Auto-Renewal Law Compliance for WHMCS
Record consent to auto-renewal, send the renewal and price-change notices US state laws ask for, and give consumers a simple online cancel path in WHMCS.
What will the auto-renewal addon do?
It covers the parts of a subscription that US automatic renewal laws regulate. At checkout, the client ticks a separate box agreeing to automatic renewal, and the addon stores what they agreed to and when. Before renewals it sends the reminders you set, each with a link to cancel. When you raise a price, it queues a notice to each affected client ahead of the change. In the client area, a consumer can cancel online in one step.
This product is built to order: you get the license key at purchase and the download within 20 business days.
Why do WHMCS sellers need it?
Several states have tightened their automatic renewal laws. Minnesota's rules, in force since 1 January 2025, ask for a yearly notice, notice of material changes and a simple way to cancel on the website. California amended its Automatic Renewal Law with effect from 1 July 2025, adding express consent, an annual reminder, notice before a price change and online cancellation, and limiting save offers during cancellation. The FTC's federal click-to-cancel rule was vacated by a federal appeals court in July 2025, so these state laws are where the rules now sit.
What does WHMCS already do, and what does this add?
WHMCS has an optional cancellation request form that asks for a reason, and it sends invoice reminders. It does not record consent to automatic renewal, send annual or price-change notices, or apply rules by state. If you use my Cancellation Retention Flow, the addon switches it to a mode where the cancel button stays visible and an offer is shown once.
What is included?
| Part | What you get |
|---|---|
| Consent | A separate auto-renewal checkbox at checkout, with the terms text, time and IP stored |
| Reminders | Annual and pre-renewal emails with a one-click cancel link, timed per product |
| Price changes | A notice queue that emails affected clients before the new price applies |
| Cancellation | One-step online cancel in the client area for consumers |
| State rules | Notice periods and wording set per state from the client's address |
| Evidence | Export of consents, notices sent and cancellations per client |
Who is it for?
Hosting companies, VPN, streaming software and SaaS sellers that bill US consumers on automatic renewal through WHMCS.
What do you need, and what are the limits?
Requirements: WHMCS 8.13 or 9.x (I confirm your exact version at purchase), PHP 8.1 or newer, and the WHMCS cron running.
Limits: these laws mainly protect consumers, so business clients can be excluded by client group. The addon gives you the tools; the wording of your terms and notices, and which laws apply to you, are for your lawyer to confirm. It is not legal advice.
It costs $199 once for a lifetime license with twelve months of updates and support, the license key at purchase and the download within 20 business days, and a seven-day refund window.
Key features
- Separate auto-renewal consent checkbox at checkout
- Consent record with terms text, time and IP
- Annual and pre-renewal reminders with a cancel link
- Price-change notice queue
- One-step online cancellation for consumers
- Notice periods and wording per state
- Business clients excluded by client group
- Works with the Cancellation Retention Flow in a compliant mode
- Evidence export per client
Why customers buy this module
- →A record of consent if a client disputes a renewal
- →Fewer chargebacks from renewals clients forgot
- →One setup that follows the client's state
Frequently asked questions
Is the FTC click-to-cancel rule still in force?
No. A federal appeals court vacated it in July 2025. State automatic renewal laws, such as California's and Minnesota's, still apply, and the FTC still brings cases under other laws. The addon is built around the state rules.
Can I still make a retention offer when someone cancels?
California limits save offers during online cancellation. With the addon, the cancel button stays visible and an offer can be shown once, so a client who wants to leave can do it without extra steps. Ask your lawyer how this fits your terms.
When will I get it, and what if you can't deliver?
You get the license key at purchase and the download within 20 business days of purchase. If I do not deliver it in that time, you get a full refund. Otherwise the store's seven-day refund window applies.
Technical specifications
- WHMCS
- 8.13 and 9.x (confirmed at purchase)
- PHP
- 8.1+
- Cron
- WHMCS cron
- Availability
- Built to order, delivered in 20 business days
- License
- Lifetime, 1 year of updates and support included
- Delivery
- Instant download and license key
- Refund window
- 7 days
Related modules
KYC Identity Verification Module for WHMCS
I built this KYC module to stop fraudulent signups before anything is provisioned. Customers upload ID and address proof, you review them in a queue or by API, and documents stay encrypted on your own server.
Security Hardening and Recovery Module for WHMCS
I built this module to harden a WHMCS install. It spots and blocks exploit attempts, enforces 2FA, scans for malware, sandboxes third-party addons and themes, and takes secure backups you can restore in one click.
German Legal Compliance Addon for WHMCS
I built this addon for a hosting company selling to consumers in Germany. It logs which version of your terms, privacy policy and cancellation policy each customer agreed to, gives customers an online withdrawal form, and adds receipt time and contract end to every cancellation confirmation.