Birrdi supports multiple ways to gift memberships, depending on whether the gift is handled by staff/admins or purchased by customers. This article explains the recommended approach and what to expect in each case.
Option 1: Gifting a Membership from the Admin Side (Recommended)
This is the primary and most flexible way to gift a membership.
How it works
Admins can manually add a customer to a membership and delay their first billing date, effectively giving them free access for a set period of time.
Step-by-step (Admin)
Go to Memberships
Select the membership you want to gift
Click Add Member
Enter the customer’s phone number or select an existing user
Set the Next Billing Date:
7 days out
1 month out
Any future date you choose
Save the membership
What happens next
The customer becomes an active member immediately
They receive full membership access
No charge occurs until the next billing date
They can cancel at any time before billing to avoid being charged
Preloading Credits (Optional)
If the membership includes credits, you may also:
Manually preload credits to the member’s account
This is useful if you want the gift to include immediate free time or bookings
Credit behavior follows the membership’s credit rules (expiration, usage limits, etc.)
Important Notes About Admin-Gifted Memberships
The membership is not permanently free
Billing will begin automatically on the next billing date
The customer can cancel anytime before that date
This approach gives operators full control and clear billing expectations
Option 2: Customer Self-Signup (Not a True “Gift”)
Customers can also sign up for memberships themselves using the public membership link, but this is not considered gifting.
Key differences
Billing starts immediately (unless the membership itself includes a trial)
No delayed billing unless explicitly configured in the membership
No admin-controlled free period
For gifting purposes, admin-side setup is strongly recommended.
Best Practices for Gifting Memberships
Use admin-added memberships for:
Promotions
Free trials
Staff comps
Customer recovery or goodwill gestures
Clearly communicate:
When billing will start
That the membership can be canceled at any time
Set the billing date intentionally to avoid surprises
Summary
Admins can gift memberships by adding members manually and setting a future billing date
Members receive immediate access but are only charged on their next billing date
Credits can be preloaded if the membership supports them
Customers may cancel anytime before billing to avoid charges