> ## 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.

# What is a balance top-up, and how do I add funds to my balance?

> How a balance top-up adds your club's own money to your balance account by card, what it costs, and when you need one.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **Your own money:** a top-up charges a card saved to your club and adds the amount to your balance account. It never touches family payments.
  * **Fee and limit:** you pay your plan's card processing fee on top, and each top-up can be up to \$10,000.00.
  * **Who can do it:** only staff with **Financial Admin** on a verified payment account see **Top Up Balance**.
  * **Not revenue:** top-ups are left out of revenue reports and Financial Overview.
</Note>

**What a top-up is.** Your balance account is where family payments collect before they are paid out to your bank, and refunds to a card or bank account are paid out of it. A top-up adds your club's own money to that balance by charging a card from your club's saved payment methods (the same list Uplifter charges for your subscription), never a family's card or bank account. Only cards are offered, not saved bank accounts.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Top Up Balance">
    Go to **Financials > Payouts** and click **Top Up Balance** on the **Available Balance** card. The Admin role has **Financial Admin** by default, but the default Accountant role does not.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose an amount">
    Pick **$100.00**, **$200.00**, **$500.00** or **$1,000.00**, or type one under **Or enter a custom amount** (at most \$10,000.00). Click **Continue**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the charge">
    Check **Added to your balance**, the **Card processing fee** and **Total charged**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick a card and pay">
    Choose a saved card or click **Add a new card** (with none saved, you see **No card on file** and **Add card**). Click **Confirm & Pay \[total]**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**What happens next.** The dialog confirms "\[amount] added to your balance", and each Admin gets a "Balance top-up completed" receipt email. A declined card adds nothing. Starting a top-up for the same amount soon after another that went through or is still processing asks **Top up again?**, warning that it charges your card a second time.

**Where top-ups are listed.** The **Balance top-ups** section, below **Payout history** on **Financials > Payouts**, shows **Date**, **Card**, **Recorded by**, **Added**, **Fee**, **Charged** and **Status**.

| Status | What it means |
| - | - |
| Processing | The charge is going through; the funds have not landed yet. |
| Completed | The funds were added to your balance. |
| Reversed | A completed top-up was later charged back. |

A failed attempt moved no money, so it is not listed.

**Why you'd need one.** When a card or bank refund is more than your balance can cover, the **Review refund** step shows **Insufficient balance** with the available and required amounts. Financial Admins also see **Top Up & Continue**, which opens the same **Top Up Balance** dialog pre-filled with the refund plus any amount your balance is already below zero. See [Why is my refund blocked for insufficient balance?](/club/refunds-cancellations/refund-blocked-insufficient-balance).

**If your balance goes negative.** Your balance can drop below zero, for example after a chargeback. Admins then get the **Negative Balance Warning** email ("This may delay your next scheduled payout."). A top-up brings the balance back up.

**Related:** [How do payouts to my bank work?](/club/money-payouts-accounting/how-payouts-work) · [How do I change my payout schedule or pay out now?](/club/money-payouts-accounting/payout-schedule-and-manual-payouts) · [How do I refund a customer on a paid invoice?](/club/refunds-cancellations/how-do-i-refund-a-paid-invoice) · [How do I add, remove, or set a default payment method?](/club/your-subscription/how-do-i-manage-my-payment-methods)