Big changes to billing - important so please read

Hi everyone,

I hope you are well and thanks for your continued support.

I need to talk you through some changes that are happening across Patreon and how that will impact you. Please read - there's an important point right at the end!!!

First of all, I want to assure you all that the changes will not impact on the type of content I release. The changes are purely to do with billing and memberships.

As things stand, all of you are rebilled on the first of every month - regardless of your sign-up date. I know some members have struggled with the concept at first, but this was the best option for me as a creator. It gave me a chunk of funds at the beginning of each month that I could then allocate for upcoming shoots.

However, this will be changing.

Apple is requiring Patreon to use its in-app purchasing system for purchases made in the iOS app in order for it to remain on the App Store for all fans and creators. This post details what’s changing and how it might impact you.

Apple's new in-app purchasing system does not support first of the month billing. Although Patreon resisted, Apple did threaten them with removing the Patreon app from the app store.

Patreon have been really cool and have given us creators plenty of notice and kept us informed all the way through the process.

And so, at some point in the next three to four months, I will switch from 1st of the month billing to standard monthly subscriptions, where you are rebilled on the anniversary of your membership., eg: you sign up on the March 15th and you're are rebilled on April 15th.

What does this mean to you?

• Everyone who is currently rebilled on the first of the month, will continue that way until they cancel their membership. If they rejoin, they will be on a normal subscription billing and will be rebilled on the anniversary of rejoining

• After I've made the switch, all new members or rejoining members will automatically be on normal subscription billing

• If you sign up or renew your membership via the Patreon IoS app, it will cost you 30% more

On that last bullet point, Apple has introduced a 30% fee for subscriptions via its in-app purchasing system, so that extra tax is being passed on. I am not absorbing a 30% fee.

So my advice is - if you do leave and then rejoin, rejoin via a browser. You'll still be able to access content via the Patreon app, but it will be 30% cheaper for you to handle all membership changes via a browser.

If you have an existing membership and you signed up through the IoS app, you wont be subject to the fee.

Patreon have written a guide for members, which is worth reading. You can view it here https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-gb/articles/27992185537037-How-iOS-in-app-purchases-work-for-fans

If you have any questions, read the above guide. If you have any questions after that, you can ask Patreon direct here https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new

As I said earlier, this change will not impact on the nature of the content I produce for you lovely people. HOWEVER, I'm sure some of you have figured out that I will need to rethink my release schedule to ensure that members get the content they want within their membership month.

The new release schedule is still a work in progress, and I'll do a post about that soon.

In the meantime, I just wanted to let you know about these changes first.

Thanks, Dan