The Customer Sign-up Process

When customers visit your service page, they browse available services, select what they need (one-off or subscription), create an account, and complete checkout. The process is designed to be simple, secure, and flexible.

This guide explains the complete customer signup journey from their perspective.

Why Signup Process Matters

A smooth signup experience helps:

• Convert visitors to paying customers

• Reduce cart abandonment

• Build customer confidence

• Enable flexible purchasing options

• Create secure customer accounts

• Facilitate repeat purchases

✍️ TIP: The signup process uses OTP (one-time password) authentication instead of traditional passwords, making it more secure and easier for customers.

Viewing Available Services

When customers arrive at your service page, they immediately see your available services displayed in a grid layout.

Service Page Overview

What customers see:

• Business name and description at top

• Cover photo and branding

• Navigation tabs (Services, About, Contact)

• Search bar to find specific services

• Service cards showing all offerings

• Cart panel on right side

• Social media links (if configured)

Service Card Information

Each service card displays:

Visual elements:

• Service photos (carousel if multiple images)

• Savings badge (e.g., "Subscribe & Save Up to 18%")

• Service name

• Brief description

Pricing information:

• One-off pricing: "Starts from A$70.00"

• Subscription pricing with frequency

• Discounted subscription rate

• Tax information: "Tax exclusive (GST 10%)"

Action buttons:

• "One-off" button (left)

• "Subscribe" button (right)

• Dropdown arrow if service has tiers

Browsing and Exploring Services

Customers can explore services in detail before making decisions.

Viewing Full Service Details

To see complete information:

1. Click subscribe or buy once button

2. Modal window opens showing full information of the service

3. Click "Close" to return to browsing

Searching for Services

Using the search function:

• Type service name or keywords in search bar

• Results filter in real-time

• Find specific services quickly

• Clear search to view all services again

Selecting Services

Customers choose between one-off purchase or subscription for each service.

One-off Purchase Selection

For one-time service:

1. Click "One-off" tab or button

2. View one-off pricing display

3. If service has tiers:

   • Click dropdown arrow on "Buy once" button

   • Modal opens showing tier options

   • Select desired tier 

   • Click "Buy once" button

4. If service has no tiers:

   • Click "Buy once" button directly

   • Modal opens with service details

   • Click "Buy once" to proceed

5. Login/signup prompt appears

Subscription Selection

For recurring service:

1. Click "Subscribe" tab or button

2. View subscription details
   
   
   
   

3. If service has tiers:

   • Click dropdown arrow on "Subscribe" button

   • Modal displays all available tiers

   • Tier cards show: name, pricing, weekly/monthly rate

   • Select tier

4. If service has no tiers:

   • Click "Subscribe" button

   • Modal opens directly

   • Review subscription pricing

   • Confirm selection

5. Login/signup prompt appears

Login or Sign Up

After clicking "Subscribe" or "Buy once", customers must authenticate before the item is added to cart.

Authentication Required First

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Customers must log in or sign up BEFORE items are added to cart. This ensures secure account creation and proper order tracking.

The flow:

1. Customer clicks "Subscribe" or "Buy once"

2. Login/signup modal appears immediately

3. Customer authenticates via OTP or Google

4. Selected service automatically added to cart

5. Customer can continue browsing or proceed to checkout

OTP Authentication Process

Email verification steps:

1. Enter email address:

   • Type email in field

   • Click "Send Verification Code"

2. Receive OTP code:

   • Service Subscriber sends code to email

   • Code arrives within 1-2 minutes

   • Check email inbox

3. Enter verification code:

   • Input OTP code from email

   • Submit code for verification

4. Account authenticated:

   • New customers: Account created automatically

   • Existing customers: Logged in to account

   • Selected service automatically added to cart

   • Can continue browsing or go to checkout

Google Sign-in Alternative

Using Google authentication:

1. Click "Continue with Google" button

2. Google authentication window opens

3. Select Google account to use

4. Grant necessary permissions

5. Account created or logged in automatically

6. Selected service automatically added to cart

7. Can continue browsing or go to checkout

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Service Subscriber uses OTP (one-time password) authentication, NOT traditional passwords. Every login requires a new verification code sent to your email for security.

