More than 70% of businesses anticipate operating on a subscription model in the near future. It's a shift, but a logical one. Subscriptions are no longer for Hulu, Netflix, and Blue Apron; they're relevant in the world of healthcare design. Clients prefer ongoing projects to one-time developments these days. Instead of wanting the finished product and paying you to leave, they want predictable pricing and continued access to expertise. Subscription models are on the rise for that very reason.
This article covers all you need to know about subscription models from what they are to the benefits of leveraging one for your niche services like healthcare design or veterinary design.
Let's dive in!
What Is A Subscription Model? In simple terms, a subscription model means your client pays you a monthly (or yearly) fee to access your services over an extended period.
You've done it before even if you didn't realize it. You've subscribed to Netflix, Canva, or Spotify at some point in your life (or currently) and paid for an array of monthly services on a sliding scale. Why shouldn't you be able to do the same with your professional endeavors?
Instead of charging clients per project, you're giving them a flat rate for consistent access to your desired offerings, such as scheduling, quarterly reports, per-capita adjustments, analysis expansion, and more. For example, if you own a healthcare design firm , your subscription model could include:
The initial consultation/interview An outline of what's required Revisions for layout Assessments for compliance Additional supportive means like branding and signage. You're giving them what they need when they need it instead of restarting a contract. At the same time, this model provides consistent income for you over time without a million different projects in between.
It's a win-win across the board.
Why Is This Happening Now? Have you noticed how much of an immediate shift occurred in the working world within the last several months? People want ease, speed, and flexibility —not ten weeks of quotes, frustration, and waiting by the mailbox for an answer. Subscription models tick all those boxes.
Four reasons this is happening now:
Technology makes it easier: When anyone can automate software with an online payment and accounting tool, subscriptions are practically made easy for you. Companies don't even have to worry about stressing over keeping up with big invoices—everything's on their client dashboard. Clients prefer predictability: They want to know precisely what they're getting month after month and how much it's going to cost them consistently. Companies get competitive with consistent income: Instead of starting over from square one every month without guaranteed income, businesses can focus on doing excellent work while keeping the lights on more easily. Automation is customizable: Subscriptions allow you to customize plans based on individual client needs in ways that traditional project-based models do not or cannot easily do. It's not just about the money it's about easing client relationships through expectations and communication at every level.
Examples Of Subscriptions It's great to believe subscription models work you hear about them all the time but putting them into practice is another thing altogether.
Here are examples of where subscriptions come into play across various fields:
Healthcare Designers: Sign up for monthly packages that include space planning, renovations, or compliance assistance updates. They always want something from you, so why not lock them in at a great price?Veterinary Clinics: Subscribe to a monthly branding/marketing means—social media content, posters, newsletters—to keep them looking good year-round—for spring events, summer camp themes—even if a rebrand isn't necessarily in their future until one day down the line.Tech Firms: Offer up front-end accessibility from home security to software development and data analytics software projects that come at a static monthly price and pay your company when your subscription package is easier than worrying about a competing website download or similar process.Creative agencies: Offer design-as-a-service packages that provide ongoing support of new graphics requests or revisions throughout the month rather than big single projects at hand. Subscribing is not a one-size-fits-all solution—but there is an ease of access that applies regardless of niche-focused service offerings. The key is giving the client what they want constantly even if they don't realize they need it just yet!
Narrowing Your Focus Can Widen Your Reach If you're worried about specializing in one vertical and shrinking your audience under such circumstances—think again; it usually does the opposite! The more niche you become (think healthcare design instead of general office spaces), the more you position yourself as THE go-to solution provider in that space. It creates credibility among peers and facilitates trust among those who know they will work with someone who has been in their shoes before.
For example, if you're known for designing efficient patient-centered medical office spaces, clinics may flock to you because they know what you've accomplished in person before. If you generalize, you're merely another design company among the rest—specializing helps it grow beyond your narrow target market into something bigger.
You may feel like you're shrinking your audience—but you're expanding it through credibility at depth and connection at levels unknown—personally!
Getting Paid Is Easier Than Ever Let's face it; was there ever anything worse than waiting until everyone got their checks in? Late invoices, lost checks through an error chain of custody at best, constant follow-ups while taking away time from getting paid to do what you wanted was simple enough to turn any project upside down for good!
With the subscription model invoicing problems are no longer a thing!
From recurring payment through Stripe or PayPal or even Square , automating payment solutions makes it easier for everyone involved. You'll get payment prior to offering the service to make sure that your time spent delivering value won't go unpaid. You'll set things up once digitally, and clients will never have to remember to pay on a month-to-month basis again as long as services remain in great standing. You don't need constant invoicing—you need acknowledgment that good work was already paid for beforehand!
You can expect most things:
Cash flow as consistent when it's in! Less admin not every other client pays late! More sleep at night knowing you'll get paid tomorrow instead of stressing out today! Both you and the clients live stress-free in this regard—and everything feels fair, logical—and best of all—transparent!
Real Benefits Of Subscription Models For Vertical Services Now that we've established how easy a subscription model can be for anyone—including niche talent providing niche options to clients—even better solutions exist based on tangible realities that come from real value over extended periods as well as continuous reminders that NO deadlines are ever drastic!
Consider benefits like:
A consistent paycheck you'll never not start at square one every month because you've got guaranteed income lined up! Better quality results The more you can get what you need when you need it over time—even better, better results will always come from someone who can assume small changes will happen along the way! Better client loyalty with cause and effect As outcome results continue to match operation expectations at reliable intervals they'll prefer sticking with you on your subscription plan more than seeking alternatives down the line! Better accountability and dedicated effort clients don't want to lose money on their investments just like you don't want to do all that work for nothing either! Therefore everyone is held accountable especially when positive results are acknowledged at all times! Within specialized industries this makes senses for healthcare design at all times as compliance matters require constant feedback while construction seasons change yearly—clients who do not seek these considerations will suffer resulting social care aspects—and everyone will be happier with reliable feedback! This way all clients stay compliant with safety precautions year-round or however often compliance standards seek suggestions!
Why Do Clients Love Subscriptions? You should understand you're a consumer too; take what you've experienced yourself vicariously through your clients' eyes and make them feel appreciated for it's all about ease, consistency, and control and if your client's paying for something they expect three things above all else wherever possible it makes life SO much easier!
Subscribing through clients is seamless because:
Stressors are minimized with any unforeseen costs! It's easier for budgeting purposes when everything is planned ahead! It's positive experiences across the board—no need to feel disappointed when they CAN rely on you! High-quality work is maintained since everything is known beforehand! If you've ever had a client project that rebranded only went halfway before everything started falling apart the ease of access causes additional projects instead of harm down the line; if their brand hasn't changed from ten years down the line since they were purchased by someone else they're not likely looking to attract anyone else either! If you've worked steadily over time it gets better and accountability comes from your quality assessments which is better than any third-party recommendations!
Conclusion By now you've recognized how working on a subscription model can change everything about how business runs from niche vertical services like healthcare design to complementary services like veterinary design. They're worth every effort imaginable! You will ensure predictable income each month with sustainable statistics based on client satisfaction efforts without sacrificing performance in between all while providing clients reliable expectations based on value when THEY subscribe too!
