[smidwap]

1) Standard practice. Good for accounting purposes.

2) Unnecessarily complicated for end-user. Also messes with accounting because you don't want to record revenue earned for the second month in the first month.

3) Accounting nightmare! But nonetheless, common practice throughout the web industry.

4) Should be an option for end-users. Common practice, but again ensure you're deferring unearned revenue.

5) Eh, just sounds kind of cheesey. Why should a user who finds your site one day before the first of the month only be treated to a 1 day trial? Trials are good for the end-user, but use it in conjunction with #1.

These options should not be used exclusively, i.e. I would favor using 1 and 4.

Sorry for the accounting comments. I'm taking an accounting course right now and couldn't help but throw my comments in there. It's still important though.

[bcx]

For #1 how would you handle situations where someone signs up up on the 20th of the month. Would you charge them for 10 days, or for ~40?

What about if instead they signup on the 28th of the month? 3 days or ~33?