diff --git a/billing/migrations/0003_due_is_trial_subscription_post_trial_tier_and_more.py b/billing/migrations/0003_due_is_trial_subscription_post_trial_tier_and_more.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5871aba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/billing/migrations/0003_due_is_trial_subscription_post_trial_tier_and_more.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Generated by Django 6.0.6 on 2026-08-04 10:10
+
+import django.db.models.deletion
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('billing', '0002_subscription_auto_renew'),
+        ('club', '0017_club_season_duration_months_club_season_start'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='due',
+            name='is_trial',
+            field=models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text="This period was opened as a trial. A durable marker on the row itself -- the subscription's own trial fields are cleared once it converts.", verbose_name='trial period'),
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='subscription',
+            name='post_trial_tier',
+            field=models.ForeignKey(blank=True, help_text='The plan this club switches to automatically once its trial ends.', null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, related_name='+', to='billing.tier', verbose_name='post-trial tier'),
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='subscription',
+            name='trial_ends_at',
+            field=models.DateField(blank=True, help_text='Set while this club is on a trial. The tier switches to post_trial_tier the next time a period is opened after this date.', null=True, verbose_name='trial ends at'),
+        ),
+        migrations.AddConstraint(
+            model_name='subscription',
+            constraint=models.CheckConstraint(condition=models.Q(models.Q(('post_trial_tier__isnull', True), ('trial_ends_at__isnull', True)), models.Q(('post_trial_tier__isnull', False), ('trial_ends_at__isnull', False)), _connector='OR'), name='trial_fields_set_together'),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/billing/models.py b/billing/models.py
index 884b9d7..b00866d 100644
--- a/billing/models.py
+++ b/billing/models.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from dateutil import relativedelta
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.validators import MinValueValidator
 from django.db import models
+from django.db.models import Q
 from django.utils import timezone
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 
@@ -33,6 +34,10 @@ def add_one_year(day: date) -> date:
     return day + relativedelta.relativedelta(years=1)
 
 
+def add_months(day: date, months: int) -> date:
+    return day + relativedelta.relativedelta(months=months)
+
+
 class Tier(UUIDModel):
     """A price band. The price itself lives in TierPrice, which is dated."""
 
@@ -98,10 +103,21 @@ class Subscription(UUIDModel):
     auto_archive = models.BooleanField(_("auto archive"), default=True, help_text=_("Archive this club when a period goes unpaid past its grace period."))
     notes = models.TextField(_("notes"), blank=True)
 
+    trial_ends_at = models.DateField(_("trial ends at"), null=True, blank=True, help_text=_("Set while this club is on a trial. The tier switches to post_trial_tier the next time a period is opened after this date."))
+    post_trial_tier = models.ForeignKey(Tier, on_delete=models.PROTECT, null=True, blank=True, related_name="+", verbose_name=_("post-trial tier"), help_text=_("The plan this club switches to automatically once its trial ends."))
+
     class Meta:
         verbose_name = _("subscription")
         verbose_name_plural = _("subscriptions")
         ordering = ["club__name"]
+        constraints = [
+            # Both set together or neither -- a trial with no target plan (or a target
+            # plan with no trial end date) is a half-configured state nothing should read.
+            models.CheckConstraint(
+                condition=Q(trial_ends_at__isnull=True, post_trial_tier__isnull=True) | Q(trial_ends_at__isnull=False, post_trial_tier__isnull=False),
+                name="trial_fields_set_together",
+            ),
+        ]
 
     def __str__(self):
         return f"{self.club} — {self.tier}"
@@ -138,6 +154,8 @@ class Due(UUIDModel):
     status = models.CharField(_("status"), max_length=20, choices=Status.choices, default=Status.UNPAID)
     paid_at = models.DateTimeField(_("paid at"), null=True, blank=True)
 
