What this template does
Failed payment recovery is the highest-ROI automation a SaaS or subscription business can build. Done right, it recovers 30-50% of involuntarily churned MRR. This template implements the full sequence — immediate notification, escalating follow-ups, and CSM intervention for high-value customers.
Use cases
- SaaS companies with monthly subscription billing
- E-commerce brands with subscription products (Recharge, Bold)
- Membership sites and online courses
- Agencies on retainer billing
How it works
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Webhook on Stripe charge.failed
Stripe webhook fires the moment a recurring charge fails. Make captures customer email, amount, and product.
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Send immediate update card email
Trigger Klaviyo flow with personalized email containing direct update card link via Stripe customer portal.
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Wait 3 days
Sleep module waits 3 days then checks if the payment was recovered.
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Check payment status
Query Stripe for the customer's subscription status. If active, end the scenario.
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Escalate to second email
If still failed, send a more urgent reminder with social proof and FAQ.
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Schedule CSM call (high-value)
If customer LTV > threshold, create a Calendly task for CSM to personally reach out.
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Track recovered revenue
Log the outcome (recovered/churned) and amount in a Google Sheet for monthly reporting.
Setup time
Around 20 minutes including Stripe webhook configuration.
Customization ideas
- Add SMS reminders via Twilio for high-LTV customers
- Customize messaging based on product (more urgent for higher-tier plans)
- Auto-pause feature access via your app API after 14 days
- Test card update via Stripe Smart Retries before sending emails