Whether it’s for your school, PTA, sports team, HOA or club…there are so many reasons to rethink how you collect membership dues and fees. Setting up an online system for collecting dues and fees can help you manage the rush of payments.
Why collecting membership dues online is the way to go
Before we get to the “how,” let’s first look at the “why.” Even the most well-oiled processes can use some innovation to ensure that your community can contribute and re-up for another year with ease. A system automated by the cloud is hard to beat. It’s also:
More convenient
Less people carry cash and check—an online option helps bring money in on time.
Time-saving
You don’t have to spend hours fetching payments or bookkeeping, and payers can pay as soon as they receive the URL.
Straightforward
For one, an online payment system offers a simple action flow, meaning that payers receive payment information on their devices, then automatically pay from their devices—it eliminates steps in between. Two, it can provide more clarity about the intention of each payment. (Think: No more blank memo lines on checks.)
Less cumbersome
Toss that thick three-ring binder! That is, unless you just really love it—but you won’t need it for your tracking system. Online payment collection saves you piles of paper and shelf space, which can save your sanity too.
“I’ve been using Cheddar Up to collect for dues and chapter retreats for several years—it’s a wildly more efficient way to collect from our members…and they love the convenience.”
Taylor Engel, Chapter Administrator, YPO Gold Austin
How Cheddar Up maximizes collecting membership dues online
In addition to the general benefits of going virtual, Cheddar Up’s unique features can make the online experience even more seamless. Our platform offers:
“I love the ability to collect information alongside payments. I also really like the option to collect recurring payments. It’s very convenient!”
Kelly Hartman, Founder, Boss Ladies Referral Crew
Forms connected to specific payments
You can receive membership info at the same time without additional paperwork. You can even set required fields to prevent people from paying without completing the forms.
Friction-free payments
Individuals can pay without creating an account or downloading an app.
Robust tracking
Cheddar Up tracks and organizes everything into a tidy dashboard for you. Prefer a computer file? You can download that too. Our top-tier Annual Team Plan also provides a comprehensive summary of your entire Cheddar Up financial history.
Recurring payments
Does your organization collect membership dues on a schedule? Easily set-and-forget (or rather, occasionally check to make sure no payments snag) with the Team Plan.
How to collect membership fees and dues online with Cheddar Up
See how quick and easy it is to collect membership fees and dues online with Cheddar Up by following these simple steps.
Step 1
Create a free account
It all starts with creating a free account by clicking that “Get Started” button at the top right of your browser and follow the prompts – no credit card or paid plan needed.
Visual learner? We’ve got you covered! Check out our video library to help you through the process.
Step 2
Customize your collection
Give it a title and add imagery to reflect the awesome organization you represent. Consider setting a fundraising goal for extra transparency and encouraging people to give more.
Step 3
Set up your dues and fees
This is where it gets exciting! Collect payments and necessary information by adding items, descriptions, and questions.
No one-size-fits-all around here! Collections look different depending on your organization’s specific needs. You can add:
Fixed amount items:
Perfect for one-time registration fees and physical items. Include questions to gather t-shirt size, quantities, and other pertinent information.
Open Amount Items:
The sky is the limit! Allow people to choose how much to donate to your cause.
Recurring Amount Items:
Wait, does this last one get you extra excited? Us, too! Donations or payments based on a set schedule means your organization collects more, easier. It’s that simple! Check out this example illustrating recurring payment collections.
Step 4
Add forms, waivers, or sign ups
Efficiency is the name of the game for your busy community. They will appreciate the one-stop-shop approach to your collection. Incorporate items like snack schedules, volunteer opportunities, and signed documents for a tidy, intuitive experience.
Step 5
Adjust your settings and share!
Cheddar Up has loads of other features to help you collect your dues including setting start and end times on your collection, customizing receipts, and more.
When it comes time to share, you can create a custom URL, website button, QR code, or email directly in Cheddar Up. Copy the link and pass along to your people.
Use our built-in reports to keep an eye on your memberships to ensure everything is on track. Even send friendly email reminders through our message center.
Pro tips for collecting membership dues and fees online
1. Make your necessary payments and information required so members can’t accidentally skip over those.
2. Adding a detailed description for each fee item can eliminate any confusion about what the fee covers.
3. If the payer differs from the participant—for instance, a parent paying for a student’s school fee—you may want to create a required item question for the child’s name and teacher. If not, the payment will be logged under the payer’s name, adding a step for you to determine the associated student. If you want to collect more extensive information, you may want to create a form.
4. You can choose to collect cash and check too.
5. Sharing your unique URL may be the most important step! It’s the No.1 way to access the collection. You choose how to share it. Email, Text, QR Code—up to you!
6. Sell spirit wear at the same time! Here’s a great example collection
7. Have more than one collection? Group items on your collection page by creating categories. Add more detail with category descriptions. Even turn categories into a filterable navigation menu–great for collections with multiple items.
Get inspired with these example collections