+    is_trial = models.BooleanField(_("trial period"), default=False, help_text=_("This period was opened as a trial. A durable marker on the row itself -- the subscription's own trial fields are cleared once it converts."))
+
     class Meta:
         verbose_name = _("due")
         verbose_name_plural = _("dues")
diff --git a/billing/services/dues.py b/billing/services/dues.py
index 17ebe4a..d60367e 100644
--- a/billing/services/dues.py
+++ b/billing/services/dues.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from django.db import transaction
 from django.db.models import DateField, OuterRef, Subquery, Sum
 from django.utils import timezone
 
-from billing.models import RENEWAL_LEAD_DAYS, ZERO, Due, DuePayment, Subscription, Tier
+from billing.models import RENEWAL_LEAD_DAYS, ZERO, Due, DuePayment, Subscription, Tier, add_months
 from billing.services import BillingError
 from billing.services.invoices import issue_invoice
 
@@ -22,6 +22,27 @@ def subscribe(club, tier: Tier, *, start: date | None = None, auto_archive: bool
     return subscription
 
 
+@transaction.atomic
+def start_trial(club, trial_tier: Tier, *, post_trial_tier: Tier, trial_months: int, start: date | None = None, auto_renew: bool = True, auto_archive: bool = True) -> Due:
+    """Put a club on a short trial that switches itself to ``post_trial_tier`` the moment
+    the trial period is renewed -- see open_period()'s trial-conversion check.
+
+    Only for a club with no subscription yet -- converting an existing paying subscription
+    into a trial is a different, deliberately unsupported operation for now.
+    """
+    if trial_months <= 0:
+        raise BillingError("Trial length must be at least 1 month.")
+    if getattr(club, "subscription", None) is not None:
+        raise BillingError(f"{club} is already subscribed -- use Change plan instead.")
+
+    start = start or next_period_start(club)
+    trial_end = add_months(start, trial_months) - timedelta(days=1)
+
+    Subscription.objects.create(club=club, tier=trial_tier, trial_ends_at=trial_end, post_trial_tier=post_trial_tier, auto_renew=auto_renew, auto_archive=auto_archive)
+
+    return open_period(club, start=start, period_end=trial_end, is_trial=True)
+
+
 def next_period_start(club, today: date | None = None) -> date:
     """Where the club's next period begins.
 
@@ -36,12 +57,23 @@ def next_period_start(club, today: date | None = None) -> date:
 
 
 @transaction.atomic
-def open_period(club, *, start: date | None = None, tier: Tier | None = None) -> Due:
+def open_period(club, *, start: date | None = None, tier: Tier | None = None, period_end: date | None = None, is_trial: bool = False) -> Due:
     """Issue the next due for a club, snapshotting the tier and the price of the day."""
     subscription = getattr(club, "subscription", None)
-    tier = tier or (subscription.tier if subscription else None)
     if tier is None:
-        raise BillingError(f"{club} has no tier: put it on a subscription before billing it.")
+        if subscription is None:
+            raise BillingError(f"{club} has no tier: put it on a subscription before billing it.")
+        # A trial that has run its course: swap onto the pre-selected plan before billing
+        # the next period, rather than silently renewing the trial tier forever. Checked
+        # here (not in renew()) so it fires whether this period was opened by the renewal
+        # command or by a platform admin clicking "Open period"/"Reactivate" by hand --
+        # both call open_period() directly.
+        if subscription.trial_ends_at is not None and (start or next_period_start(club)) > subscription.trial_ends_at:
+            subscription.tier = subscription.post_trial_tier
+            subscription.trial_ends_at = None
+            subscription.post_trial_tier = None
+            subscription.save(update_fields=["tier", "trial_ends_at", "post_trial_tier"])
+        tier = subscription.tier
 
     start = start or next_period_start(club)
 
@@ -52,7 +84,13 @@ def open_period(club, *, start: date | None = None, tier: Tier | None = None) ->
     if club.dues.filter(period_start=start).exists():
         raise BillingError(f"{club} is already billed for a period starting {start:%d %b %Y}.")
 
