> ## 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 prorate a program for families who join late?

> Turn proration on for a category, or set it per program, so a family who joins late pays only for the sessions left.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **Two levels.** Set the club default per category in **Settings > Financials > Payment Schedule > Proration**. Each program can follow it, or pick **Always prorate** or **Never prorate**.
  * **Which prices prorate.** Only whole-program prices billed **Monthly recurring** or **One-time payment**. Annual, per-class, drop-in and rate-card programs never prorate.
  * **Sessions left decide it.** The amount counts only scheduled sessions left in the period; cancelled sessions and closure days don't count.
  * **Change any time.** The setting can change after families enroll and affects future checkouts only.
</Note>

**What proration does.** By default, Uplifter doesn't prorate: a family who joins partway through pays the full period or program price. Proration charges them only for the sessions left.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set the category default">
    Go to **Settings > Financials > Payment Schedule**. In the **Proration** card, tick each category that should prorate by default, then click **Save changes**. If the card says **No program categories exist yet**, [create categories](/club/programs-classes/organize-seasons-categories) first, or use **Always prorate** on each program.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a program's own choice (optional)">
    When you create or edit the program, go to its **Billing** step, or choose **Configure** from its row menu in **Registrations > Programs** and open the **Billing** tab. Under **Proration**, pick:

    * **Use category setting**: follow the category, shown as "(currently: prorates)" or "(currently: does not prorate)". A program with no category doesn't prorate.
    * **Always prorate**: prorate this program whatever its category says.
    * **Never prorate**: never prorate it, even if its category prorates.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Which programs can prorate.** **Proration** is hidden on programs that never prorate.

| Program | Prorates? |
| - | - |
| **Enroll in entire program** or **Full & Drop-in**, billed **Monthly recurring** or **One-time payment** | Yes, when turned on |
| Billed **Annual recurring** | Never |
| **Sign up per class**, and drop-in bookings on a **Full & Drop-in** program | Never |
| Priced from a rate card | Never |

**How the amount is worked out.** For **Monthly recurring**, the partial first period costs the monthly price times the sessions still ahead in that period, divided by every session scheduled in it. Each full month after that is the full price.

**One-time payment.** The same count runs across the whole program, so joining before the start pays full price, and so does a program with no sessions scheduled.

**Which sessions count.** A cancelled session, including one cancelled for a closure, never counts on either side. A session later today still counts as ahead.

**Per-session pricing can't also prorate.** It already charges only the sessions in each period, so Uplifter won't save a per-session program that would prorate. Set **Proration** to **Never prorate**, turn proration off for its category, or use a flat rate.

**Changing it later.** Proration isn't locked once families enroll: a change applies to later checkouts, not to charges already made. The same Payment Schedule page sets your [monthly billing day and grace period](/club/payments-checkout/set-your-billing-day-and-grace-period).

**Related:** [How do I set a program's price and billing?](/club/programs-classes/set-program-pricing) · [How do I price a full program per session?](/club/programs-classes/price-a-program-per-session) · [How do I organize programs into seasons and categories?](/club/programs-classes/organize-seasons-categories) · [When will my automatic payments be charged?](/families/families-payments-billing/when-will-automatic-payments-be-charged)