You can create discount codes for renewing or new members to apply towards membership payments. This is great if you are having a membership drive or would like to offer a discount code to certain groups of members. Discount codes can give a percentage or dollar discount. You can create as many as you need and limit the number of times each code is used. 

Discount codes are enabled by membership level and billing option.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Select Membership Level 

Go to MembershipWorks > Labels & Membership > Membership Levels and click on a membership level box on the right.

Step 2: Access Billing Options 

Click the Billing Options link at the top.

Step 3: Select Billing Option to Enable Discount Code 

Click on a billing option where you want to enable a discount code.

Step 4: Allow Discount Codes 

Next to Discounts, check the box next to allow these discount codes.

Step 5: Setup Discount Code

Click the Setup Discount Codes link below this.

Step 6: Add a New Discount Code 

Click + Add Discount Code in the pop-up window.

Step 7: Enter a Code 

Next to Code, enter the code you want members to use to receive a discount. This code can only include alphanumeric characters. It cannot include spaces or other characters.

Step 8: Set Discount Amount 

Next to Discount, enter the amount and select either % or $ from the drop down.

Step 9: Set Total Number of Discount Code Uses 

Next to Total number of uses, enter a number if applicable. For example, if you only want the discount code to be used 50 times, you can enter 50. After 50 members have used the discount code, it will be disabled.

If the Total number of uses field is left blank, the discount code will not be automatically disabled after a certain number of uses. Instead, you can manually disable the discount code as needed.

Step 10: Save 

Click Save and then click Close to close the pop-up window.

Step 11: Enable New Discount Code 

Under Discounts - allow these discount codes, you will see the discount code that was just created. However note that it is not enabled yet. (It will turn green to show it's enabled). To enable it, click on the discount code.

Step 12: Enable Discount Code for New and/or Renewing Members 

Select New members and/or Renewals/upgrades in the pop-up window (depending on which members you want to be able to use the discount code) and click Add. 

Step 13: Confirm Discount Code is Enabled 

The discount code will be green to show it is enabled.

Step 14: Save 

Click Save when complete. 

You can repeat these steps for each billing option in this membership level. You can also repeat these steps in each membership level.

Managing Your Discount Codes

When a member pays with a membership discount code it will be listed when you export your membership payments. If you set a membership discount code to be limited to a particular number of uses, the system will stop accepting the code once it reaches the limit.

At any time you can change the discount codes that are enabled for a membership level. For example if you are offering a discount in January only you can enable the code on January 1. Then on February 1 go back into the system and disable the discount code. To do that just go back to the membership level and billing option, click on that discount code and click “Remove” so it is no longer highlighted in blue. Then save your changes.

How Members Use Discount Codes

When a member joins or renews, in the same area where they enter their credit card they will see an box to enter the discount code and a button to apply the discount. Once they click “Apply”, the total will be adjusted to reflect the discount. They can then continue with their signup or renewal.

If a membership does not allow for any discount codes, the discount code box will be hidden.

Discount codes will apply to the current amount due for the member. So if the discount is a percentage, it would include any application fees, past due fees and pro-rated amounts. You can create discount codes that would fully subsidize the membership payment. If the discount is greater than the normal payment, the total will be capped to 0, it will not be processed as a refund or applied to future payments/periods.

Discount Codes For Offline Billing

Note that discount codes are not accepted for offline billing. If you wish to offer discounts to members for offline billing, please provide instructions (within the payment instructions) to your members on how to submit the code with their payment so you can apply the discount; for example, you could have them write the discount code on the check.

Discount Codes For Automatic Recurring Billing

Note that discount codes only apply to the current membership payment. They do not apply to future automatic recurring payments. ie. if the member is signing up for Automatic Recurring Billing of $100/month, and the discount code is 50%, their first payment will be $50, but subsequent automatic payments will be $100.

Offering Discounts Using Private Billing Options

Another way of offering discounts to your members is through private billing options. This is applicable when you need to discount the membership payments indefinitely, not just for the current payment (as with discount codes). You would simply create a billing option with the discounted pricing, and disable the "Allow members to select this billing option" setting. This is a great way to provide discounted pricing for legacy members, or for board members, etc.

Only members who are assigned this billing option by the administrator will pay the discounted price. New members would have to be added by the administrator as there is no way for a new member to select a private billing option. But if this is a temporary promotion, you could enable the "Allow members to select this billing option" setting accordingly, and turn it off when the promotion is over.