EMS - Setting up Membership Subscription Options

EMS - Setting up Membership Subscription Options

⏱️ Estimated time: 3 minutes

👤 Role: Club Manager, Membership Administrator

What you'll learn:

  • How to define different billing cycles for your memberships.

  • The difference between Recurring and Fixed Amount payment types.

  • How to create a library of pricing frequencies for your products.

When should I use this?

Subscription options must be configured before you can create specific membership types. They act as the "billing engine" for your products, allowing you to offer various ways to pay for the same service—such as a Monthly rolling contract versus an Annual upfront payment.

Key Logic: Subscription options are modular. Once created, they can be assigned to multiple different membership types (e.g., both "Gold" and "Silver" memberships can use the same "Monthly" subscription option). You generally only need to set these up once during your initial system configuration.

Before you start:

  • Determine which billing frequencies your club intends to offer.

  • Confirm whether your memberships will be auto-renewing or for a set period only.

Step-by-step:

1. Access Subscription Settings

Navigate to the Settings menu and select Subscription Options. This dashboard displays all current billing frequencies available across your site.

2. Create a new option

Click the + Add New button to open the configuration window.

3. Name the Subscription

Enter a clear, descriptive Name for the option. Examples include "Monthly Rolling", "Annual Upfront", or "Fixed 6-Month Term". This name helps you identify the correct billing logic when you are building your membership products later.

4. Select the Payment Type

Choose how the system should handle the duration of the membership:

  • Option A: Recurring: This will trigger a regular payment that continues to renew automatically until the membership is manually cancelled or expires.

  • Option B: Fixed Amount: This is used for memberships with a set end date (a fixed term) where a specific total amount is charged.

5. Define the Frequency

Select how often the payment should be collected from the dropdown menu. Options typically include Monthly, Quarterly, Bi-annual, or Annual.

6. Save and Organise

Click Save to confirm the setting. If you plan to offer multiple payment schedules (e.g., giving members the choice between paying monthly or annually), repeat this process to build your full list of options.

Best practice:

  • Consistency is Key: Use standard naming conventions so it is easy to see at a glance which options are recurring versus fixed.

  • Review before Product Setup: Ensure all your required frequencies are created here first; this will save you from having to exit the Membership Type builder later to add a missing billing cycle.

Warning: Changing a Subscription Option that is already linked to active members can affect their future billing cycles. Always consult with your system lead before modifying existing options.


    • Related Articles

    • EMS - Setting up New Membership Types

      ⏱️ Estimated time: 5 minutes ? Role: System Administrator, Club Manager What you'll learn: How to create and configure a new membership type within EMS. How to set default options, branding images, age limits, and validity dates on the Details tab. ...
    • EMS - Setting up Membership Subscription Discounts

      ⏱️ Estimated time: 5 minutes ? Role: System Administrator, Membership Manager, Operations Manager What you'll learn How to create and configure custom promotional discount codes for prospective members. How to apply discounts to joining fees, ...
    • EMS - Setting up Membership Agreements via Forms

      ⏱️ Estimated time: 10 minutes ? Role: Club Manager, Membership Administrator What you'll learn: How to create and name a digital membership agreement. How to use the Form Builder to add branding and dynamic fields. How to include mandatory signature ...
    • EMS - Setting up your Membership Portal

      ⏱️ Estimated time: 5-10 minutes ? Role: EMS Administrators, Membership Managers What you'll learn How to configure your unique Membership Portal URL. How to toggle public membership purchases on or off. How to add your legal policies and terms. How ...
    • EMS - Setting up Membership Terms & Conditions

      ⏱️ Estimated time: 5 minutes ? Role: Club Manager, Legal/Compliance Officer, Membership Administrator What you'll learn: How to create unique Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) for different membership categories. How to manage and update your legal text for ...