How to Add a Setup Fee to a Recurring Sparkforge Invoice

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

Add a setup fee in the product's pricing, then put that product on a recurring invoice. The first invoice shows two line items (recurring price + setup fee). Future auto-generated invoices drop the setup fee and bill only the recurring portion.

Service businesses often charge an onboarding or signup fee on top of a monthly retainer. Sparkforge handles both on a single recurring invoice, so customers don't get a separate one-time invoice.

How it works

  • Create a recurring product and add a setup fee in its pricing.
  • Add that product to a recurring invoice. The first invoice shows two line items for the same product: one labeled with the suffix "Setup Fee" and one for the recurring price.
  • Every subsequent auto-generated invoice on the schedule drops the setup-fee line item and only bills the recurring portion.

Step by step

  1. Go to Products and create or edit a product. Set the price type to Recurring and add a setup fee.
  2. Go to Invoices and create a recurring invoice.
  3. Add the product. Both line items appear on this invoice.
  4. Send and let the schedule run. Future invoices automatically bill only the recurring price.

When to use this

Anywhere a signing fee or onboarding charge needs to land on the same invoice as the first month of service: agency retainers, fractional services, software-as-a-service with onboarding, or trade contracts with a deposit and recurring maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I add the setup fee?
On the product itself. Open the product, set price type to Recurring, and add a setup fee in the pricing section.
Will the setup fee charge again on the next invoice?
No. The setup fee only appears on the first invoice. All subsequent auto-generated invoices show only the recurring line item.
How is the setup fee labeled on the invoice?
It appears as a separate line item for the same product with the suffix "Setup Fee" added.
Do I need two products to do this?
No. One recurring product handles both — the setup fee is part of the product's pricing config.

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