diff --git a/config/Migrations/20251103150008_AddIsSystemToProductCategoryVariants.php b/config/Migrations/20251103150008_AddIsSystemToProductCategoryVariants.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..864f37e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/Migrations/20251103150008_AddIsSystemToProductCategoryVariants.php
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+<?php
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+use Migrations\BaseMigration;
+
+class AddIsSystemToProductCategoryVariants extends BaseMigration
+{
+    /**
+     * Change Method.
+     *
+     * More information on this method is available here:
+     * https://book.cakephp.org/migrations/4/en/migrations.html#the-change-method
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function change(): void
+    {
+        $table = $this->table('product_category_variants');
+        $table->addColumn('is_system_variant', 'boolean', [
+            'default' => false,
+            'limit' => 11,
+            'null' => false,
+        ]);
+        $table->update();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/config/Seeds/CreateSystemCategoryVariantsSeed.php b/config/Seeds/CreateSystemCategoryVariantsSeed.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f781fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/Seeds/CreateSystemCategoryVariantsSeed.php
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+<?php
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Seeds;
+
+use Migrations\BaseSeed;
+
+/**
+ * CreateSystemCategoryVariants seed.
+ */
+class CreateSystemCategoryVariantsSeed extends BaseSeed
+{
+    /**
+     * Run Method.
+     *
+     * Write your database seeder using this method.
+     *
+     * More information on writing seeds is available here:
+     * https://book.cakephp.org/migrations/4/en/seeding.html
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function run(): void
+    {
+        $data = [
+            [
+                'id' => \Cake\Utility\Text::uuid(),
+                'name' => 'Subscription Length',
+                'product_category_id' => null,
+                'enabled' => true,
+                'is_system_variant' => true,
+            ],
+            [
+                'id' => \Cake\Utility\Text::uuid(),
+                'name' => 'Subscription Length Units',
+                'product_category_id' => null,
+                'enabled' => true,
+                'is_system_variant' => true,
+            ],
+        ];
+        $table = $this->table('product_category_variants');
+        $toInsert = [];
+        foreach ($data as $singleRecordToInsert) {
+            $stmt = $this->query('SELECT * FROM product_category_variants WHERE name="' . $singleRecordToInsert['name'] . '" AND product_category_id IS NULL;'); // returns PDOStatement
+            $rows = $stmt->fetchAll(); // returns the result as an array
+            if ($rows) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            $toInsert[] = $singleRecordToInsert;
+        }
+        if ($toInsert) {
+            $table->insert($data)->save();
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Controller/ProductCategoryVariantsController.php b/src/Controller/ProductCategoryVariantsController.php
index 184cf94..7d3b6b8 100644
--- a/src/Controller/ProductCategoryVariantsController.php
+++ b/src/Controller/ProductCategoryVariantsController.php
@@ -111,21 +111,32 @@ class ProductCategoryVariantsController extends AppController
 //            if ($this->request->getSession()->read('Auth.User.id')) {
 //                $postData['created_by'] = $this->request->getSession()->read('Auth.User.id');
 //            }
+            $postData = $productCategoryVariant->is_system_variant ? ['product_category_variant_options' => $this->request->getData('product_category_variant_options')] : $postData;
             $saveOptions = [
+                'fields' => $productCategoryVariant->is_system_variant ? [
+                    'product_category_variant_options',
+                ] : [
+                    'name',
+                    'product_category_id',
+                    'enabled',
+                    'product_category_variant_options',
+                ],
                 'associated' => [
                     'ProductCategoryVariantOptions'
                 ],
             ];
             $productCategoryVariant = $productCategoryVariantsTable->patchEntity($productCategoryVariant, $postData, $saveOptions);
+//            dd($postData);
             if ($productCategoryVariantsTable->save($productCategoryVariant, $saveOptions)) {
                 $this->Flash->success(__('The product category variant has been saved.'));
 
                 return $this->redirect(['action' => 'index']);
             }
+//            dd($productCategoryVariant->getErrors());
             $this->Flash->error(__('The product category variant could not be saved. Please, try again.'));
         }
