Quick Answer: Enabling Quaderno only affects new subscriptions. Existing subscribers keep their original pricing.
If you’re preparing to enable Quaderno integration for your AccessAlly site and you already have active subscribers, you might be wondering: “Will this change my existing customers’ pricing?”
This guide explains exactly what happens to your existing subscriptions when you enable Quaderno, how tax recalculation works at renewal, and how to choose the right tax configuration for your business.
ARTICLE CONTENT:
What Happens When You Enable Quaderno
New Subscriptions (After Quaderno Enabled)
For any new subscriptions created after you enable Quaderno:
- Tax is calculated automatically based on customer location
- Tax amount is shown on the order form before purchase
- Customer sees the full price including applicable tax
- Quaderno creates an invoice for each payment
- Tax compliance is handled automatically
Existing Subscriptions (Before Quaderno Enabled)
For subscriptions that were created before you enabled Quaderno:
- They continue at their original signup price
- No automatic price changes when you enable Quaderno
- They are “grandfathered” at their original rate
- Manual adjustment is required to change their price
Important: Dynamic Tax Recalculation at Renewal
While the base subscription price doesn’t change for existing subscribers, taxes ARE recalculated at each renewal based on the customer’s current billing address.
Whether the customer sees a price change depends on your tax configuration:
Tax-Exclusive Pricing (Tax Added On Top)
Example:
- Original signup: $100 base + 10% tax = $110 total
- Customer moves to state with 15% tax
- Next renewal: $100 base + 15% tax = $115 total
Impact: Customer sees total increase if tax rates change or they move.
Tax-Inclusive Pricing (Tax Absorbed in Price)
Example:
- Original signup: $100 total (includes 10% tax)
- Customer moves to state with 15% tax
- Next renewal: $100 total (you absorb the tax difference)
Impact: Customer sees same total regardless of tax rate changes.
When Existing Subscription Totals CAN Change
Existing subscription totals may change at renewal if:
- Tax rate changes in customer’s jurisdiction (tax-exclusive only)
- Customer updates billing address to different tax jurisdiction
- You manually adjust the subscription using “Adjust This Subscription”
How to Manually Adjust an Existing Subscription
If you want to update pricing for existing subscribers:
- Go to AccessAlly > Sales > Subscriptions
- Search for customer email
- Click on the subscription
- Scroll to “Adjust This Subscription”
- Change the recurring amount
- Click “Change Subscription”
⚠️ Note: The customer will be charged the new amount on their next renewal date.
Choosing Between Tax-Exclusive and Tax-Inclusive
Tax-Exclusive (Tax Added On Top)
Advantages:
- Customers see exact tax amount being charged
- You don’t absorb tax rate increases
- Transparent tax calculation
Disadvantages:
- Customer total can change if tax rates change
- May cause confusion if customer moves
- Requires customer communication about potential changes
Best For:
- Businesses required to show tax separately
- Locations with stable tax rates
- When tax transparency is priority
Tax-Inclusive (Tax Absorbed in Price)
Advantages:
- Customer always sees same predictable price
- No unexpected price changes for customers
- Simpler customer experience
Disadvantages:
- You absorb tax rate increases
- Your net revenue varies by customer location
- Less transparent tax calculation
Best For:
- International businesses with varying tax rates
- When price predictability is priority
- Consumer-facing subscriptions
Pre-Launch Checklist
Before enabling Quaderno for your existing subscription business:
✅ Decide on tax configuration:
- Choose tax-exclusive or tax-inclusive
- Review fee setup in AccessAlly > Sales > Fee Setup
- Configure Quaderno API keys in Payment Settings
✅ Test with a low-value subscription:
- Create test product ($1-5)
- Purchase test subscription
- Let it renew once after enabling Quaderno
- Verify tax calculation is correct
✅ Prepare customer communication (if needed):
- If tax-exclusive: Notify customers that tax amounts may vary by location
- If tax-inclusive: No communication needed (pricing stays same)
- Update FAQ page with Quaderno information
✅ Verify Quaderno settings:
- Log into Quaderno dashboard
- Verify invoicing is enabled/disabled as desired
- Check tax code defaults are correct
- Confirm billing address is up to date
FAQ
No, not automatically. Existing subscribers keep their original signup price.
The only exceptions are:
- If you manually adjust their subscription
- If using tax-exclusive pricing and their local tax rate increases
- If they update their billing address to a higher-tax location
Only if you’re using tax-exclusive pricing. In that case, let them know:
- Tax amounts may adjust based on their location
- Their base subscription price stays the same
- Total charged may vary if local tax rates change
If you’re using tax-inclusive pricing, no communication is needed since their total stays the same.
Tax will be calculated at each renewal based on their current location. However, the base subscription price remains grandfathered unless you manually adjust it using “Adjust This Subscription.”
You have two options:
1. Wait for natural renewals – Quaderno will calculate tax at next renewal (if tax-exclusive, customer sees increase)
2. Manually adjust subscriptions – Use “Adjust This Subscription” to update the recurring amount to include tax
Either way, communicate clearly with affected customers.
AccessAlly integrates Quaderno with both payment processors. However:
- Stripe: Full subscription management features available
- PayPal: Limited subscription management (no payment skipping or amount adjustments)
No, as long as you only connect Quaderno through AccessAlly.
⚠️ Do NOT:
- Connect Quaderno directly to Stripe or PayPal
- Use both AccessAlly integration AND Quaderno’s native Stripe integration
This will create duplicate invoices.
Correct Setup:
- Connect Quaderno API keys in AccessAlly Payment Settings only
- Do NOT connect in Stripe/PayPal dashboards
Summary Table: What Changes When You Enable Quaderno
| Subscription Type | Base Price | Tax Calculation | Customer Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New subscriptions | Set by current order form | Calculated by Quaderno | Base + tax (or inclusive) |
| Existing (tax-exclusive) | Grandfathered rate | Recalculated at renewal | May change if tax rates change |
| Existing (tax-inclusive) | Grandfathered rate | Recalculated at renewal | Stays same (you absorb difference) |
| Manually adjusted | New rate you set | Calculated by Quaderno | Reflects new rate + tax |
Related Articles
Need Help?
If you have questions about enabling Quaderno or managing subscriptions:
- Contact AccessAlly support
- Join our next Tune-Up call
- Visit the Quaderno support site for tax calculation questions
