Overview
Discounts in Dash are a flexible and powerful way to incentivize customer engagement, reward loyalty, and manage promotional strategies. Whether you're offering a seasonal special, a sibling discount for families, or a limited-time flash deal, Dash provides a range of configuration options to help you tailor discounts to your specific business needs.
Discounts can be either automatic (applied based on set criteria without customer input) or manual (requiring customers to enter a code at checkout). They can target specific products, customer types, or conditions — such as the number of items in a cart or the presence of a particular membership. With options for percentage-based or dollar-value reductions, discounts support a wide range of promotional goals.
Use discounts in Dash to:
Drive early registrations with Early Bird discounts.
Boost weekly sales with rotating specials.
Encourage bulk purchases with “Buy X, Get Y” style incentives.
Support families with sibling discounts.
Promote event series with sequential or same-week camp discounts.
Keep in mind that clear naming, code tracking, and thoughtful configuration (like limiting availability or requiring specific memberships) will ensure your discounts are both effective and manageable. By leveraging Dash's discount features strategically, you can enhance customer satisfaction and increase revenue while maintaining administrative control.
Authorization
Click the arrow to learn more about what authorizations are needed for discounts
Click the arrow to learn more about what authorizations are needed for discounts
First, you need to make sure you have the proper authorization to create discount codes. By default, the new Product Discount action is part of the Product Management authorization group. This authority action is required to create and manage discounts.
Note: You will need the Product Discount and Product Management authorizations in order to perform the actions in this article.
Creating Discounts
Click the arrow to learn how to create a discount
Click the arrow to learn how to create a discount
In the main global search box, start typing "Discounts" or click on "Cash Register" in the upper nav bar to access the "Discounts" page.
Click on "+" button to create a new discount.
Display Name: A human readable name for the discount. Displayed on invoices.
Discount Type: Can be either
Percentage: If you want your discount to be a percentage of the item price, use this field.
Dollar: If you want your discount to be a particular dollar amount, use this field.
Discount Code: A unique identifier for your discount. For coupon-code type discounts, users will enter this code in their shopping cart to apply the discount.
Even if you're creating an automatic discount you should enter a unique code here to help track your discounts.
Description: A longer description of how the discount is intended to be used to help on the admin side. Not displayed anywhere except in the Discount Manager page.
Date Window: If your discount has a valid time window - i.e. the discount can only be used during this specific time period.
Want to learn more about how you can use specific dates and days of the week for your discounts? Check out this article below.
Visibility: Is the discount available to customers online or only to staff in house? Choose In house only (Admin side), Online only, or everywhere.
Remaining Availability: If the Limited Availability box is checked, this box reflects the number of this discount remaining available to any customer. Once the quantity is zero then the discount is not allowed for anyone. For example, if you want to give 10% off to the first 20 people, set this number to 20 when you create the discount and you'll see it count down as people use it.
Include Historical Invoices: When this box is checked, it will look at the customer's past 2 years of invoices to see if they qualify for a discount. For example, this is often used for a sibling type of discount. If one family member signed up for a program and then in a separate invoice, another family member signed up as well. Do you want them to receive the discount? Then check this box to look at past invoices. Click on the article below to learn more about using "Historical Invoice".
Required Quantity: The number of product items that need to be in the shopping cart in order for the discount to be valid. For example if a customer needs to purchase 5 days of camp in order to receive a discount, you would say the required quantity is 5. If you have a discount on a dozen bagels, you'd set this field to 12 and assign the discount to the bagel product.
Max in Cart: Maximum number of times this discount can be in the shopping cart in one transaction.
Discount Types
Click the arrow to learn more about additional options for each discount
Click the arrow to learn more about additional options for each discount
There are 3 different types of discounts (Normal, Family, or Single Customer).
Options:
Repeat: Select this option if you want your discount repeated over every applicable item. It will repeat once for every group of whatever number you have set in Required Quantity. It is important to set this option for most percentage style discounts if you want the percentage to apply across the entire group.
Universal: Discount applies to any product - Dash Support team controls this option to apply the discount to any product without having to assign it on the product management level. If you are interested in using this, you will need to email our support team to turn this on.
Sequential Camp Discount: Applies when events are "in a row" (e.g. Sign up for all 5 days and get 5th day fee).
Same Week Camp Discount: In order to qualify all the events must be within the same calendar week.
Want to learn more about how to use the "Same Week" discount? Click on the article below to get a more in depth look at this.
Same Program: The Program associated with these products must be set on the Product Edit page. i.e. "Camps".
Same Season: Multiple cart items are from the Same Season.
Same Team: Multiple cart items are the same Group (class/team/camp).
Automatic: Discount applies to the product when it's added to a cart without entering a code. You still want to define a code for tracking, however. Again, be careful - automatic discounts can make class transfers and reversals tricky.
Stackable: Can this discount be combined with other discounts?
Requires Specific Membership(s): Select memberships required to qualify for this discount.