Benefits of OTP authentication:

• More secure than traditional passwords

• No password to remember or forget

• Reduces account security risks

• Simpler customer experience

• Prevents unauthorized access

✍️ TIP: If OTP doesn't arrive, customers should check spam/junk folders. They can request a new code if needed.

Building Your Cart

After authentication, the selected service automatically appears in the cart. Customers can add more services or proceed to checkout.

Automatic Cart Addition

After successful login:

• Selected service appears in cart immediately

• Cart panel updates with item details

• Customer remains on main service page

• Can continue browsing other services

• Can add more items to cart

• Or proceed directly to checkout

Cart Panel Overview

Cart panel (right side) shows:

• List of all added items

• Each item displays:

  • Service name

  • Selected option (tier name if applicable)

  • Subscription or one-off details

  • Complete pricing breakdown

  • Remove icon (trash can)

• "Continue to checkout" button at bottom

Adding More Services

To add additional services:

1. Browse other services on main page

2. Click "Subscribe" or "Buy once" on another service

3. Select tier if applicable

4. Item automatically added to cart (already logged in)

5. Repeat for as many services as desired

⚠️ IMPORTANT: After initial login, customers stay logged in for the session. Additional services add to cart without requiring login again.

Flexible Purchasing Options

Customers have complete flexibility:

Multiple subscriptions to same service:

• Subscribe to same service multiple times

• Example: 2 dogs = 2 separate weekly dog walking subscriptions

• Click "Subscribe" on same service twice

• Each subscription managed independently

• All show in cart separately

Mix purchase types:

• Combine one-off and subscription in one cart

• Example: Weekly dog walking subscription + one-off grooming

• Add subscription, then add one-off

• Different purchase types processed together

Multiple different services:

• Add various services to cart

• Mix subscriptions and one-offs

• No limit on cart items

Checkout Process

When ready to purchase, customers proceed to checkout to complete payment details.

Starting Checkout

To begin checkout:

• Review cart contents

• Verify all desired services included

• Click "Continue to checkout" button

• Redirects to checkout page

Customer Information

Required fields:

Name section:

• First Name field

• Last Name field

Contact information:

• Contact Number with country code dropdown (+61, etc.)

• Phone number field

Address line (primary address):

• Street address field with Google autocomplete

• Apartment, suite, etc. (optional secondary line)

Location details:

• Country or region (dropdown selection)

• City field

• State (dropdown selection)

• Zip Code field

For existing customers:

• Name auto-filled from account

• Contact number pre-filled

• Last used address pre-filled

• Can edit any field if needed

Service Address Section

When service location differs from billing address:

1. Check "Address above differs from service address" checkbox

2. Service Address section expands below

3. Fill out complete service address:

   • Address line (with Google autocomplete)

   • Apartment, suite, etc. (optional)

   • Country or region

   • City

   • State

   • Zip Code

When to use service address:

• Service performed at different location than billing

• Example: Billing address is home, service at vacation property

• Example: Gift service for someone at different address

• Example: Business address vs service location

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Service address is where the business will perform the service. Accuracy is critical for service delivery.

Payment Details

Adding payment method:

For new customers:

• Click "+ Add another payment" button

• Enter card details securely

• Card information saved for future

For existing customers:

• Saved payment methods displayed

• Shows card type icon (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)

• Displays last 4 digits (e.g., "Visa Ending in 4242")

• Select preferred payment method (radio button)

• Can add additional payment methods if needed

Automatic Payments Authorization

Checkbox option:

• "Authorize automatic payments until canceled"

• For subscriptions only

• Enables recurring billing

• Must check to complete subscription purchase

⚠️ IMPORTANT: This authorizes future recurring payments for subscriptions. One-off purchases do not require this authorization.

Review Checkout Details

Before confirming purchase, customers review the complete order summary.

