What is a promo code
A promo code is a unique alphanumeric sequence that customers enter during checkout to receive discounts or special offers, enhancing marketing campaigns and encouraging purchases.
How to create a promo code
Go to "Set up" > Promo Codes
Select "Add New"
Add code name
Type of discount
Percentage
Amount
Amount / Percentage
Number of times this code can be used
Expiration date
Limit to months
This is where you'll select if you would like the promo code to apply to certain amount of months. IE: If you would like the promo code to apply for 2 months, then you'll put "2" in the Number of Months
Select what this promo code can be used on
Click "Create Code"
How to apply promo code for certain time frame
In the promo code, select "Limit to Months" and enter the months.
One-Time Discounts (First Month Only)
To apply a discount only to the first month of a membership:
Create a promo code in the membership settings.
Enable the "Limit to Months" option and set it to 1 month. This ensures the discount applies only to the first billing cycle, and subsequent months are charged at the regular price.
Multi-Month Discounts
For discounts that apply to multiple billing cycles:
Specify the number of months the discount should apply when creating the promo code.
After the set duration, the membership will renew at the standard price.
Indefinite Discounts
To apply a discount that continues indefinitely:
Set the promo code to "apply forever" during configuration.
This locks in the discounted rate for all future renewals. Note: For indefinite discounts on existing memberships, the recommended approach is to cancel the current membership and repurchase it with the promo code applied. This ensures the discount is carried forward on all future renewals.
How to specify code use
Unselect "Applies to all products and services" if you'd like your code to be used on only specific items in your business
Note: If you put in Location, it will override all other options and that are selected, meaning that it would be applied to everything at that Location.
How to manage promo codes
Tap "Actions" to delete a code, edit it or view who has redeemed the codeNote: Editing a promo code does not retroactively affect already-redeemed instances. If changes are necessary, you may need to cancel the affected membership or purchase and create a new one.
How to view promo code usage
Tap the eyeball icon on the promo codes table
From here you can see the name/email of the client or export the usage to a CSV
How to view promo code on a payment
Go to the client profile
Tap into "Payments" --> "Tap into payment"
3. View payment details along with code used and how it was applied to the payment
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Member Perks discounts apply to class pack holders?
No, Member Perks discounts are exclusive to active subscribers. Use promo codes or other methods for class pack holders.
Why does a client see a "first time clients" warning when purchasing a membership?
This warning appears if the client already has the membership active on their account. This restriction ensures that memberships are not duplicated for the same client.
Does the "first time only" behavior apply to one-off events with Member Perks discounts?
Yes, dollar-amount discounts apply only once. For recurring discounts, use percentage-based discounts with event-specific configurations.
How do I discount the first three months of a membership?
Use Member Perks to create an automated discount for the first three billing cycles. Member Perks discounts auto-apply at checkout for eligible customers, eliminating the need for promo codes. They support both percentage-based and dollar-amount discounts, with dollar-amount discounts applying only once and percentage-based discounts configurable for recurring events. Note that Member Perks discounts are exclusive to active subscribers and do not apply to class pack holders.
Can I apply a discount to an existing membership?
If a promo code was not applied at the start of a membership, it cannot be added retroactively. Instead, you can:
Manually Adjust the Membership Price:
Update the recurring price of the membership to reflect the desired discount. For example, if a 20% discount is needed, adjust the recurring price accordingly. This change will take effect on the next billing cycle.
Cancel and Repurchase the Membership:
Cancel the current membership.
Create or confirm a promo code with the desired discount.
Start a new membership and apply the promo code at checkout. This ensures the discount recurs automatically for future billing cycles.
Manual Price Adjustments vs. Canceling and Repurchasing
Manual Adjustments:
Suitable for one-off or temporary discounts.
Requires manual updates for each renewal cycle if the discount is ongoing.
Canceling and Repurchasing:
Ideal for applying recurring or indefinite discounts.
Ensures the discount is automatically applied to all future billing cycles.
How do I handle prorated charges and refunds?
If a membership is configured to bill on a specific date, mid-cycle sales may result in prorated charges. To charge the full price instead:
Adjust the billing settings to disable proration for the initial charge, or
Create a manual invoice for the remaining amount.
For discounts added after the first payment, they will only apply to future payments. To address the initial payment, issue a partial refund for the difference.
How do I offer a first-class free promo?
Create a code so that "Each student can use this once". Then offer a 100% discount on Live Classes, or whichever class you would like. Careful, if you make this available for all products & services, then students will get a 100% discount on everything!
To offer a free first month for a 12-month contract, configure a discount that grants 100% off the first month.
How does a promo code work with subscriptions?
Percentage discount promos will discount subscriptions FOREVER. If you would like to only discount the first month, please use an "intro offer" or "amount" discount. So if you have a 25% discount code on a $100 monthly subscription, then students will be locked into a $75/month subscription
Amount discount promos will apply a 1-time credit to a student's account. So if you offer a $50 discount on a $100 subscription, then the first month will be $50, and then the second month will be $100. But if you offer a $50 discount on a $25 subscription, then the first month will be free, the second month will be free, and then the third month will be $25.- Manually added discounts do not auto-apply to future renewals. Future renewals will charge the full, undiscounted amount unless the discount is manually adjusted for each cycle.
To apply a discount only to the first month, use the "Limit to Months" option and set it to 1 month. This ensures the discount applies only to the first billing cycle.
For multi-month discounts, specify the number of months the discount should apply when creating the promo code. After the set duration, the membership will renew at the standard price.
To apply a discount indefinitely, set the promo code to "apply forever" during configuration. This locks in the discounted rate for all future renewals.
When setting up recurring discounts, limit the promo code to a single use per customer to ensure it applies automatically to each billing cycle for the specified duration.
When do promo codes expire?
Promo codes expire at 11:59pm (of your timezone you create the code in).
Example if you select November 4th and are in Los Angeles, California the code expires at 11:59pm PT.
If a promo code expires, does the discount stop being applied to an existing subscription?
If it's applied to a subscription, it will continue to be applied, even after the promo code expiration date passes. Additionally, if a promo code is deleted, the discount will still apply to active subscriptions that redeemed the code before its deletion.
The expiration date is the date that the code would no longer be able to used for new purchases.
My promo code isn't working! Why?
Ensure that your code is eligible for the item specified
Promo codes are case sensitive and ensure your code has no extra spaces inside it
Ensure there is no limit on the code5. Promo codes are locked at the time of redemption and cannot be retroactively edited. Any edits to the promo code will only apply to future redemptions.4. Promo codes cannot be added or changed on an existing subscription. To apply a different promo code, the current subscription must be canceled, and a new one must be purchased with the desired promo code.
Arketa tries to display errors in codes in point of sale so that you can better understand why your code is not eligible at this time.