-    due = Due.objects.create(club=club, tier=tier, amount=amount, period_start=start)
+    due = Due.objects.create(club=club, tier=tier, amount=amount, period_start=start, period_end=period_end, is_trial=is_trial)
+    if amount == ZERO:
+        # Nothing is actually owed -- left at the default UNPAID, this would eventually
+        # trip is_overdue() and get a free club archived for non-payment of nothing.
+        due.status = Due.Status.PAID
+        due.paid_at = timezone.now()
+        due.save(update_fields=["status", "paid_at"])
     issue_invoice(due)  # every period is billable the moment it opens
 
     return due
diff --git a/billing/tests.py b/billing/tests.py
index 8280987..b00d53f 100644
--- a/billing/tests.py
+++ b/billing/tests.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from club.models import Club
 
 from .models import GRACE_DAYS, Due, Invoice, Subscription, Tier, TierPrice, add_one_year
 from .services import BillingError
-from .services.dues import archivable_clubs, dues_in_grace, dues_overdue, next_period_start, open_period, reactivate, record_payment, remove_payment, renew, subscribe, subscriptions_due_for_renewal, waive
+from .services.dues import archivable_clubs, dues_in_grace, dues_overdue, next_period_start, open_period, reactivate, record_payment, remove_payment, renew, start_trial, subscribe, subscriptions_due_for_renewal, waive
 from .services.invoices import invoice_pdf, issue_invoice, render_pdf
 
 
@@ -488,3 +488,76 @@ class RenewedButUnpaidTests(BillingTestBase):
         record_payment(renewed, renewed.amount)
 
         self.assertNotIn(club, [d.club for d in archivable_clubs(self.today)])
+
+
+class TrialTests(BillingTestBase):
+    """A club with no subscription yet can be started on a short trial that switches
+    itself to a pre-selected plan automatically once the trial period is renewed --
+    see billing.services.dues.start_trial and the trial-conversion check in
+    open_period()."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+        self.trial_tier = Tier.objects.create(name="Trial")
+        TierPrice.objects.create(tier=self.trial_tier, active_from=self.today - datetime.timedelta(days=1200), amount=Decimal("50.00"))
+
+    def test_start_trial_creates_a_short_trial_period(self):
+        due = start_trial(self.club, self.trial_tier, post_trial_tier=self.tier, trial_months=2)
+
+        subscription = self.club.subscription
+        self.assertEqual(subscription.tier, self.trial_tier)
+        self.assertEqual(subscription.post_trial_tier, self.tier)
+        self.assertEqual(subscription.trial_ends_at, due.period_end)
+        self.assertTrue(due.is_trial)
+        # Roughly 2 months, nowhere near the standard ~1-year period.
+        self.assertLess((due.period_end - due.period_start).days, 65)
+
+    def test_start_trial_refuses_if_already_subscribed(self):
+        subscribe(self.club, self.tier)
+
+        with self.assertRaises(BillingError):
+            start_trial(self.club, self.trial_tier, post_trial_tier=self.tier, trial_months=2)
+
+    def test_start_trial_refuses_a_non_positive_length(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(BillingError):
+            start_trial(self.club, self.trial_tier, post_trial_tier=self.tier, trial_months=0)
+
+    def test_renewing_after_the_trial_switches_to_the_post_trial_tier(self):
+        start_trial(self.club, self.trial_tier, post_trial_tier=self.tier, trial_months=2)
+
+        due = renew(self.club.subscription)
+
+        self.club.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(self.club.subscription.tier, self.tier)
+        self.assertIsNone(self.club.subscription.trial_ends_at)
+        self.assertIsNone(self.club.subscription.post_trial_tier)
+        self.assertEqual(due.tier, self.tier)
+        self.assertFalse(due.is_trial)
+        self.assertEqual(due.amount, Decimal("500.00"))
+
+    def test_manually_opening_the_next_period_also_switches_tier(self):
+        # Same conversion must fire via the control panel's "Open period" button, which
+        # calls open_period() directly rather than renew().
+        start_trial(self.club, self.trial_tier, post_trial_tier=self.tier, trial_months=2)
+
+        open_period(self.club)
+
+        self.club.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(self.club.subscription.tier, self.tier)
+
+    def test_a_trial_nearing_its_end_is_picked_up_for_renewal(self):
+        start_trial(self.club, self.trial_tier, post_trial_tier=self.tier, trial_months=2, start=self.today - datetime.timedelta(days=50))
+
+        self.assertIn(self.club, [s.club for s in subscriptions_due_for_renewal()])
+
+    def test_a_zero_amount_trial_is_created_already_paid(self):
+        free_tier = Tier.objects.create(name="Free Trial")
+        TierPrice.objects.create(tier=free_tier, active_from=self.today - datetime.timedelta(days=1200), amount=Decimal("0.00"))
+
+        due = start_trial(self.club, free_tier, post_trial_tier=self.tier, trial_months=2)
+
+        self.assertEqual(due.status, Due.Status.PAID)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(due.paid_at)
+        far_future = due.grace_until + datetime.timedelta(days=100)
+        self.assertNotIn(due, dues_overdue(far_future))
+        self.assertNotIn(self.club, [d.club for d in archivable_clubs(far_future)])
diff --git a/controlpanel/forms.py b/controlpanel/forms.py
index 1cd850a..6495ad3 100644
--- a/controlpanel/forms.py
+++ b/controlpanel/forms.py
@@ -112,6 +112,23 @@ class SubscriptionForm(forms.ModelForm):
         self.fields["tier"].queryset = Tier.objects.filter(is_active=True)
 
