If you’ve set up membership levels on Buy Me a Coffee, there might come a time when you need to adjust your pricing, and that’s totally normal. Maybe you’re adding extra perks, creating more valuable content, or simply keeping up with rising costs. As your journey evolves, it’s natural to re-evaluate what you’re offering and ensure your prices match the value you provide. This article will help you navigate how these updates will affect your current and future members.
How price changes affect members
When you update the price of your membership levels, it affects both new and existing members. Here’s a breakdown of what happens:
New Members
As soon as you change the price of a level, the new rate takes effect immediately for any new members who join. This means anyone signing up after you update the price will pay the new rate right away.
Existing Monthly Members
Your current monthly members have a 31-day notice period before they start paying the new rate. Existing members will continue to be charged at the old rate during this notice period. Once the 31 days ends, their subscription will automatically renew at the new price. During the notice period, we will send automated emails to your members to inform them of the upcoming change and give them time to accept the price change or cancel their subscription if needed.
Example:
If you update the price of your Gold level from $10 to $15 on November 1st, members with renewals from November 1 to 30th will continue paying $10 until December 1st. At their next renewal, they’ll be charged the new rate of $15.
Existing Annual Members
Annual memberships have a 60-day notice period before the new price takes effect. If an annual member’s renewal date falls within the 60-day window, they’ll renew at the previous rate. However, if their renewal date is after this window, they’ll be charged the new rate when their membership renews. Your annual members will also receive advance notifications to keep them informed and provide time to review their subscriptions.
Example:
If you update your level pricing on October 1st, and an annual member’s renewal date is on November 15th, they will renew at the old rate. They will be charged the updated rate if their renewal date is after December 1st.
How to update your membership prices
Updating your membership pricing is simple. Here’s how you can do it:
Log in to your Buy Me a Coffee account and go to your Membership page on the dashboard.
Select the level you want to adjust and click Edit.
Update the price as needed. Note that you cannot make an update in the next 90 days.
Turn the toggle next to “apply price changes to existing members” ON.
Double-check and confirm the new price.
Click Save Changes to finalize the update.
Best practices for adjusting prices
Adjusting membership prices can impact your community, so it’s essential to approach it thoughtfully. Here are some tips to make it easier for your members.
Share a post with your members explaining why you’re making the change. Highlight any new benefits or content they can look forward to.
While our system will automatically notify your members, consider posting an update on your profile to ensure everyone is aware.
Some members may have questions or concerns about the price change. Being prepared to address these will help maintain trust.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I increase the price of a tier and then change my mind?
Once you update the price, it’s locked in for 90 days. This means you won’t be able to change it again until then. To avoid confusion, we recommend double-checking before confirming any changes.
Are there any limits to how much I can increase a level’s price?
Yes, there is a $20 increase cap per price change. If you need to raise the price significantly, consider introducing a new level instead.
What if I adjust my membership benefits along with the price change?
Feel free to update your levels' benefits, description, or title anytime. This is a great way to add more value and justify the new pricing.
If you have any questions, run into any issues while updating your membership prices, or cannot locate this feature in your account, please reach out to our support team at [email protected].