> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://sailia-mintlify-5b02008a.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a membership

> Step-by-step guide to creating a new membership in Sailia, from details to benefits, plans, and shop front placement.

Memberships are the foundation of your member system — they define what the membership is and what it includes. This guide walks through every step.

<Note>
  New to memberships? Read [memberships vs plans](/pricing/memberships-vs-plans) first to understand how they fit together.
</Note>

## Prerequisite

[Stripe](/payments/stripe) must be connected before you can create a membership.

## Step 1: Open the Memberships dashboard

From the Sailia admin dashboard:

1. Open the **Memberships** area.
2. Select the **Memberships** tab.
3. Click **Create membership**.

## Step 2: Add the details

Fill in the basics that define the membership:

| Field           | What to set                                          |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**        | e.g. *Gold Membership* or *Family Pass*              |
| **Description** | A short overview of what's included and who it's for |
| **Images**      | Shown publicly on your shop front                    |

These form the public-facing view that customers see when deciding whether to join.

## Step 3: Add benefits

After creating the membership, open the **Benefits** section and list what members get — session discounts, free hires, exclusive sessions, and more. See [membership benefits](/pricing/membership-benefits) for the three benefit types and how each one works.

Sailia displays a friendly alert if you haven't yet added any plans or placed the membership on your shop front, to remind you what's left to do.

## Step 4: Set up plans

A membership can't be purchased until it has at least one plan. Plans define pricing, billing frequency, and any plan-specific add-ons.

See [create a plan](/pricing/create-plan) for the full setup.

## Step 5: Add it to your shop front

Add the membership to your **Shop front** so it appears on your public booking page. Only memberships that are visible on the shop front **and** have at least one active plan can be purchased.

## Checklist

To make a membership live, complete each of these:

1. Create the membership.
2. Add benefits.
3. Set up at least one plan.
4. Add it to your shop front.

Once done, customers can view, purchase, and manage their membership directly through Sailia.

## Related guides

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create a plan" icon="receipt" href="/pricing/create-plan">
    Add a billing plan to your new membership.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Membership benefits" icon="star" href="/pricing/membership-benefits">
    Configure the perks that come with the membership.
  </Card>
</Columns>