 
+class TrialForm(forms.Form):
+    """Put a club with no subscription yet on a short trial that switches itself to
+    ``post_trial_tier`` automatically once it ends -- see billing.services.dues.start_trial."""
+
+    trial_tier = forms.ModelChoiceField(queryset=Tier.objects.none(), label=_("Trial tier"), help_text=_("What this club is billed on during the trial."))
+    post_trial_tier = forms.ModelChoiceField(queryset=Tier.objects.none(), label=_("Then switch to"), help_text=_("The plan it lands on automatically once the trial ends."))
+    trial_months = forms.IntegerField(min_value=1, initial=2, label=_("Trial length (months)"))
+    start = forms.DateField(required=False, widget=forms.DateInput(attrs={"type": "date"}), label=_("Trial starts"), help_text=_("Left blank, the trial starts today."))
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        # Same reasoning as SubscriptionForm: a retired tier keeps billing whoever is
+        # already on it, but must not be offered for a new trial or a new plan either.
+        self.fields["trial_tier"].queryset = Tier.objects.filter(is_active=True)
+        self.fields["post_trial_tier"].queryset = Tier.objects.filter(is_active=True)
+
+
 class DuePaymentForm(forms.Form):
     amount = forms.DecimalField(max_digits=10, decimal_places=2, min_value=Decimal("0.01"), label=_("Amount"))
     method = forms.ChoiceField(choices=DuePayment.Method.choices, initial=DuePayment.Method.BANK_TRANSFER, label=_("Method"))
diff --git a/controlpanel/templates/controlpanel/_club_billing_card.html b/controlpanel/templates/controlpanel/_club_billing_card.html
index 52243c5..e02c8af 100644
--- a/controlpanel/templates/controlpanel/_club_billing_card.html
+++ b/controlpanel/templates/controlpanel/_club_billing_card.html
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@
                 <button class="btn btn-outline btn-neutral btn-sm gap-2" type="button" onclick="document.getElementById('subscription_modal').showModal()">
                     {% lucide "layers" size=14 %} {% if subscription %}Change plan{% else %}Start billing{% endif %}
                 </button>
+                {% if not subscription %}
+                    <button class="btn btn-outline btn-neutral btn-sm gap-2" type="button" onclick="document.getElementById('trial_modal').showModal()">
+                        {% lucide "hourglass" size=14 %} Start trial
+                    </button>
+                {% endif %}
                 {% if subscription %}
                     <button class="btn btn-primary btn-sm gap-2" type="button" onclick="document.getElementById('open_period_modal').showModal()">
                         {% lucide "calendar-plus" size=14 %} {% if club.is_archived %}Reactivate{% else %}Open period{% endif %}
@@ -27,6 +32,10 @@
         {% else %}
             <p class="text-sm opacity-70">
                 On plan <strong>{{ subscription.tier.name }}</strong>.
+                {% if subscription.trial_ends_at %}
+                    <span class="badge badge-info badge-sm gap-1">{% lucide "hourglass" size=12 %} Trial</span>
+                    On trial until {{ subscription.trial_ends_at|date:"j M Y" }}, then switches to <strong>{{ subscription.post_trial_tier.name }}</strong>.
+                {% endif %}
                 {% if subscription.auto_renew %}
                     Renews automatically 30 days before the period ends.
                 {% else %}
@@ -118,6 +127,11 @@
 {% url 'controlpanel:club_subscribe' club.pk as subscribe_url %}
 {% include "controlpanel/_modal_form.html" with modal_id="subscription_modal" title=subscription|yesno:"Change plan,Start billing" form=subscription_form action_url=subscribe_url submit_label="Save plan" submit_icon="layers" blurb="Changing tier does not re-bill: the current period keeps the amount it was issued at, and the new rate applies from the next one." %}
 