Checkout Summary Panel

Right side panel displays:

For each service in cart:

Service information:

• Service name

• Brief description

Selected Option:

• Tier name if applicable

• Example: "Puppy Training (up to 12 months)"

Subscription Details (if subscription):

• Billing Frequency: Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly

• Minimum Term: Cancellation waiting period

• Maximum Term: Total subscription duration

• Pause: When pause is allowed

Billing Summary:

• First Payment: Date and amount

• Next Payment: Recurring date

• Next Payment Due: Future billing schedule

Pricing:

• Regular Price (if discounted, crossed out)

• Subscription Price or One-off Price

• Tax (GST 10%)

Totals section:

• Total Taxable: Pre-tax amount

• Tax Amount: GST calculation

• Total Due: Final amount to charge

Policy Agreement

Before completing purchase:

• Checkbox: "I understand [Business]'s policies on billing, duration, pausing, and cancellation"

• Must check to enable "Confirm & Pay" button

Final Verification

What to verify before confirming:

• Correct services in order

• Accurate pricing matches expectations

• Billing and service addresses correct

• Intended payment method selected

• Subscription vs one-off as desired

• Billing frequency is correct

• Policy agreement understood

Complete Purchase

Final step to process payment and activate service.

Confirming Payment

To complete purchase:

1. Review all checkout details

2. Verify payment method selected

3. Check policy agreement checkbox

4. Click "Confirm & Pay" button

5. Payment processes immediately

6. Wait for confirmation (don't refresh page)

What Happens After Confirmation

System processes:

• First payment charged immediately

• Account created (if new customer)

• Subscription activated (if subscription)

• One-off service scheduled (if one-off)

• Confirmation emails sent

• Services accessible in customer portal

Immediate actions:

• Payment receipt generated

• Order confirmation created

• Service scheduled

• Portal access enabled

Success Confirmation

After successful purchase:

Confirmation modal appears:

• "Congratulations!" or success message

• "Your subscription/purchase is successful"

• Order details displayed

• Purchase summary

• Next steps information

Confirmation includes:

• Service name(s) purchased

• Order number

• Amount charged

• Payment method used

• Service start date

• Customer portal access information

✍️ TIP: Customers should save confirmation email and portal access link for managing services later.

After Checkout: Accessing Customer Portal

After successful purchase, customers can access the customer portal to manage their services.

How to Access Customer Portal

Portal access steps:

1. Click profile icon (top-right corner of page)

2. Dropdown menu appears showing:

   • Subscriptions

   • Wallet

   • Preferences

   • Profile

   • Logout

3. Click "Subscriptions"

4. Redirects to customer portal

Alternatively:

• Use portal link from confirmation email

• Bookmark portal URL for easy access

• Login using same email with OTP

Customer Portal Overview

What customers see in portal:

• Navigation tabs at top:

  • Subscriptions

  • One-off Purchases

  • Wallet

  • Preferences

  • Profile

⚠️ IMPORTANT: The customer portal is a separate interface from the main service page. It's where customers manage all purchased services after checkout.

What Customers Can Do in Portal

Portal capabilities:

• View all subscriptions and purchases

• See service details and schedules

• Update payment methods

• Change addresses

• View payment history and receipts

• Download invoices

• Pause subscriptions (if allowed by business, after checkout complete)

• Cancel subscriptions (if allowed and minimum term met, after checkout complete)

• Update account preferences

• Manage email preferences

• View activity log

✍️ TIP: Pause and cancel options are only available in the customer portal AFTER purchase is complete, not during checkout. These features are covered in detail in separate articles

Portal vs Service Page

Main service page:

• Browse and purchase services

• Add items to cart

• Complete checkout

• Public-facing storefront

Customer portal:

• Manage existing purchases

• View subscription details

• Update payment and addresses

• Pause/cancel services

• Account management

• Private, login-required area

✍️ TIP: The signup process requires login BEFORE adding to cart, ensuring secure account creation. After checkout, customers access a separate customer portal to manage their services, including pause and cancel options. The portal is covered in detail in separate articles.