Pausing a Membership
Pausing a membership is best when a member plans to return in the future.
What happens when you pause:
The member cannot use any benefits while paused (credits, discounts, special rates, etc.).
Billing and renewals halt during the pause.
The membership remains on file and can be resumed at any time.
When resumed, the member picks up right where they left off — no need to re-enroll.
When to use Pause:
Member is traveling
Member is temporarily injured
Seasonal business downtime
The member says, “I will be back, just not sure when.”
Pausing is a flexible way to temporarily stop benefits without ending the membership relationship.
Canceling a Membership
Canceling removes the membership entirely.
What happens when you cancel:
The member loses access to all membership perks and benefits.
Billing and renewals stop permanently.
The membership cannot be resumed later.
If the member wants to rejoin, they will need to sign up again from scratch.
When to use Cancel:
Member no longer wants to participate.
The membership is ending permanently.
You do not expect the member to return.
Quick Summary
Action | Member Keeps Ability to Resume? | Charges Stop? | Benefits Active? | Must Re-Sign Up Later? |
Pause | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Cancel | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Recommendation
If a member might come back — Pause the membership.
If a member is done for good — Cancel the membership.