FAQs: Access and charging
Contents
Access
Q. How do I give member-only access if I'm offering access to my AI as part of a package?
A. If you want to provide member-only access as part of a package of services, simply embed your AI chat into a webpage or platform that only your members can access.
If this method isn't suitable for your setup or platform, instead, set up chargeable access for your AI within Coachvox, then create coupon codes for free access and share these exclusively with your members.
You will then be able to view and manage access within your Stripe account, so should clients leave your membership scheme, you can withdraw their access.
You can also use domain restriction to ensure your AI only works on your website or a specific platform's domain, preventing the embed code from being used elsewhere.
Q. Can I synchronise user logins to my AI with my own client or membership login?
A. It's not possible to combine Coachvox access with another login system - this is for security purposes. However, your AI will recognise returning users, unless they've cleared their browser cookies or are using a different device, so they won't have to keep entering their details.
Q. Can I use a double opt-in method to verify new users want to be added to my mailing list?
A. We don't have a built-in double-opt-in, but you could follow up new AI users with an email saying: “Thanks for chatting with my AI. If you'd like to join my newsletter, please confirm here."
Charging setup
Q. How can I monetise my AI?
A. There are various options. You could:
- Use our built-in Stripe integration to charge for access directly. This is the simplest option if you want payments and access handled in one place. It also gives your customers the smoothest experience.
- Embed your AI behind your own paywall on your website or platform, and manage payments yourself.
- Include your AI as part of a membership package, and embed your AI chat somewhere only members can access.
Q. How do I set up charging for access to my AI in Coachvox?
A. We have a Stripe Connect integration within Coachvox to enable you to seamlessly take payments and manage access to your AI. Check out our charging for access to your AI article for setup instructions.
Q. Do I need to already have a Stripe account before I set up charging for access?
A. No, you create a new Stripe account for free as part of the setup process.
Q. Can I connect an existing Stripe account to my Coachvox account?
A. No, this isn't possible - you'll need to create a new Stripe account specifically for your Coachvox sales. You can use the same email address as an existing Stripe account when creating it: this doesn't combine the two, they stay completely separate, each with their own transactions and settings, but it means one login gives you access to both, and you can switch between them from your Stripe dashboard.
Q. What payment provider does Coachvox use?
A. We use Stripe for payments. Stripe is a leading, trusted, global payment provider that gives you a quick and secure way to take payments from your clients.
Q. How do clients pay for access to my AI?
A. When you set up charging for access, clients will be presented with a payment form when they sign up to chat with your AI. They'll enter their payment details securely through Stripe to start their subscription or free trial.
Q. What pricing models work best for AI coaching?
A. Pricing varies. We've seen coaches charge anywhere between $10 and $150 a month, depending on their industry, type of coaching, audience, location, and how it fits with their other services and products.
Some offer it as a standalone subscription. Some make it part of a wider membership package.
There's also the option to offer several pricing plans side by side (for example, weekly, monthly and yearly) by setting each one up as its own subscription product - see our guide on charging for access to your AI for full setup steps.
Pick a figure that feels right for you and your audience. You can always offer coupons for introductory pricing, or change your price later.
Q. What currencies can I charge my clients in?
A. You can charge your clients in 26 different currencies using Stripe.
Q. Can I offer a range of subscription tiers?
A. Yes, when charging through our Stripe integration, you can create different subscription products, each with its own price - clients will then be able to select which one they want when they sign up. Note that if you add more than one price to the same product, only its default price is shown at signup, so to offer several prices side by side, set each up as its own product.
Q. I want to offer more price options in future - should I set them all up now?
A. No, it's best to only create a new product when you're ready for clients to see it on your sign-up screen.
Q. Can a company or organisation bulk purchase subscriptions for their employees or clients?
A. There are a few ways to facilitate this:
Method A:
- Set up chargeable access for your AI within Coachvox through our Stripe integration.
- Invoice the company directly for the number of subscriptions they wish to purchase, using your own billing method.
- Create a Stripe coupon code for free access within your Coachvox AI settings.
- Give this coupon code to the company to share, or send this directly to the relevant people.
You can set the number of times a coupon can be redeemed and the timeframe it covers, and create multiple different coupons. You will then be able to view and manage user access within your Stripe account.
This method will allow you to still charge individuals for access if you wish, and to also charge different companies for different amounts of subscriptions.
Method B:
Embed your AI chat, or your AI's share page, on a web page behind your own paywall, or within a membership platform, where you can manage all access and payments.
Method C:
Create a separate AI for each company you are working with and embed each AI on a page or platform that only the relevant company employees can access. Then invoice each company directly. You can have two AIs on one Coachvox account with a Coachvox Plus subscription.
Method D:
Use domain restriction to limit your AI to the company's domain. In your AI settings, turn on domain restriction and add the company's domain to your approved list. If you also want to control access to the mobile app version, you can add the company's employees by email address using app access restriction. See Restricting access to your AI for full setup guidance.
Q. What shall I do if Stripe isn't available in my country?
A. Stripe is supported in many countries listed here. However, if it's not available in your location, you can use your own choice of payment provider. To do this, embed your AI into a private webpage behind a paywall or another platform where you can manage access.
