Click to Cancel is Here! The FTC’s New Rule That Could Make Your Subscription Illegal
Special Ops with Emma Rainville · Emma Rainville & Mitch Barham
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Show Notes
Your “cancel anytime” could get you canceled. The FTC’s new Click-to-Cancel rule changes everything for subscription marketers.
Emma Rainville and Ryan Poteet break down the FTC’s new Click-to-Cancel mandate and what it means for businesses running continuity, membership, or auto-ship models. This rule doesn’t just tweak existing guidance—it forces businesses to make cancellation as easy as sign-up. If your funnel isn’t compliant, you're opening yourself up to lawsuits, fines, and consumer backlash.
Whether you’re a DTC brand, SaaS company, or marketer running continuity offers—this is your compliance wake-up call.
Policy update (July 16): The DOJ moved the implementation date once again. Stick around until the very end to get updated and how to stay compliant.
We cover:
- What the FTC now considers a deceptive cancellation process
- Where and how your “Cancel Subscription” button needs to appear
- The new standard for clear and conspicuous disclosure
- How Apple and other brands are setting the compliance bar
- Real examples of what not to do (like mail-in cancellation gimmicks)
Timestamps:
- (00:52) Why Click-to-Cancel is a legal minefield
- (03:28) What qualifies as “unavoidable” disclosure
- (06:44) Where your cancel link must live on your site
- (09:10) Why marketing “fairy dust” won’t save you from the FTC
- (12:33) The end of shady cancellation gimmicks (like snail-mail guarantees)
- (15:21) What your cancellation flow needs to look like now
- (18:19) Real risks: class actions, fines, and lost trust
Sign up to our Visionary Vault and download our free Click-to-Cancel Compliance Checklist at specialopspodcast.com. Stay ready. Stay Compliant!
Explore Free Resources at the Visionary Vault:
https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault
Get in Touch with Ryan Poteet:
Website: https://www.grsm.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-poteet-43098ba
Get in Touch with Emma Rainville:
Website: https://specialopspodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru