# Store credit for upcoming orders

**Introduction**

Joy Subscriptions allows customers to use their Shopify store credit balance to pay for their nearest upcoming subscription order. Store credit is applied one time to the next order only — it does not automatically carry over to future orders. If the customer wants to use store credit again, they need to apply it again.

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**How It Works**

When a customer applies store credit to their upcoming order:

* **Full coverage** — the order is paid entirely with store credit, no card charge.
* **Partial coverage** — store credit is applied first, the remaining amount is charged to their payment method.
* **No credit available** — the full amount is charged to their payment method as usual.

Store credit is only applied to the **nearest upcoming order**. After that order is charged, the next order will use the customer's payment method unless they choose to apply store credit again.

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**Prerequisites**

* **New Customer Accounts** enabled on your Shopify store (not legacy accounts)
* **Shopify Store Credit** enabled — verify in Shopify Admin → **Customers → Store Credit**

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**How to Enable**

1. Open **Joy Subscriptions** app in Shopify Admin
2. Go to **Customer Portal → Settings**
3. Toggle **Store Credit for Upcoming Order** on
4. Click **Save**

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**Customer Experience**

In the **Customer Portal**, customers can:

* See their available store credit balance
* Choose to apply store credit to their next upcoming order
* See the breakdown of credit applied and remaining amount to be charged

After the upcoming order is charged, store credit will not be applied to the next order automatically. Customers need to apply it again if they want to use it.

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**View a Customer's Store Credit**

1. In Joy Subscriptions, go to **Subscribers**
2. Click on the customer
3. Store credit balance is shown on the **Subscription Detail** page

You can also manage balances in Shopify Admin → **Customers**.

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**Tips**

* **Retention incentive** — Offer store credit to subscribers who pause or want to cancel. They can apply it to their next order.
* **Refunds as credit** — Issue store credit instead of refunds to keep spending on your store.
* **One-time per order** — Remind customers that store credit needs to be applied each time, it won't auto-repeat.
* **Zero-charge orders work normally** — Orders fully paid by store credit are fulfilled as usual.

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**Summary**

Store Credit for Upcoming Order lets customers use their Shopify store credit balance to pay for their next subscription order. It applies once per order — customers choose when to use it, giving them full control over their balance.

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