Q. Should I charge my AI's clients tax?
A. If your business is registered to charge tax (VAT in the UK) in the country or jurisdiction where you're located and/or serve customers, you'll need to add this to what you charge clients. Enable Stripe Tax within your connected Stripe account and add your tax registration details there. Tax will then be calculated and added automatically at checkout, and shown on invoices and receipts where relevant. You can also choose within your Stripe settings whether tax is included in your displayed price or added on top at checkout. See Stripe's guide on setting up Stripe Tax for further detail on the specific settings.
Making changes
Q. How do I edit my Coachvox Stripe product after setting it up?
A. If you wish to add a new subscription product or price, or retire/archive an existing one, you can do this in your Coachvox account.
If you wish to make changes to the details of an existing product, such as the name, you can do this in your Stripe account from the 'Product Catalogue' page.
Q. Can clients change or cancel their subscriptions?
A. Yes, clients can cancel their subscription to your AI at any time by following these steps:
- Log in to the AI chat and click on the cog icon in the top corner.
- Click 'Manage subscription' on the menu.
- This will open a page where you can make changes to your payment method and billing information, or cancel your subscription.
Read more on this here.
Q. How do I manage my client subscriptions in Stripe?
A. Check out this article for guidance on how you can view, edit or cancel subscriptions to your AI in Stripe.
Q. Can I disconnect the Stripe account I've currently connected to Coachvox and connect a new one instead?
A. Only in limited circumstances. If your connected Stripe account has never had any subscriptions at all, including tests, we may be able to reset the connection so you can connect a fresh one - though this rarely achieves much, since you'll end up with a new Stripe account for Coachvox sales either way. It's usually easier to edit your existing account's details directly in Stripe instead.
Once your Stripe account has any subscriptions, active or past, real or test, it can't be swapped for a different one, as this would stop your existing subscriptions from working.
If you accidentally delete your connected Stripe account yourself, everything on it - your subscriptions and sales records - is permanently lost and can't be recovered. We can reset the connection on our end afterwards so you're not stuck, but you'll need to connect a new Stripe account and start afresh.
If you want to edit your connected Stripe account, such as your login email, business details or bank account, you can do this directly within Stripe. Stripe Support can always be contacted for help with these edits too.
Q. How do I stop charging for access to my AI and make it free?
A. First, head to your AI settings and toggle off charging for access. Once you've done this, clients will stop seeing the “subscribe to start chatting” message and can use it for free.
Next, look at the Stripe account connected to your AI and cancel any existing customers' Stripe subscriptions so they are no longer billed. (They'll still be able to access your AI now that it's free).
Discounts
Q. Can I offer discounts or promotional pricing?
A. Yes, you can set up Stripe coupons to offer free or discounted access. More details here.
Q. What coupon settings can I choose from?
A. You can set the coupon code text, the % discount, the duration (whether it applies once or to each recurring subscription payment), and the total number of redemptions. More details here.
Q. Can I give free access to certain clients?
A. Yes, just set up a coupon in your Coachvox account for a 100% discount on a repeating basis, then give clients the coupon code to apply when they sign up.
Q. Can I track how many people have used a particular coupon code?
A. You will be able to see this in the Stripe account you've connected to Coachvox.
Q. Can I initially give clients a free trial period?
A. Yes, set some free trial days within Coachvox when setting up chargeable access.
Q. Can I limit the number of interactions people can have with my AI for free?
A. There isn’t a way to cap usage by the number of interactions. Instead, you can set free trial days before a paid subscription begins. We suggest not limiting usage too tightly - the more value users get upfront, the more likely they’ll continue engaging with your AI and the more they'll want to work with the real you!
Q. Can I set a minimum term?
A. You can't set a minimum subscription term directly, but you can set up different subscription rates to encourage longer commitments. For example, alongside offering a monthly subscription, you might also set a quarterly and annual rate that's slightly reduced in comparison. You could always incentivise people to sign up to those plans with a special offer using a coupon.
Promotion
Q. How do I get people to try and pay for my AI coaching?
A. Applying a strategic approach to your AI promotion and positioning will encourage people to discover, try and pay for your AI coaching. Our top tips are:
- Make your AI visible - Talk about your AI on multiple channels where your audience spends time.
- Create reasons to engage - Help people understand the amazing value they'll gain from your AI.
- Build a clear funnel - Guide people from discovery to purchase through a series of steps.
- Follow up consistently - Set up automated email sequences to nurture prospects.
- Use your existing network - Introduce your AI to current clients and connections.
- Create quality experiences - Train your AI thoroughly to address your audience's challenges.
We have plenty of resources on promoting your AI, covering all these strategies in detail.
Troubleshooting
Q: When users sign up to chat with my AI, they get stuck on a page that says 'Subscribe to start chatting'. What shall I do?
A: If the user sign-up process gets stuck at 'Subscribe to start chatting', this may indicate something has changed, causing a disconnect. In the first instance, check your charge for access setup in your AI settings. If there's no obvious cause, please contact us.
Q. The Coachvox app isn’t loading for me. What should I do?
A. If the app won’t load, here are some things to check:
- Try another device - For example, if it’s not loading on your laptop, check on your phone (ideally using mobile data).
- Check the error message - If you see an error saying the site can’t be reached or can’t be found, try:
- Clearing your browser cache
- Opening the app in a private/incognito window
- Restarting your wifi router
- Another web browser e.g. Chrome if you’re on Safari
- Switching your device’s DNS
- Temporarily disable your VPN if you’re using one
If the app doesn’t load on multiple devices or networks, please let us know so we can check from our side.
We're here to support your AI journey. If you can't find what you need in these FAQs, check out our other FAQs and support resources.