and year 
  • Percentage: portion of the installment
  • Row: add multiple payment dates and percentages
• Relative Dates: Bills the installment at intervals relative to the purchase date.
  • Interval: Number of days, weeks months, or years
  • Percentage: portion of the installment
  • Row: add multiple payment dates and percentages

Helpful Hint: When using rows with Exact Dates or Relative Dates, be sure that the percentage adds up to 100%. Rhythm will notify you of any remaining percentage.

How to add to a product

Once you have finished configuring your installment plan, please follow these steps to add it to your product:

1. Go to the product
   1. This can be a Merchandise Product, Membership Package, Registration Package, etc.
2. Edit the Product
3. Turn on Installment Plans
4. Select the Plan
5. Optionally, enter in an additional cost
6. Click Save Changes