> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.perkville.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.perkville.com/features/earning-rules/membership-tiers.md).

# Membership tiers

Reward membership tiers with points, instant rewards, or both to encourage upgrades.

Membership tier earning rules let you reward customers for the membership level they choose. Offer points, [instant rewards](/features/redeeming-rules/instant-rewards.md), or both to give members an additional reason to upgrade.

### Requirements

Memberships must be enabled for your business, and Perkville must receive membership types and statuses through your integration or API connection. Only active memberships qualify. Inactive memberships and memberships with an unknown status do not qualify.

### How tier rewards work

Associate each tier with its qualifying membership types and give it a position. Higher positions represent higher membership tiers.

* Each customer can earn each tier's reward once ever.
* Qualifying for a higher tier also awards any active lower tiers the customer has not already earned, subject to the rules' eligibility settings.
* Customers who begin with a higher tier can earn the same tier rewards as customers who upgrade over time.
* Downgrading and returning to a previously earned tier does not award it again.
* If a customer has multiple active memberships, Perkville uses the highest qualifying active tier.

Enter only the additional reward for each tier. For example:

| Tier   | Additional points | Total after earning this and lower tiers |
| ------ | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| Basic  | 100               | 100                                      |
| Silver | 150               | 250                                      |
| Gold   | 250               | 500                                      |

A new Gold member can earn 500 points. A member who has already earned Basic and Silver receives only Gold's additional 250 points when they qualify.

The same once-ever rule applies to instant rewards. For example, a gym could offer a branded shirt for a premium tier, points, or a combination of the two.

### Set up tier rewards

1. Open **Settings → Loyalty Program → Membership tiers**. Keep **Enable membership tier rewards** set to **No** while configuring the program.
2. Review the shared tier settings, including the qualification date and enrollment requirement.
3. Select **Add membership tier**. Set the title, active status, qualifying membership types, tier position, additional points and/or instant rewards, and eligible locations. Save and repeat for the remaining tiers.
4. When all tiers are ready, turn **Enable membership tier rewards** on and save.

Enabling tier rewards requests a check during subsequent hourly processing. Awards are not all delivered during the settings save.

For the full setup instructions, fallback tiers, location rules, and troubleshooting, see the [membership upgrades guide](/guides/membership-upgrades.md).

### Organize tiers for customers

Consider [grouping your tier rules in one category](/features/settings/loyalty-program/organizing-earning-rules.md#group-rules-in-a-category), such as **Membership rewards**, and [setting their display order](/features/settings/loyalty-program/organizing-earning-rules.md#set-the-display-order) from the entry tier to the highest tier. This puts the membership rewards together so customers can compare them.

**Category** and **Display order** are in each tier's **Optional** section. They control presentation; **Tier position** defines which lower-tier rewards are included.

### Convert existing membership reward rules

If you already award membership tiers through [Middle](https://www.middle.app/), convert the existing standard earning rules so their IDs and transaction history are retained.

Open each rule under **Loyalty Program → Rules & Activities**, select **Convert to membership tier**, configure it, and confirm. Finish configuring all tiers before enabling tier rewards. Existing qualifying awards count toward the once-ever limit.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Conversion removes the rule's saved integration mappings. Staff and API clients can no longer award the converted rule directly, so previous workflow award requests will be rejected. Review the [conversion details](/guides/membership-upgrades.md#convert-an-existing-earning-rule) before proceeding, especially if the rule also handles other activities.
{% endhint %}

**Email** [**support@perkville.com**](mailto:support@perkville.com) **as soon as conversion is complete** so our team can turn off the previous Middle tier-awarding workflows. Include your business name, **Perkville business ID from your Perkville dashboard**, and the earning rules you converted. Converting rules does not automatically disable the old workflows. Contact Support before converting if you need help coordinating the transition.


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