         $productCategories = $productCategoryVariantsTable->ProductCategories->find('list', keyField: 'internal_id', valueField: 'name')->all();
-        $products = $productCategoryVariantsTable->Products->find('list', limit: 200)->where(['product_category_id' => $productCategoryVariant->product_category_id])->all();
+        $products = isset($productCategoryVariant->product_category_id) ? $productCategoryVariantsTable->Products->find('list', limit: 200)->where(['product_category_id' => $productCategoryVariant->product_category_id])->all() : [];
         $this->set(compact('productCategoryVariant', 'productCategories', 'products'));
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Controller/ProductPhotosController.php b/src/Controller/ProductPhotosController.php
index a6f67bd..7668f47 100644
--- a/src/Controller/ProductPhotosController.php
+++ b/src/Controller/ProductPhotosController.php
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class ProductPhotosController extends AppController
 
                 return $this->redirect(['action' => 'index']);
             }
-            dd($productPhoto->getErrors());
+//            dd($productPhoto->getErrors());
             $this->Flash->error(__('The product photo could not be saved. Please, try again.'));
         }
         $productCategory = $productPhoto->product_category_id ? $productPhotosTable->ProductCategories->find()->where(['internal_id' => $productPhoto->product_category_id ?? '-1'])->first() : null;
diff --git a/src/Model/Entity/ProductCategoryVariant.php b/src/Model/Entity/ProductCategoryVariant.php
index d56fa7b..9719859 100644
--- a/src/Model/Entity/ProductCategoryVariant.php
+++ b/src/Model/Entity/ProductCategoryVariant.php
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use Cake\ORM\Entity;
  * @property string|null $product_category_id
  * @property string|null $product_id
  * @property bool $enabled
+ * @property bool $is_system_variant
  *
  * @property ProductCategory|EntityInterface $product_category
  * @property ProductCategoryVariantOption[]|EntityInterface[] $product_category_variant_options
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ class ProductCategoryVariant extends Entity
         'product_category_id' => true,
         'product_id' => true,
         'enabled' => true,
+        'is_system_variant' => true,
 
         // entities
         'product_category' => false,
diff --git a/src/Model/Table/ProductCategoryVariantsTable.php b/src/Model/Table/ProductCategoryVariantsTable.php
index 47943a7..2cbea7f 100644
--- a/src/Model/Table/ProductCategoryVariantsTable.php
+++ b/src/Model/Table/ProductCategoryVariantsTable.php
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ class ProductCategoryVariantsTable extends Table
             'className' => 'CakeProducts.ProductCategoryVariantOptions',
             'dependent' => true,
             'cascadeCallbacks' => true,
+            'saveStrategy' => 'replace',
         ]);
 
         $this->hasMany('ProductVariants', [
@@ -102,6 +103,10 @@ class ProductCategoryVariantsTable extends Table
             ->uuid('product_id')
             ->allowEmptyString('product_id');
 
+        $validator
+            ->boolean('is_system_variant')
+            ->allowEmptyString('is_system_variant');
+
         $validator
             ->boolean('enabled')
             ->requirePresence('enabled', 'create')
diff --git a/templates/ProductCategoryVariants/add.php b/templates/ProductCategoryVariants/add.php
index 2a21bb5..49e9ed7 100644
--- a/templates/ProductCategoryVariants/add.php
+++ b/templates/ProductCategoryVariants/add.php
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
             <?= $this->Form->create($productCategoryVariant) ?>
             <fieldset>
                 <legend><?= __('Add Product Category Variant') ?></legend>
-                <?= $this->element('ProductCategoryVariants/form'); ?>
+                <?= $this->element('ProductCategoryVariants/form', ['productCategoryVariant' => $productCategoryVariant]); ?>
             </fieldset>
             <?= $this->Form->button(__('Submit')) ?>
             <?= $this->Form->end() ?>
diff --git a/templates/ProductCategoryVariants/edit.php b/templates/ProductCategoryVariants/edit.php
index e90f9fd..e0c8c6a 100644
--- a/templates/ProductCategoryVariants/edit.php
+++ b/templates/ProductCategoryVariants/edit.php
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
             <?= $this->Form->create($productCategoryVariant) ?>
             <fieldset>
                 <legend><?= __('Edit Product Category Variant') ?></legend>
-                <?= $this->element('ProductCategoryVariants/form'); ?>
+                <?= $this->element('ProductCategoryVariants/form', ['productCategoryVariant' => $productCategoryVariant]); ?>
             </fieldset>
             <?= $this->Form->button(__('Submit')) ?>
             <?= $this->Form->end() ?>
diff --git a/templates/ProductPhotos/view.php b/templates/ProductPhotos/view.php
index f4fa6b3..b1528a3 100644