Adding Discount Code to Product
Click the arrow to learn more about how to assign discounts to specific products
Click the arrow to learn more about how to assign discounts to specific products
To assign discounts to products, you must first go to the "Products" page. In the main global search box, start typing "Products" or click on "Cash Register" in the upper nav bar to access the "Products" page.
Search for the product you would like to assign the discount to by typing the name in the "Product Name" box and then click Search. A list of results will appear below.
To the left of the product ID, place a check in the box next to all of the products you want to assign the discount to.
Click the "Manage Selected products" box at the top of the page to open it.
In the box titled "Discount" start typing in the discount code name you created (it will autofill), and hit Apply. This will assign the discount to all the products that are currently check marked. When a product is assigned a discount, it just means that the discount may be used on that product. Other restrictions may apply, depending on your discount variables.
NOTE: You can find all products assigned to a specific discount by typing the discount code name and pressing the search button.
Applying Discounts
Overview
Some products you may not want to set as automatic. You may want to manually enter them in person or provide your customer with a discount code ahead of time to apply to the shopping cart while registering online.
Automatic Discounts
Click the arrow to learn how automatic discounts apply
Click the arrow to learn how automatic discounts apply
If a product has a discount code set to “automatic”, and the customer meets all required criteria, the discount will automatically appear in the cart before checkout—no code entry needed.
Applying a Discount Code to Shopping Cart
Click the arrow to learn how discounts can be applied to the cart
Click the arrow to learn how discounts can be applied to the cart
To apply a discount manually, enter the code in the “Discount Code” field in the shopping cart and click “Update”.
Once the discount has been entered and applied, here is how the cart will change.
If your discount is set to “Automatic”, it may apply as soon as the eligible product is added to the cart—no code needed.
Note: Whether you're using a code or an automatic discount, all discount conditions must be met for it to apply.
Applying a Discount Code Online
Click the arrow to learn how discount codes work online
Click the arrow to learn how discount codes work online
When setting up a discount, you can choose to make it available online. It can either:
Apply automatically when the product is added to the cart, or
Be entered manually by the customer using a code you provide.
For example, you could offer an online-only discount—like $2 off for each class when enrolling in a weekday class — to encourage online registrations.
Adding / Removing a Discount to an Existing Invoice
Setup
Click the arrow to learn what’s needed before applying a discount
Click the arrow to learn what’s needed before applying a discount
Before adding a discount to an invoice, make sure the following are complete:
You’ve already created a Discount Code.
The discount is associated with a product that exists on the invoice.
Adding a Discount to an Existing Invoice
Click the arrow to learn how to manually apply a discount to an invoice
Click the arrow to learn how to manually apply a discount to an invoice
Go to the Invoice Page.
Locate the product line you want to apply the discount to.
Click the three-dot menu beside that line and select “Add Discount.”
A modal window will appear, showing a dropdown list of applicable discounts tied to that product.
Manually enter the discount amount you want to apply. Add a "Positive" amount for the discount.
⚠️ Note: The system will not auto-fill based on the discount’s original setup (e.g., percentage or flat dollar). You must enter the desired value yourself.
Reversing or Adjusting a Discount
Click the arrow to see how to reverse a discount properly
Click the arrow to see how to reverse a discount properly
If you need to reverse or remove a previously applied discount:
Go back to the invoice.
Click the three-dot menu next to the original product that was discounted.
Click “Add Discount.”
A modal window will appear, showing a dropdown list of applicable discounts tied to that product. If wanting to adjust the original discount, choose that same discount from the dropdown.
To remove or reduce a discount, enter a negative value that offsets the original one.
Example: If you originally applied a $1.00 discount and want to remove it, you would enter -1.00 in the discount field.
Click "Save" to complete.
You will now see 2 discount lines, one positive and one negative on invoice with an amount due displayed.
Common Discount Examples
Early Bird Special
Click the arrow to learn some tips on creating an Early Bird discount
Click the arrow to learn some tips on creating an Early Bird discount
If you want to reward people for signing up early (and helping you fill out your seasons), set up a discount that expires well before your season starts by using the "Expires" field and assign it to your season product in the product manager.
Another idea is to use the "Remaining Availability" option to restrict the discount to the first 50 people to sign up. That will create a race to sign up! It's up to you to decide if that's a good thing.
Midnight Madness
Click the arrow to learn some tips on creating a late night discount
Click the arrow to learn some tips on creating a late night discount
To create a discount that starts at midnight and reward those night-owls, set the "Begins" field to "23:59" the night you want the discount to start.
To be especially cruel, set it to expire at 5am.
Weekly Special
Click the arrow to learn some tips on creating a weekly special discount
Click the arrow to learn some tips on creating a weekly special discount
Create a code for the In-House (host) side only, and assign it to a different product each week. For example, 50% off various items in your food court.
Be sure to alert your customers with signage.
