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Getting Started

Everything you need to set up your chamber on Membicus and start managing members.

Welcome to Membicus

Membicus is a modern membership management platform built specifically for chambers of commerce and professional associations. It handles the full member lifecycle — from sign-up and dues collection to event management, email communications, and a public business directory.

This guide walks you through setting up your chamber, inviting your team, and going live with your members.

Initial Setup

When you first create your chamber account, you'll be guided through a setup wizard that covers:

  1. Organization details — Name, address, phone, website, and logo
  2. Subdomain — Your unique URL (e.g., yourchamber.membicus.com)
  3. Brand Kit — Upload your logo, set primary and accent colors to match your brand
  4. Stripe Connect — Connect your Stripe account so dues and event payments go directly to your bank

You can always update these settings later from the Settings section in your admin panel.

The setup wizard walks you through each step

You can skip Stripe setup initially and add it later, but you won't be able to collect payments until it's connected.

Creating Membership Plans

Before adding members, set up your membership tiers. Go to Admin → Plans and create your plans:

  • Plan name — e.g., "Individual", "Business", "Corporate", "Non-Profit"
  • Price — Annual dues amount
  • Billing cycle — Annual or monthly
  • Description — Benefits included with this tier
  • Features — Directory listing, event discounts, newsletter access, etc.

Most chambers start with 3–5 tiers. You can add or modify plans at any time without affecting existing members.

Consider creating a free "Community Partner" tier for non-dues-paying contacts you still want in your directory.

Adding Your First Members

There are several ways to add members to your chamber:

  • Manual entry — Add members one at a time from Admin → Members → Add Member
  • Bulk import — Upload a CSV file with member data (name, email, company, plan)
  • Self-registration — Share your signup link and let members register themselves
  • Embed widget — Add a signup form directly to your existing website

For existing chambers migrating from another platform, bulk import is the fastest path. Membicus accepts CSV exports from GrowthZone, Wild Apricot, and other common platforms.

Go-Live Checklist

Before sharing your Membicus site with members, make sure you've completed these steps:

  • ☑ Organization profile is complete (name, logo, contact info)
  • ☑ Brand Kit configured (colors, logo)
  • ☑ At least one membership plan created
  • ☑ Stripe Connect linked for payments
  • ☑ Member data imported (if migrating)
  • ☑ Welcome email template customized
  • ☑ Business directory categories set up
  • ☑ Team members invited with appropriate roles

Next

Member Management