--- a/templates/ProductPhotos/view.php
+++ b/templates/ProductPhotos/view.php
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
                     <th><?= __('Id') ?></th>
                     <td><?= h($productPhoto->id) ?></td>
                 </tr>
-
                 <tr>
                     <th><?= __('Product Category') ?></th>
                     <td><?= $productPhoto->hasValue('product_category') ? $this->Html->link($productPhoto->product_category->name, ['controller' => 'ProductCategories', 'action' => 'view', $productPhoto->product_category->internal_id]) : '' ?></td>
diff --git a/templates/element/ProductCategoryVariants/form.php b/templates/element/ProductCategoryVariants/form.php
index b0f99d1..6bfdec0 100644
--- a/templates/element/ProductCategoryVariants/form.php
+++ b/templates/element/ProductCategoryVariants/form.php
@@ -2,11 +2,30 @@
 /**
  * @var array $productCategories
  * @var array $products
+ * @var \CakeProducts\Model\Entity\ProductCategoryVariant|\Cake\Datasource\EntityInterface $productCategoryVariant
  */
-echo $this->Form->control('name');
-echo $this->Form->control('product_category_id', ['options' => $productCategories, 'empty' => true]);
-echo $this->Form->control('product_id', ['options' => $products, 'empty' => true]);
-echo $this->Form->control('enabled');
+
+$nameOptions = [];
+$categoryOptions = ['options' => $productCategories, 'empty' => true];
+$enabledOptions = [];
+if ($productCategoryVariant->is_system_variant) {
+    $nameOptions = [
+        'disabled' => true,
+        'readonly' => true,
+    ];
+    $categoryOptions = $categoryOptions + [
+        'disabled' => true,
+        'readonly' => true,
+    ];
+    $enabledOptions = [
+        'disabled' => true,
+        'readonly' => true,
+    ];
+
+}
+echo $this->Form->control('name', $nameOptions);
+echo $this->Form->control('product_category_id', $categoryOptions);
+echo $this->Form->control('enabled', $enabledOptions);
 ?>
 <legend><?= __('Variant Options') . '<small class="ms-2">' . $this->Html->link('Add Option', '#', [
         'id' => 'add-option-button',
diff --git a/tests/Fixture/ProductCategoryVariantOptionsFixture.php b/tests/Fixture/ProductCategoryVariantOptionsFixture.php
index 9bade3a..c21c0cc 100644
--- a/tests/Fixture/ProductCategoryVariantOptionsFixture.php
+++ b/tests/Fixture/ProductCategoryVariantOptionsFixture.php
@@ -56,6 +56,43 @@ class ProductCategoryVariantOptionsFixture extends TestFixture
                 'modified' => '2025-07-04 12:00:00',
                 'enabled' => 1,
             ],
+
+            [
+                'id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78111',
+                'variant_value' => 'Months',
+                'variant_label' => 'Months',
+                'product_category_variant_id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78111',
+                'created' => '2025-07-04 12:00:00',
+                'modified' => '2025-07-04 12:00:00',
+                'enabled' => 1,
+            ],
+            [
+                'id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78112',
+                'variant_value' => 'Years',
+                'variant_label' => 'Years',
+                'product_category_variant_id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78111',
+                'created' => '2025-07-04 12:00:00',
+                'modified' => '2025-07-04 12:00:00',
+                'enabled' => 1,
+            ],
+            [
+                'id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f22221',
+                'variant_value' => '6',
+                'variant_label' => '6',
+                'product_category_variant_id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78222',
+                'created' => '2025-07-04 12:00:00',
+                'modified' => '2025-07-04 12:00:00',
+                'enabled' => 1,
+            ],
+            [
+                'id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f22222',
+                'variant_value' => 12,
+                'variant_label' => 12,
+                'product_category_variant_id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78222',
+                'created' => '2025-07-04 12:00:00',
+                'modified' => '2025-07-04 12:00:00',
+                'enabled' => 1,
+            ],
         ];
         parent::init();
     }
diff --git a/tests/Fixture/ProductCategoryVariantsFixture.php b/tests/Fixture/ProductCategoryVariantsFixture.php
index 84cc369..0577222 100644
--- a/tests/Fixture/ProductCategoryVariantsFixture.php
+++ b/tests/Fixture/ProductCategoryVariantsFixture.php
@@ -18,17 +18,34 @@ class ProductCategoryVariantsFixture extends TestFixture
     public function init(): void
     {
         $this->records = [
+            [
+                'id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78111',
+                'name' => 'Subscription Length Units',
+                'product_category_id' => null,
+                'enabled' => true,