+{% if not subscription %}
+    {% url 'controlpanel:club_trial_start' club.pk as trial_start_url %}
+    {% include "controlpanel/_modal_form.html" with modal_id="trial_modal" title="Start trial" form=trial_form action_url=trial_start_url submit_label="Start trial" submit_icon="hourglass" blurb="The trial period is billed like any other, on the trial tier you pick. It switches to the plan you pick here automatically the next time a period is opened after it ends -- no follow-up needed." %}
+{% endif %}
+
 {% if subscription %}
     {% url 'controlpanel:club_open_period' club.pk as open_period_url %}
     {% include "controlpanel/_modal_form.html" with modal_id="open_period_modal" title=club.is_archived|yesno:"Reactivate,Open period" form=open_period_form action_url=open_period_url submit_label="Open period" submit_icon="calendar-plus" blurb=open_period_blurb %}
diff --git a/controlpanel/tests.py b/controlpanel/tests.py
index bcfa561..084f47b 100644
--- a/controlpanel/tests.py
+++ b/controlpanel/tests.py
@@ -1446,6 +1446,71 @@ class BillingPanelTests(ControlPanelTestBase):
         self.assertContains(response, "pango")
 
 
+class TrialPanelTests(ControlPanelTestBase):
+    """The club detail page's "Start trial" modal -- see
+    controlpanel.views.ClubStartTrialView / billing.services.dues.start_trial."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+        self.today = timezone.localdate()
+        self.trial_tier = Tier.objects.create(name="Trial")
+        TierPrice.objects.create(tier=self.trial_tier, active_from=self.today - datetime.timedelta(days=1200), amount=Decimal("50.00"))
+        self.tier = Tier.objects.create(name="Standard")
+        TierPrice.objects.create(tier=self.tier, active_from=self.today - datetime.timedelta(days=1200), amount=Decimal("500.00"))
+
+    def start_trial(self, **data):
+        data = {"trial_tier": self.trial_tier.pk, "post_trial_tier": self.tier.pk, "trial_months": 2, "start": ""} | data
+        return self.client.post(reverse("controlpanel:club_trial_start", args=[self.club.pk]), data)
+
+    def test_starting_a_trial_opens_a_short_first_period(self):
+        response = self.start_trial()
+
+        self.assertRedirects(response, reverse("controlpanel:club_detail", args=[self.club.pk]))
+        self.assertEqual(self.club.subscription.tier, self.trial_tier)
+        self.assertEqual(self.club.subscription.post_trial_tier, self.tier)
+        due = self.club.dues.first()
+        self.assertTrue(due.is_trial)
+        self.assertLess((due.period_end - due.period_start).days, 65)
+
+    def test_a_club_already_subscribed_cannot_be_started_on_a_trial(self):
+        subscribe(self.club, self.tier)
+
+        response = self.client.post(
+            reverse("controlpanel:club_trial_start", args=[self.club.pk]),
+            {"trial_tier": self.trial_tier.pk, "post_trial_tier": self.tier.pk, "trial_months": 2, "start": ""},
+            follow=True,
+        )
+
+        self.assertContains(response, "already subscribed")
+        self.assertEqual(self.club.dues.count(), 1)