Five Days in a Row
Click the arrow to learn how to set consistency-based discounts
Click the arrow to learn how to set consistency-based discounts
To encourage your customers to sign up for camps/per session events sequentially, which helps you more efficiently manage them, create a discount using the "Sequential Camp" option. This option really only makes sense for Camps or other "Per Session" type of programs.
Set the "Required Quantity" to five (or whatever you like) and you're good to go.
If you want to give your customers a discount for signing up for five or more days and you don't care if they're in a row, just set your "Required Quantity" and leave the "Sequential" option turned off.
Same Week Camp Discount
Click the arrow to learn some tips on how to set up a Same Week discount
Click the arrow to learn some tips on how to set up a Same Week discount
The discount (sequential camp) can wrap over from one week to the next. This discount, is specific to the calendar week of camp events.
Set the "Required Quantity" to whatever you like. If you want to make it so the events are all in a row, you can also add the "Sequential Camp" option.
Baker's Dozen
Click the arrow to learn how to discount after a quantity is reached
Click the arrow to learn how to discount after a quantity is reached
To give your customers a free donut, for example, when they buy a dozen, set the "Required Quantity" to 12, set the discount to the dollar price of one of your donuts and assign the discount to that product.
Sibling Discount
Click the arrow to learn some tips on creating a sibling discount
Click the arrow to learn some tips on creating a sibling discount
This discount applies to a customer who signs up a second child within the same family to any program. You can limit it to the same season if you choose.
An example of a shopping cart with an automatic Family/Sibling discount applied. Once the second child in the family is added to the cart, the discount is automatically added to the shopping cart.
Discount Limitations
Overview
While discounts can be a powerful tool for driving sales, there are limitations to what they can do. Our general advice is to keep your discount arrangements relatively simple. If it's hard for you and your staff to understand, think of your customers! Your customers want to know they got a good deal - they aren't going to respond significantly to an overly complex setup.
Automatic Discounts
Click the arrow to learn why automatic discounts aren’t always ideal
Click the arrow to learn why automatic discounts aren’t always ideal
Automatic Discounts apply to the cart when all conditions are met—no code needed. While convenient, they can create issues during class/camp transfers or reversals, as the required conditions might not carry over.
For greater control, consider using discount codes instead. Codes not only give you more flexibility, but they also raise customer awareness—people are more likely to notice and use a discount if they’re given a code.
Universal Discounts
Click the arrow to learn why Universal Discounts may not be ideal
Click the arrow to learn why Universal Discounts may not be ideal
Universal Discounts, like automatic ones, offer convenience—but they can create complications. When using this option, the discount isn’t tied to specific products, meaning it could unintentionally apply to items you didn’t plan to discount.
In our experience, Universal Discounts are rarely used. We strongly recommend assigning discounts directly to the intended products for better accuracy and control.
NOTE: If you choose to use the Universal Discount, you will need to contact [email protected], for us to assign this for you.
Discounts Apply to One Product at a Time
Click the arrow to learn why combo discounts aren’t supported
Click the arrow to learn why combo discounts aren’t supported
While it’s tempting to offer combination discounts—like $5 off a T-shirt when signing up for a specific season—our system doesn’t currently support discounts across multiple linked products. At this time, discounts can only be applied to one product at a time.
Sequential Discounts Apply Only Within One Season
Click the arrow to learn how season setup affects sequential discounts
Click the arrow to learn how season setup affects sequential discounts
Sequential Discounts only work within a single season. If your camps are set up as separate seasons for each week, the discount won’t carry over across those weeks. This means you won’t be able to use sequential discounts in that setup.
Progressive Weekly Discounts
Click the arrow to learn about challenges with progressive discounts
Click the arrow to learn about challenges with progressive discounts
Some Dash users offer progressive discounts that increase as more weeks are added to the cart—e.g., 5% off three weeks, 7% off four, 10% off five, etc.
While effective, these discounts are complex to set up. Each new discount must stack correctly on top of the previous ones, and when using percentages, the math gets tricky. You’ll need to calculate how each additional discount interacts with the earlier ones to avoid over-discounting.
Reporting
Applied Discount Report
Use the Applied Discount Report to track when discounts are used or reversed.
Where to Find It
Click the arrow to learn where to access the Applied Discount Report
Click the arrow to learn where to access the Applied Discount Report
Navigate to Reports > All Reports, then scroll to the Financial section and select Discount Report.
You can also quickly locate it using the Global Search by typing “Discount Report".
How to Use it
Click the arrow to learn how to run the Discount Report
Click the arrow to learn how to run the Discount Report
Filter by Discount Code: Enter a specific code to view related activity, or leave the field blank to see all discounts.
Set a Date Range: Use the date fields to narrow your report to a specific time period.
Export Options: Use the Print, CSV, or PDF buttons to export your results. You can also copy and paste the data into Excel for advanced sorting or calculations.
Note: Discount totals are automatically included in both the GL Report and the Daily Receipts Report.