diff --git a/app/pages/accept-invite.vue b/app/pages/accept-invite.vue
index 080ee0d..9946b0d 100644
--- a/app/pages/accept-invite.vue
+++ b/app/pages/accept-invite.vue
@@ -288,6 +288,7 @@ const handleAccept = async () => {
         circle: form.circle,
         motivation: form.motivation || undefined,
         contributionAmount: form.contributionAmount,
+        cadence: cadence.value,
         agreedToGuidelines: form.agreedToGuidelines,
         token: token.value,
       },
diff --git a/server/api/invite/accept.post.js b/server/api/invite/accept.post.js
index 2d6518e..9a2b7a4 100644
--- a/server/api/invite/accept.post.js
+++ b/server/api/invite/accept.post.js
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
     location: body.location || undefined,
     circle: body.circle,
     contributionAmount: body.contributionAmount,
+    billingCadence: body.contributionAmount === 0 ? 'monthly' : body.cadence,
     bio: body.motivation || undefined,
     status: body.contributionAmount === 0 ? 'active' : 'pending_payment',
     helcimCustomerId: helcimCustomer?.id,
diff --git a/server/utils/schemas.js b/server/utils/schemas.js
index 8504534..201e6b6 100644
--- a/server/utils/schemas.js
+++ b/server/utils/schemas.js
@@ -363,6 +363,7 @@ export const inviteAcceptSchema = z.object({
   circle: z.enum(['community', 'founder', 'practitioner']),
   motivation: z.string().max(5000).optional(),
   contributionAmount: z.number().int().min(0),
+  cadence: z.enum(['monthly', 'annual']).default('monthly'),
   agreedToGuidelines: z.literal(true),
   token: z.string().min(1)
 })
diff --git a/tests/server/api/activation-auto-flag.test.js b/tests/server/api/activation-auto-flag.test.js
index 2895506..1e39663 100644
--- a/tests/server/api/activation-auto-flag.test.js
+++ b/tests/server/api/activation-auto-flag.test.js
@@ -209,3 +209,62 @@ describe('POST /api/members/create — auto-flag wiring (3.8)', () => {
     )
   })
 })
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// billingCadence persistence on /api/invite/accept
+//
+// Regression: an annual-choosing invitee who abandoned before payment was left
+// with billingCadence defaulting to 'monthly' while contributionAmount held an
+// annual-unit value (e.g. 180), rendering "$180/mo" in admin views. The handler
+// must persist the chosen cadence at Member.create time.
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+describe('POST /api/invite/accept — billingCadence persistence', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks()
+    PreRegistration.findById.mockResolvedValue({
+      _id: 'prereg-1',
+      email: 'invitee@example.com',
+      status: 'pending'
+    })
+    PreRegistration.findByIdAndUpdate.mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+    Member.findOne.mockResolvedValue(null)
+    Member.create.mockImplementation(async (data) => ({ _id: 'new-member-via-invite', ...data }))
+  })
+
+  it('persists billingCadence "annual" for an annual paid invite', async () => {
+    globalThis.validateBody.mockResolvedValue({
+      token: 'tok',
+      preRegistrationId: 'prereg-1',
+      name: 'Annual Invitee',
+      circle: 'community',
+      contributionAmount: 180,
+      cadence: 'annual'
+    })
+    createHelcimCustomer.mockResolvedValue({ id: 'cust-annual', customerCode: 'code-annual' })
+
+    const event = createMockEvent({ method: 'POST', path: '/api/invite/accept' })
+    await inviteAcceptHandler(event)
+
+    expect(Member.create).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ contributionAmount: 180, billingCadence: 'annual' })
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('forces billingCadence "monthly" for a $0 invite even when cadence is annual', async () => {
+    globalThis.validateBody.mockResolvedValue({
+      token: 'tok',
+      preRegistrationId: 'prereg-1',
+      name: 'Free Invitee',
+      circle: 'community',
+      contributionAmount: 0,
+      cadence: 'annual'
+    })
+
+    const event = createMockEvent({ method: 'POST', path: '/api/invite/accept' })
+    await inviteAcceptHandler(event)
+
+    expect(Member.create).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ contributionAmount: 0, billingCadence: 'monthly' })
+    )
+  })
+})