🔔 Feature Update as of June 2026: When reversing a membership charge with auto-renew enabled, auto-renewal will automatically disable. A warning notice will appear during the reversal process. Learn how to reverse a membership in the Refunds & Auto-Renew section below.
🔔 Update as of July 2025: Added the ability to allow customers to cancel an auto renewable membership through the customer's online portal.
💡 Need help building a membership from scratch?
Check out our step-by-step guide below on how to create a membership product to ensure everything is set up correctly before enabling auto renew.
📝 Overview
This article explains how Auto Renew Memberships work, including how to configure them, manage billing cycles, and process EFT (ACH) payments. It also introduces the new "Click to Cancel" feature, which allows members to cancel their auto-renewing memberships directly through the Customer Portal. This enhancement ensures your business meets current regulatory standards for recurring subscriptions, while also improving transparency and self-service for your members.
Use this guide to confirm your membership setup supports smooth renewals and aligns with industry compliance expectations.
⚙️ Setting Up Auto Renew
Click the arrow to automatically renew and collect membership fees
Click the arrow to automatically renew and collect membership fees
Create a membership product with Auto Renew enabled at the product level.
If an Add-On (e.g., activation fee) is automatically included at signup, it will be charged on the initial purchase only, not on subsequent renewals.
Collect payment information from the customer:
Credit card
ACH/Bank account (for EFT payments)
📌 Important: Auto Renew will not trigger if the member does not have valid payment information on file.
🧾 How Billing Works
Click the arrow to learn how membership billing cycles and payments work
Click the arrow to learn how membership billing cycles and payments work
Memberships renew the day after the expiration date, also generating a new invoice for the membership cost. For example, if the Expires On date is set to the 15th, the renewal and creation of new invoice will happen on the 16th.
The system applies the customer’s payment schedule to that invoice.
Payments are collected on the customer’s designated Bill Day of the month.
💰 Refunds & Auto-Renew
Click the arrow to learn how to reverse a membership invoice
Click the arrow to learn how to reverse a membership invoice
✏️ Steps to Reverse a Membership Charge
Navigate to the customer's invoice in the system.
Locate the membership item line in the invoice details.
Click the three-dot menu (⋮) on the right side of the membership line.
Select "Reverse" from the dropdown menu.
A warning notice will appear if attempting to reverse a membership that is set to "auto renew".
Confirm the reversal to complete the process.
After the reversal is complete, the membership's Auto Renew status will be disabled (or remain disabled if it was already off).
🏦 EFT Payments (ACH)
If your organization wants to offer ACH (bank account) payments for Auto Renew Memberships, you’ll need to set up and use GoCardless, our supported provider for secure, automated bank transfers.
✅ Benefits of Using GoCardless
Click the arrow to view the benefits of GoCardless for auto-renewing memberships
Click the arrow to view the benefits of GoCardless for auto-renewing memberships
Automates ACH collection — no manual bank uploads or spreadsheets required
Supports recurring payments, making it ideal for auto-renewing memberships
Seamless integration with Dash
Provides a self-service authorization flow for customers
🧩 Getting Started
Click the arrow to view the steps for setting up GoCardless
Click the arrow to view the steps for setting up GoCardless
You’ll need to complete a one-time GoCardless setup from your System Settings
Customers can then choose “Bank Account (ACH via GoCardless)” during checkout or from their profile
Once authorized, payments will be processed automatically just like with a credit card
❌ Click to Cancel Feature
Members now have the ability to cancel their own auto-renewing memberships directly through the Customer Portal, providing a more convenient and flexible self-service option.
This enhancement improves transparency and gives members better control over how and when they are billed, without needing staff assistance.
⚙️ Setting up Click to Cancel
Click the arrow to view the new checkbox within the Membership Settings
Click the arrow to view the new checkbox within the Membership Settings
When setting up a membership product, enabling the Auto Renew toggle will reveal the new checkbox option: Allow click to cancel.
This must be selected to give members the ability to cancel their recurring membership directly through the Member App.
📧 Automatic Email Notification
Click the arrow below to preview the email template sent to customers
Click the arrow below to preview the email template sent to customers
What the email includes:
The name of the canceled membership
The date Auto Renew was disabled
The end date of the active membership (it remains valid through the original expiration)
A button to log in to their account for further management
This helps ensure transparency and gives members a written confirmation of their cancellation action.
🛠 Admin-Side: Cancel Auto Renew for a Customer
Click the arrow to learn how to cancel an auto renew membership
Click the arrow to learn how to cancel an auto renew membership
Staff can also turn off auto-renew for a customer’s membership directly from the Customer Profile Page in the admin dashboard.
️
✏️ Steps to Cancel Auto Renew:
Navigate to the customer's profile and find their active auto renew membership.
Click Edit next to the membership.
Uncheck the Auto Renew box and click Save.
A prompt will appear asking if you'd like to send the Auto-Renewal Cancellation Email. Click OK to send the email to the customer.
After these steps, the membership will now display Auto Renew: No on the customer’s profile.
🔄 Admin-Side: Reactivate Auto Renew for a Customer
Click the arrow to learn how to reactivate an auto renew membership
Click the arrow to learn how to reactivate an auto renew membership
Staff can also turn back on auto-renew for a customer's membership directly from the Customer Profile Page on the Admin side.
