> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.uplifter.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I charge the family when I enroll an athlete?

> Choose how the family pays on the Payment step of the Enroll in Program tray, and see exactly what each choice bills before you confirm.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **Pick a charge method.** **Card on file** (or **Bank account on file**), **Send invoice**, **Gift card**, **Cash** or **Comp** (\$0 invoice). A method you can't use is greyed out with the reason. To use a gift card, send the invoice, then take payment on it.
  * **Taking money needs Create Financials.** Card, cash and gift card payments need that permission. **Send invoice** and **Comp** don't.
  * **Programs that bill on a schedule ask first.** Choose **Charge the first period now**, **Start billing at the next period** or **Comp this enrollment**.
  * **No payment plans or account credit.** Neither applies when you enroll from the admin dashboard. If a card is declined, the athlete stays enrolled.
</Note>

**Where to find it.** **Payment** is the last step of the **Enroll in Program** tray on an athlete's **Programs** tab, after the steps in [How do I enroll an athlete in a program?](/club/athletes-families/how-do-i-enroll-an-athlete-in-a-program)

<Steps>
  <Step title="Answer the billing question and start date">
    For a program that bills on a schedule, choose **Charge the first period now** (bills today), **Start billing at the next period** (nothing today) or **Comp this enrollment** (\$0 invoice, no recurring billing). Only the first leads to a charge method. For **Entire program**, the required **Start date** defaults to today in your club's time zone.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the membership, punch card and amount">
    A required membership the athlete doesn't hold is added to the charge (**Remove** takes it off, **Add back** undoes that). A punch card the family holds is used unless you choose **Pay instead**. Type over **Amount**, or select **Use** next to a suggestion such as **Full price** or **Prorated**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the charge method">
    Check "Billed to \[guardian name]", then pick a **Charge method**. For **Gift card**, read **Using a gift card** below before you confirm.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and confirm">
    Select **Remove** or **Add back** on a discount. The totals list **Subtotal**, discounts, tax and any **Service fee** or **Surcharge**, then **Total** and **Due today** ($0.00 with **Send invoice**). **Card on file** (or **Bank account on file**) adds your club's card or bank fee, if it charges one. The confirm button names the outcome, such as **Enroll and send invoice** or **Enroll (comp, $0 invoice)\*\*.
  </Step>
</Steps>

| Method | What confirming does |
| - | - |
| **Card on file** or **Bank account on file** | Charges the saved card or bank account now |
| **Send invoice** | Emails an invoice due today |
| **Gift card** | Redeems the code; any amount the card doesn't cover stays on the invoice |
| **Cash** | Records the amount received in person |
| **Comp** | No charge; a \$0 invoice with a 100% comp line |

**When a method is greyed out.** It says why, such as "No usable card on file". **Comp** is always available, and while payment setup is incomplete so is **Start billing at the next period**. For an athlete with no guardian account, a warning asks you to link a guardian or comp them in, and that comp raises no invoice.

**Using a gift card.** The field needs the card's full code, and the dashboard shows only the last four digits. Choose **Send invoice** instead, then apply the card with **Take payment** on that invoice. A code that isn't on the family's account is refused ("That gift card number is not on this family's account.") only after the athlete is already enrolled and the invoice already emailed. If you see it, don't confirm again: close the tray and use **Take payment** on the invoice.

**Can I review or change the invoice before it goes to the family?** Yes: everything above is editable until you confirm. There's no draft: confirming raises and emails the invoice straight away. A comp's \$0 invoice isn't emailed.

**What happens when you confirm.** **Send invoice** leaves the invoice **Unpaid** to pay online. Cash, or a gift card that covers the total, marks it **Paid**. A card or bank charge shows **Processing** until confirmed. **Start billing at the next period** raises no invoice today. A message confirms it, such as "Enrolled. Invoice \[reference] paid."

**Limits.** "Payment plans aren't offered on manual enrollments. Families can choose one at checkout." Credit shows as "Account credit available: \[amount] (not applied here)". If the price changes before you confirm, nothing is charged and the totals refresh ("The price changed since this was prepared. Review the updated totals."). A double-click on confirm never charges twice. **Comp** after **Charge the first period now** comps only today's charge. Recurring billing still starts.

**Related:** [How do I enroll an athlete in a program?](/club/athletes-families/how-do-i-enroll-an-athlete-in-a-program) · [How do I create and send an invoice?](/club/payments-checkout/create-and-send-an-invoice) · [What are recurring charges?](/club/payments-checkout/what-are-recurring-charges) · [How do I add or remove account credit for a guardian?](/club/athletes-families/how-do-i-add-or-remove-account-credit)