# GladstoneGo: Membership Pre-sales

HTML version: [GladstoneGo: Membership Pre-sales](https://support.gladstonesoftware.cloud/gooperator/gladstonego-membership-pre-sales)

## Problem
You want to sell memberships in Go Join ahead of your new site's opening date, or defer the start date for specific membership types.

## Resolution

There are two options for managing membership pre-sales in Go Join:

### 1. Set a Site Opening Date

This option allows you to enable pre-sales for memberships at a site that is not yet open (or being refurbished). Payments are taken at purchase, but memberships only become active from the site opening date.

**To set a Site Opening Date:**

1. Log in to Operator.
2. Go to: `Configuration > Centre Management > Site Management > Sites`.
3. Assign an Opening Date to your site.
4. Set your site as 'Web visible' to allow memberships and bookings in Go Join and Go Book.
5. Save your changes.

*Note: Making a site 'Web visible' means memberships and bookings can be made online for that site.*

**How this appears for members:**

- On the site-finder page in Go Join, a message will inform users when the site will open.
- When a membership type is selected, a message will show the earliest possible start date.
- On the payment breakdown screen, the relevant start date and a message about it will be visible.
- For Direct Debit or Recurring Card Payment memberships, subsequent payments are based on the start date.

**Allowing members to delay their start date:**

- You can let members delay their start date beyond the site opening date, depending on your settings.
- Check or change this setting at: `Configuration > Module > Configure > Max Start Date`.
- For example, if set to 7 days, members can start up to 7 days after the opening date.

---

### 2. Set a Membership Earliest Start Date

This is useful if you’re launching a new membership type and want to allow early purchase before actual activation.

**To set an Earliest Start Date for a membership type:**

1. Log in to Operator.
2. Go to: `Configuration > Member Management > Memberships > Membership Types`.
3. Select the relevant membership type.
4. Assign an Earliest Start Date.
5. Save your changes.

**How this appears for members:**

- If a selected membership type has an Earliest Start Date, a message will inform them of the earliest start date.
- If no date is set for a membership type, no message is shown.
- On the payment breakdown screen, the relevant start date and an explanatory message will be shown.
- For Direct Debit or Recurring Card Payment memberships, subsequent payment dates are based on the selected start date.

**Allowing further delays for membership start date:**

- Members may be able to delay their start date beyond the Earliest Start Date, based on your settings.
- Check or change this at: `Configuration > Module > Configure > Max Start Date`.
- For example, if set to 7 days, members can delay the start up to 7 days after the earliest start date.

## Notes

- If both a Site Opening Date and a Membership Earliest Start Date are set, the Membership Earliest Start Date takes priority.
- This setup provides flexibility to launch memberships independently from the site opening, or to defer certain memberships beyond site opening as required.
- Related: [Setting Up Go Join Tag Groups and Mapping Memberships](gladstone-go-join-tag-groups-buttons-and-membership-mapping.md); [Promo Codes (Discounts on Memberships)](promo-codes-discounts-on-memberships.md).