+
+    def test_an_invalid_trial_length_redirects_back_with_an_error(self):
+        response = self.client.post(reverse("controlpanel:club_trial_start", args=[self.club.pk]), {"trial_tier": self.trial_tier.pk, "post_trial_tier": self.tier.pk, "trial_months": 0, "start": ""}, follow=True)
+
+        self.assertFalse(hasattr(self.club, "subscription"))
+        self.assertTrue(response.context["messages"])
+
+    def test_the_club_page_shows_the_active_trial(self):
+        self.start_trial()
+
+        response = self.client.get(reverse("controlpanel:club_detail", args=[self.club.pk]))
+
+        self.assertContains(response, "On trial")
+        self.assertContains(response, "Standard")
+
+    def test_manually_changing_tier_mid_trial_clears_the_trial(self):
+        self.start_trial()
+        other = Tier.objects.create(name="Other")
+        TierPrice.objects.create(tier=other, active_from=self.today - datetime.timedelta(days=1200), amount=Decimal("300.00"))
+
+        self.client.post(reverse("controlpanel:club_subscribe", args=[self.club.pk]), {"tier": other.pk, "auto_archive": "on", "notes": ""})
+
+        self.club.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(self.club.subscription.tier, other)
+        self.assertIsNone(self.club.subscription.trial_ends_at)
+        self.assertIsNone(self.club.subscription.post_trial_tier)
+
+
 class BillingFormRenderTests(ControlPanelTestBase):
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
diff --git a/controlpanel/urls.py b/controlpanel/urls.py
index e5d739b..525ba45 100644
--- a/controlpanel/urls.py
+++ b/controlpanel/urls.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ urlpatterns = [
     path("billing/dues/<uuid:pk>/waive/", views.WaiveDueView.as_view(), name="due_waive"),
     path("billing/dues/<uuid:pk>/invoice.pdf", views.InvoicePdfView.as_view(), name="due_invoice"),
     path("clubs/<uuid:pk>/subscription/", views.SubscribeClubView.as_view(), name="club_subscribe"),
+    path("clubs/<uuid:pk>/trial/start/", views.ClubStartTrialView.as_view(), name="club_trial_start"),
     path("clubs/<uuid:pk>/period/new/", views.OpenPeriodView.as_view(), name="club_open_period"),
     # Platform admins (superusers only)
     path("admins/", views.PlatformAdminListView.as_view(), name="admins"),
diff --git a/controlpanel/views.py b/controlpanel/views.py
index 3d4b722..c810a7e 100644
--- a/controlpanel/views.py
+++ b/controlpanel/views.py
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ from waffle import get_waffle_flag_model, get_waffle_switch_model
 
 from billing.models import Due, Tier, TierPrice
 from billing.services import BillingError
-from billing.services.dues import next_period_start, open_period, reactivate, record_payment, subscribe, waive
+from billing.services.dues import next_period_start, open_period, reactivate, record_payment, start_trial, subscribe, waive
 from billing.services.invoices import invoice_pdf, issue_invoice
 from club.models import Club, ClubRole
 from events.models import Location
 from features.models import Maintenance
 
