diff --git a/backend/src/features/subscriptions/data/subscriptions.repository.ts b/backend/src/features/subscriptions/data/subscriptions.repository.ts
index 23e83dd..49793f8 100644
--- a/backend/src/features/subscriptions/data/subscriptions.repository.ts
+++ b/backend/src/features/subscriptions/data/subscriptions.repository.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export class SubscriptionsRepository {
   /**
    * Create a new subscription
    */
-  async create(data: CreateSubscriptionRequest & { stripeCustomerId: string }): Promise<Subscription> {
+  async create(data: CreateSubscriptionRequest & { stripeCustomerId?: string | null }): Promise<Subscription> {
     const query = `
       INSERT INTO subscriptions (
         user_id, stripe_customer_id, tier, billing_cycle
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export class SubscriptionsRepository {
 
     const values = [
       data.userId,
-      data.stripeCustomerId,
+      data.stripeCustomerId ?? null,
       data.tier,
       data.billingCycle,
     ];
@@ -579,18 +579,16 @@ export class SubscriptionsRepository {
     client?: any
   ): Promise<Subscription> {
     const queryClient = client || this.pool;
-    // Generate a placeholder Stripe customer ID since admin override bypasses Stripe
-    const placeholderCustomerId = `admin_override_${userId}_${Date.now()}`;
 
     const query = `
       INSERT INTO subscriptions (
         user_id, stripe_customer_id, tier, billing_cycle, status
       )
-      VALUES ($1, $2, $3, 'monthly', 'active')
+      VALUES ($1, NULL, $2, 'monthly', 'active')
       RETURNING *
     `;
 
-    const values = [userId, placeholderCustomerId, tier];
+    const values = [userId, tier];
 
     try {
       const result = await queryClient.query(query, values);
@@ -623,7 +621,7 @@ export class SubscriptionsRepository {
     return {
       id: row.id,
       userId: row.user_id,
-      stripeCustomerId: row.stripe_customer_id,
+      stripeCustomerId: row.stripe_customer_id ?? null,
       stripeSubscriptionId: row.stripe_subscription_id || undefined,
       tier: row.tier,
       billingCycle: row.billing_cycle || undefined,