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Create discount coupons (promo codes) on Stripe

Louis avatar
Written by Louis
Updated yesterday

Why use discount coupons?

Discount coupons allow you to offer your clients:

  • One-off promotions (e.g. back-to-school, Black Friday, Christmas…)

  • Loyalty discounts (e.g. -10% for your long-term subscribers)

  • Limited-time offers (e.g. -25% during September only)

On Stripe, you have two ways to offer a discount to your clients :

  1. Create a promo code (the most commonly used solution ✅)
    → You create a code (e.g. RENTREE25) and your clients enter it themselves at checkout.
    → Ideal for promotions shared widely (social media, newsletters, website…).

  2. Manually apply a discount to an invoice
    → You manually add a discount to a specific client directly in Stripe.
    → Useful for an exceptional, one-time discount.

We will detail these two methods below.

📌 Good to know:

  • A discount coupon = the rule you create (e.g. -25%, valid for 1 month).

  • A promo code = the word your clients will enter to use that coupon (e.g. RENTREE25).

1. Create a promo code for your clients (the most commonly used method)

Step 1 Create a discount coupon

  1. Log in to Stripe.

  2. In the menu, go to Products → Coupons → Create a coupon.

  3. Fill in the fields:

    • Name (e.g. Back-to-school promo).

    • Type: percentage (%) or fixed amount (€).

    • Value: e.g. -25%.

    • Duration: once, multiple months, or permanent.

    • (Optional) Limit the discount: expiration date, number of uses, eligible products.

Step 2 Create a promo code

  1. Once the coupon is created, open it and click on Add a promo code. (see screenshot below)

  2. Define the code your clients will need to enter (e.g. RENTREE25).

  3. (Optional) Add rules:

    • Expiration date (e.g. end of September).

    • Maximum number of uses.

Step 3 Share the code with your clients

You can share this code:

  • On your social media

  • In your newsletters

  • On your website

  • Or directly with your clients via WhatsApp, email, etc.

At checkout, your clients will see a “Promo code” field in the Stripe payment window. They just need to enter the code for the discount to be applied automatically.

2. Manually apply a discount coupon to an invoice or subscription

Step 1 — Create a discount coupon

Before you can apply a discount, you first need to create a coupon.

  1. Log in to your Stripe account.

  2. In the menu, go to Products → Coupons → Create a coupon.

  3. Fill in the fields:

    • Name (e.g. Special promo).

    • Type: percentage (%) or fixed amount (€).

    • Value: e.g. -25%.

    Duration: choose once if you want the discount to apply only to the next invoice.

Step 2 Create the invoice for your client

  1. In Stripe, go to Customers and open the profile of the client concerned.

  2. Click on Create → Invoice.

  3. Add the products or services you want to bill (e.g. personal training session).

Step 3 Add the discount coupon to the invoice

  1. At the bottom of the invoice, click on Add a coupon.

  2. Select the coupon you created in Step 1.

  3. Check that the discount amount is applied correctly.

Step 4 Send the invoice to your client

  • Review the summary (discount line + adjusted total amount).

  • Click on Send invoice.

  • Your client will receive the invoice with the discount already applied.

Practical use cases for coaches / gyms

Here are some examples of how you might use discounts in your business:

  • Back-to-school offer: -25% on all individual sessions during the month of September.
    → Create a coupon “25% Back-to-school”, duration = 1 month, code = “RENTREE25”.

  • Loyalty: -10% for 1-year subscribers.
    → Create a permanent coupon, but limit its use to clients who have been subscribed for a certain time or through a targeted campaign.

  • Specific product offer: discount on a premium plan or a special session.
    → Restrict the coupon to this product in “Eligible products”.

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