✏️ Steps to Reactivate Auto Renew:
Navigate to the customer's profile and find their membership with Auto Renew disabled.
Click Edit next to the membership.
Check the Auto Renew box and click Save
A prompt will appear asking if you'd like to send the Auto-Renewal Resumed Email. Click OK to send the email to the customer.
After these steps, the membership will now display Auto Renew: Yes on the customer's profile.
📱 Customer Portal Capabilities (aka Member App)
Members can now manage their recurring memberships directly within the Customer Portal:
Click the arrow to learn about managing memberships in the Customer Portal
Click the arrow to learn about managing memberships in the Customer Portal
View all active recurring memberships and their expiration dates.
See the current Auto Renew status.
Cancel/disable Auto Renew (if the account is in good standing).
🙌 This ensures your business stays compliant while empowering members with self-service tools.
👀 What Members See
Click the arrow to see how members cancel auto-renew
Click the arrow to see how members cancel auto-renew
From the Member Dashboard, customers can click the “Memberships & Passes” tab on the left-hand menu. This section displays all active memberships associated with the account.
If a membership is set to Auto Renew and the Click to Cancel option has been enabled by the organization, the customer will see a "Cancel auto-renewal" link beneath the membership details.
Clicking "Cancel auto-renewal" opens a confirmation dialog asking the member to confirm the cancellation.
Once confirmed, a second message appears confirming the cancellation and listing the expiration date of the current membership and an email confirmation will be sent to the customer.
The membership tile now displays “Auto-renewal cancelled” along with a “Resume auto-renewal” button, allowing members to restart the renewal process if desired.
If the customer decides to resume the auto-renewal, this confirmation window will appear.
💡 Pro Tips
🧠 Best Practice: Always ensure valid payment information is on file before enabling Auto Renew for a membership. This prevents failed renewal attempts and keeps the membership active uninterrupted.
📌 Timing Tip: Plan Auto Renew renewal dates strategically. For example, if you have many memberships renewing on the same day, space them out to avoid payment processing bottlenecks.
💬 Communication Strategy: Send a welcome email or note to customers when they first purchase an auto-renewing membership, clearly explaining the renewal process, their cancellation rights, and how to update payment methods.
⛔ Payment Method Management: Regularly audit customer payment methods. Proactively reach out to customers with expired or invalid payment information before renewal dates to prevent failed transactions.
🔔 Compliance Reminder: Make sure your "Allow click to cancel" option is enabled for auto-renewing memberships. This ensures compliance with recurring subscription regulations and improves customer trust.
📸 Member Transparency: Encourage members to review their membership details in the Member App. This reduces support inquiries about renewal dates and upcoming charges.
🧠 Reactivation Scenario: If a member's Auto Renew was canceled due to a failed payment, reactivating it after they update their payment method ensures seamless renewal on the next billing cycle.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Find answers to common questions or additional details that may not be covered in the main instructions.
Click the arrow to view frequently asked questions
Click the arrow to view frequently asked questions
Do I need to enable "Allow click to cancel" when setting up Auto Renew?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Click the arrow to see the answer
It's highly recommended. This checkbox allows members to cancel their recurring membership directly through the Customer Portal, which is increasingly required by payment processors and consumer protection regulations. Disabling this option may limit your platform's compliance.
What happens if a customer's payment method fails during renewal?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Click the arrow to see the answer
The renewal will not process and the membership will not renew. Auto Renew will remain enabled, but the customer must update their payment information. Consider sending a notification to encourage them to resolve the issue before the next billing cycle.
Can I set different Auto Renew terms for different membership products?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Click the arrow to see the answer
Yes. Auto Renew is configured at the product level, so you can create multiple membership products with different renewal terms, pricing, and features, each with its own Auto Renew settings.
How does billing work if a customer's membership expires mid-month?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Click the arrow to see the answer
Memberships renew the day after the expiration date. If a membership expires on the 15th, it renews on the 16th and generates a new invoice. Payments are collected on the customer's designated Bill Day of the month.
Can I use ACH/bank account payments with Auto Renew?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Click the arrow to see the answer
Yes, but only through GoCardless, our supported ACH payment provider. You'll need to set up GoCardless from your System Settings first. Once active, customers can select "Bank Account (ACH via GoCardless)" at checkout or in their profile.
Will Add-Ons (like activation fees) be charged every renewal cycle?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Click the arrow to see the answer
No. Add-Ons are charged only on the initial purchase. On subsequent renewals, only the base membership fee is charged, not the Add-On amount.
Can customers cancel their auto-renewing membership through their Customer Portal?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Click the arrow to see the answer
Yes, if you enable the "Allow click to cancel" option when setting up the membership product. Customers will see a "Cancel auto-renewal" link in the Memberships & Passes section of the Customer Portal.
What email does a customer receive when they cancel auto-renewal?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Click the arrow to see the answer
When cancelled through the Customer Portal, they receive an "Auto-Renewal Cancellation Email" with the membership name, cancellation date, the end date of their active membership (which remains valid through the original expiration), and a link to log in to their account for further management.
Can a customer reactivate their auto-renewal after canceling it?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Click the arrow to see the answer
Yes. If the Click to Cancel feature is enabled, customers will see a "Resume auto-renewal" button in the Customer Portal after they cancel. Clicking it opens a confirmation dialog, and once confirmed, Auto Renew is reactivated.