You can take deposits and instalment payments for coaching packages by setting up a payment mode on each offer in Minipod — choosing between a full upfront payment, a fixed instalment schedule, or a recurring subscription — and letting Stripe handle the collection automatically. No manual invoicing, no chasing bank transfers, and no Stripe workaround required. This guide walks through exactly how to do it and explains the options available.
Why Flexible Payment Plans Matter for Coaching Packages
Many coaches price their packages at a level that reflects the genuine transformation on offer — often several hundred to several thousand pounds. At that price point, requiring full payment upfront narrows the pool of clients who will convert, even when the value is clear. Offering a deposit or instalment plan removes the affordability objection without discounting your rate. It also removes a significant admin burden: coaches who manage instalments manually spend real time raising invoices, monitoring bank statements, and chasing missed payments. A well-structured payment plan that runs automatically shifts that burden entirely to the payment infrastructure.
The Three Payment Modes in Minipod
Every offer in Minipod has a payment mode setting. When you create or edit a coaching package, you choose one of three modes:
| Payment Mode | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Full | Client pays the total price in one transaction at checkout. | Shorter packages, clients who prefer to pay once, or lower price points. |
| Instalment | Client pays a set number of fixed payments. You define the amount and frequency. Stripe charges each instalment automatically. | Premium multi-month packages where upfront cost is a barrier. |
| Subscription | Client is billed on a recurring basis (e.g. monthly) until cancelled. Works well for ongoing coaching retainers. | Open-ended or rolling coaching relationships billed on a regular cycle. |
Note
All three payment modes process through Stripe Connect. Payouts go directly to your connected Stripe account — Minipod does not hold your funds.
How to Set Up an Instalment Plan: Step by Step
The steps below assume you have already created a Minipod account and connected your Stripe account. If you haven't connected Stripe yet, do that first from your account settings before creating any paid offers.
- Go to your Minipod dashboard and open the Offers section. Select an existing coaching package or create a new one.
- Set the offer type to 'Package' and enter the total price in your preferred currency. Minipod supports multiple currencies stored per ISO-4217 standard.
- Under the payment settings, select 'Instalment' as the payment mode.
- Define the instalment structure: enter the number of payments and the frequency (for example, 3 monthly payments of £500 each for a £1,500 package).
- If you want to take a deposit at booking, set the first instalment amount higher than the subsequent ones — for example, a £250 booking deposit followed by two payments of £625. This is configured by controlling the instalment amounts individually.
- Add any other offer details: session count, duration, description, and any intake form or contract you want clients to complete at checkout.
- Publish the offer. It will appear on your public, branded storefront and can also be embedded on your own website via the booking widget.
- When a client books and checks out, they enter their card details once. Stripe schedules and collects each subsequent payment automatically. You do not need to raise another invoice or send a payment link.
Tip
Pair your instalment offer with a contract and e-signature in Minipod. When a client agrees to a payment plan, having a signed agreement that outlines the schedule protects both parties and sets clear expectations before the first session.
Taking a Deposit at Booking
A deposit serves a different purpose to a standard instalment: it secures commitment at the point of booking, before any sessions take place. To structure a deposit in Minipod, treat the initial payment as the first instalment and set it at the deposit amount. The remaining balance is then split across the subsequent instalments. For example, a £2,000 package might have a £400 deposit at checkout, with the remaining £1,600 split into four monthly payments of £400. This structure is set up entirely within the offer's instalment configuration — no separate deposit product or workaround needed.
How Subscription Mode Differs from Instalments
Instalment mode is designed for packages with a defined end point — a set number of sessions or a fixed programme length. Subscription mode is better suited to ongoing coaching relationships where the engagement continues month to month until either party ends it. With subscription mode, Stripe charges the client on your chosen cycle (monthly, for example) until the subscription is cancelled. This works well for executive coaches or business coaches who work with clients on a rolling retainer rather than a contained programme. The key practical difference: with instalments, the total number of charges is fixed; with subscriptions, the billing continues until cancelled.
