This setup charges new members a one-time Initiation Fee on top of flat-rate membership dues, while returning members pay dues only. For example: Family Membership $600 for everyone, plus a $500 Initiation Fee for new families ($1,100 total).
Before you start
Have an account type for new members, like New Member or Offered Membership. You'll find account types in Settings > Members > Account Types.
The Membership Fee and Initiation Fee fee types already exist. See Start Here: Fee Types.
Create the membership product
Go to Finances > Products and click Add New.
Enter a product name, like "2026 Family Membership." Members see this on their bill.
In the Fee Type box, select Membership Fee.
In Flat Rate Pricing, enter the Price without a dollar sign (for example, 600). Leave the other pricing sections blank.
In Show / Hide / Require Rules, turn on Apply Rules, set Rule Action to Require, and add an Account Type rule with Is Any Of and every account type that pays these dues, including your new-member type.
Click Publish.
Paying a Membership Fee product is what marks an account Paid. Paying the Initiation Fee doesn't.
Create the initiation fee product
Go to Finances > Products and click Add New.
Name it (for example, "Initiation Fee") and select Initiation Fee in the Fee Type box.
In Flat Rate Pricing, enter the Price (for example, 500).
In Show / Hide / Require Rules, turn on Apply Rules and set Rule Action to Require.
Click Add Rule: Account Type, Is, your new-member type. Set Next Rule Relationship to And.
Click Add Rule again: Account Payment Status, Is, Unpaid. Leave Next Rule Relationship blank.
Click Publish.
Now the Initiation Fee is required only for accounts that are both the new-member type and Unpaid. Want it to appear only after a membership is picked? Add a Selected Product rule. See How to Require an Initiation Fee Product.
💡 See an Issues badge on the product list? A rule with no value selected is ignored. Open the product and finish that rule.
Test it before going live
Go to Membership > Accounts, click the ⋮ menu next to a test account that's on your new-member type and Unpaid, and choose Switch to.
Go to Make a Payment and check that both the membership and the Initiation Fee show with the right prices.
Click Switch back, then repeat with a returning account. Only the membership should show.
More tips: How to Test Membership Products.
Move new members over after they pay
Once a new family pays, change them to your regular account type. On Membership > Accounts, select the accounts and use Bulk Actions > Change Account Type. Otherwise, when accounts are reset to Unpaid next season, they'll be asked for the Initiation Fee again.
Common questions
Can I offer Family and Single prices? Yes. Create one Membership Fee product per tier and use rules to control who sees each one. The Initiation Fee setup stays the same.
Can new members pay the Initiation Fee in installments? Yes. See How to Set Up Installments on a Product.