-from .forms import ClubAdminForm, ClubForm, DuePaymentForm, FlagForm, HomeLocationForm, MaintenanceForm, OpenPeriodForm, PlatformAdminForm, SubscriptionForm, TierForm, TierPriceForm
+from .forms import ClubAdminForm, ClubForm, DuePaymentForm, FlagForm, HomeLocationForm, MaintenanceForm, OpenPeriodForm, PlatformAdminForm, SubscriptionForm, TierForm, TierPriceForm, TrialForm
 from .messages import notify
 from .mixins import PlatformStaffRequiredMixin, PlatformSuperuserRequiredMixin, RedirectOnInvalidMixin
 from .services.admins import grant_club_admin, revoke_club_admin
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ class ClubDetailView(PlatformStaffRequiredMixin, DetailView):
             open_period_form=OpenPeriodForm(),
             open_period_blurb=f"Next period starts {date_format(next_start, 'j M Y')} unless you say otherwise. By default it continues from the end of the last one, so a lapsed year is still owed — pick a start date to forgive the gap.",
             subscription_form=SubscriptionForm(instance=subscription) if subscription else SubscriptionForm(),
+            trial_form=TrialForm(),
             **kwargs,
         )
 
@@ -503,8 +504,15 @@ class SubscribeClubView(PlatformStaffRequiredMixin, RedirectOnInvalidMixin, Form
             if existing:
                 # Changing tier does not re-bill: the current period keeps the amount it was
                 # issued at, and the new rate applies from the next one.
+                was_on_trial = existing.trial_ends_at is not None
                 subscription = form.save(commit=False)
                 subscription.club = club
+                if was_on_trial:
+                    # A manual tier change while on a trial is a deliberate override --
+                    # left in place, the trial fields would silently swap the tier again
+                    # later, onto a plan the admin didn't just choose.
+                    subscription.trial_ends_at = None
+                    subscription.post_trial_tier = None
                 subscription.save()
                 notify(self.request, f"s|Plan changed|{club} is now on {subscription.tier}. The current period keeps the amount it was billed at.")
             else:
@@ -514,6 +522,37 @@ class SubscribeClubView(PlatformStaffRequiredMixin, RedirectOnInvalidMixin, Form
         return redirect("controlpanel:club_detail", pk=club.pk)
 
 
+class ClubStartTrialView(PlatformStaffRequiredMixin, RedirectOnInvalidMixin, FormView):
+    """Put a club with no subscription yet on a short trial -- reachable only via the
+    "Start trial" modal on the club detail page, shown alongside "Start billing" only
+    while the club has no subscription. POST-only, no standalone template."""
+
+    form_class = TrialForm
+    http_method_names = ["post"]
+    invalid_redirect_url_name = "controlpanel:club_detail"
+
+    @property
+    def club(self):
+        return get_object_or_404(Club, pk=self.kwargs["pk"])
+
+    def get_invalid_redirect_kwargs(self):
+        return {"pk": self.kwargs["pk"]}
+
+    def form_valid(self, form):
+        club = self.club
+        with suppress_billing_errors(self.request, title="Couldn't start trial"):
+            start_trial(
+                club,
+                form.cleaned_data["trial_tier"],
+                post_trial_tier=form.cleaned_data["post_trial_tier"],
+                trial_months=form.cleaned_data["trial_months"],
+                start=form.cleaned_data.get("start"),
+            )
+            notify(self.request, f"s|Trial started|{club} is on a {form.cleaned_data['trial_months']}-month trial of {form.cleaned_data['trial_tier']}, then switches to {form.cleaned_data['post_trial_tier']}.")
+
+        return redirect("controlpanel:club_detail", pk=club.pk)
+
+
 class RecordPaymentView(PlatformStaffRequiredMixin, RedirectOnInvalidMixin, FormView):
     """Reachable only via a due's "Record payment" modal on the club or billing page —
     POST-only, and there is no standalone template to render on GET or on a rejected