What Clients Experience at Checkout
When a client lands on your Minipod storefront or booking widget and selects a package with an instalment or subscription payment mode, the checkout clearly displays the payment schedule. They enter their card details once via the Stripe-powered checkout and consent to the full payment plan. Subsequent charges happen automatically on the dates you defined. Clients can access their bookings, content, and messages through the Minipod client portal using a magic link — no separate login credentials required. Automated email reminders handle session notifications, so the only manual work on your side is the coaching itself.
How This Compares to Managing Payments Manually
| Approach | Admin Required | Client Experience | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer with manual invoice | Send invoice, monitor bank, chase missed payments, reconcile manually | Friction at each payment point | High — missed payments easy to overlook |
| PayPal payment link per instalment | Create and send a link for each payment, follow up if unpaid | Fragmented, not branded | Medium — relies on client action each time |
| Stripe payment link (manual setup) | Build a custom product in Stripe, manage schedule outside Stripe, no offer-level context | Unbranded checkout | Medium — no automation for follow-up |
| Minipod instalment mode | Configure once on the offer, Stripe handles collection automatically | Branded checkout, clear schedule shown upfront | Low — automated, card-on-file model |
Practical Considerations for UK Coaches
- VAT: Minipod is not a tax-filing or accounting tool. If you are VAT-registered, you are responsible for accounting for VAT on your coaching income correctly. Consult an accountant to determine how instalment income should be reported.
- Consumer credit rules: In the UK, offering credit (deferred payment where the buyer pays more than they would upfront, or where you are effectively lending money) can trigger FCA regulation. If you are simply splitting the price into equal parts with no interest and no credit arrangement, most coaches operate outside regulated credit — but take independent legal or financial advice if you are unsure.
- Failed payments: Stripe handles retries for failed card charges automatically according to its retry logic. You will receive a notification when a payment fails, and you can follow up with the client directly.
- Currency: Minipod supports multi-currency. If you work with international clients, you can price packages in GBP, EUR, USD, or other supported currencies.
Heads up
Minipod is not a regulated financial or legal tool. The instalment and subscription features are payment-collection infrastructure, not a consumer credit product. Always take independent advice if you are unsure whether your payment arrangements require FCA authorisation.
Getting Started with Minipod Payment Plans
Minipod's instalment and subscription payment modes are available as part of its core offer infrastructure — not a bolt-on or premium add-on requiring a separate workaround. You can set up a coaching package with a full payment, instalment, or subscription mode from day one. Visit minipodapp.com to start for free, connect your Stripe account, and publish your first package with a payment plan. For current plan details and pricing, see the Minipod pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I offer both a full-payment and an instalment option on the same coaching package?
- In Minipod, each offer has a single payment mode set at the offer level. The practical approach is to create two versions of the same package — one set to full payment and one set to instalment — and display both on your storefront. Clients can then choose the option that suits them.
- Does Minipod charge a transaction fee on top of Stripe's fees?
- For current fee details, refer to the Minipod pricing page at minipodapp.com. Stripe's standard processing fees apply to all transactions, as Stripe is the payment processor. Payouts go directly to your connected Stripe account.
- What happens if a client misses an instalment payment?
- Stripe automatically retries failed card charges according to its standard retry schedule and notifies you when a payment fails. Minipod surfaces this in your dashboard. You are then responsible for following up with the client — Minipod's client messaging inbox allows you to do this directly within the platform.
- Can I take a deposit now and collect the balance later without using the instalment mode?
- The cleanest way to handle a deposit-then-balance structure in Minipod is to use the instalment mode and set the first payment at your deposit amount, with the remaining payments covering the balance. This keeps everything within one offer and one automated payment schedule, rather than requiring manual follow-up for the balance.
- Is instalment payment available for group coaching programmes in Minipod?
- Yes. Minipod supports group programmes as an offer type, and the payment mode — including instalment and subscription — is configurable at the offer level regardless of whether it is a 1:1 package or a group programme.