+                'is_system_variant' => true,
+            ],
+            [
+                'id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78222',
+                'name' => 'Subscription Length',
+                'product_category_id' => null,
+                'enabled' => true,
+                'is_system_variant' => true,
+            ],
+
             [
                 'id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78d93',
                 'name' => 'Color',
                 'product_category_id' => 'db4b4273-eddc-46d4-93c8-45cf7c6e058e',
-                'enabled' => 1,
+                'enabled' => true,
+                'is_system_variant' => false,
             ],
             [
                 'id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78d94',
                 'name' => 'AWG',
                 'product_category_id' => 'db4b4273-eddc-46d4-93c8-45cf7c6e058e',
-                'enabled' => 1,
+                'enabled' => true,
+                'is_system_variant' => false,
             ],
         ];
         parent::init();
diff --git a/tests/TestCase/Controller/ProductCategoryVariantsControllerTest.php b/tests/TestCase/Controller/ProductCategoryVariantsControllerTest.php
index 0a909fc..c9006ed 100644
--- a/tests/TestCase/Controller/ProductCategoryVariantsControllerTest.php
+++ b/tests/TestCase/Controller/ProductCategoryVariantsControllerTest.php
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ class ProductCategoryVariantsControllerTest extends BaseControllerTest
      */
     protected array $fixtures = [
         'plugin.CakeProducts.ProductCategoryVariants',
+        'plugin.CakeProducts.ProductCategoryVariantOptions',
         'plugin.CakeProducts.ProductVariants',
         'plugin.CakeProducts.ProductCategories',
         'plugin.CakeProducts.Products',
@@ -289,6 +290,77 @@ class ProductCategoryVariantsControllerTest extends BaseControllerTest
         // assert saved properly below
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Test edit method
+     *
+     * Tests a PUT request to the edit action with a logged in user
+     *
+     * @uses \CakeProducts\Controller\ProductCategoryVariantsController::edit()
+     * @throws Exception
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testEditPutLoggedInSuccessSystemVariant(): void
+    {
+        //$this->loginUserByRole('admin');
+        $id = '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f78222'; // subscription length
+        $before = $this->ProductCategoryVariants->get($id);
+        $cntBeforeOptions = $this->ProductCategoryVariantOptions
+            ->find()
+            ->where(['product_category_variant_id' => $id])
+            ->toArray();
+
+//        $this->assertEquals(2, count($cntBeforeOptions));
+        $url = [
+            'plugin' => 'CakeProducts',
+            'controller' => 'ProductCategoryVariants',
+            'action' => 'edit',
+            $id,
+        ];
+        $data = [
+            // test new data here
+            'name' => 'updated name',
+            'product_category_id' => 'db4b4273-eddc-46d4-93c8-45cf7c6e058e',
+            'enabled' => false,
+            'product_category_variant_options' => [
+                [
+                    'variant_value' => '14',
+                    'variant_label' => '14',
+                    'enabled' => true,
+                ],
+                [
+                    'id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f22221',
+                    'variant_value' => '6',
+                    'variant_label' => '6',
+                    'enabled' => true,
+                ],
+                [
+                    'id' => '5a386e9f-6e7a-4ae7-9360-c8e529f22222',
+                    'variant_value' => 12,
+                    'variant_label' => 12,
+                    'enabled' => true,
+                ],
+            ],
+        ];
+        $this->put($url, $data);
+
+        $this->assertResponseCode(302);
+        $this->assertRedirectContains('product-category-variants');
+
+        $after = $this->ProductCategoryVariants->get($id);
+        $cntAfterOptions = $this->ProductCategoryVariantOptions
+            ->find()
+            ->where(['product_category_variant_id' => $id])
+            ->toArray();
+
+        $this->assertEquals(count($cntBeforeOptions) + 1, count($cntAfterOptions));
+
+        $this->assertEquals($before->name, $after->name);
+        $this->assertNull($after->product_category_id);
+        $this->assertTrue($after->enabled);
+        // assert saved properly below
+    }
+
     /**
     * Test edit method
     *
@@ -312,7 +384,7 @@ class ProductCategoryVariantsControllerTest extends BaseControllerTest
         ];
         $data = [
             'name' => '',
-            'product_category_id' => 'db4b4273-eddc-46d4-93c8-45cf7c6e058e',
+            'product_category_id' => 'NOT A VALID ID',
             'enabled' => true,
         ];
         $this->put($url, $data);