Overview
You can reduce membership sign-up friction by discounting the first month only through a Free Service offer. The membership renews at full price starting in month two. This is optional — use it when you want a promotional hook without changing how the membership itself is built.
This article is for practice owners, managers, and admins who configure membership promotions through Special Offers, Rewards, or Automated Offers.
Before You Start
The membership must already exist (or be in draft) before you attach a First Month Free offer to it. See Build a membership (Admin Panel) for membership setup.
First Month Free is configured outside the membership builder using the Free Service discount type.
Only one item type can be included in a Free Service discount — for this use case, select the membership only.
Set a minimum commitment period on the membership (we recommend at least 2 months) so patients cannot enroll, redeem the free month, and cancel before the second billing cycle.
If the selected membership has no commitment period, the Admin Panel shows a warning when you publish the offer. Address commitment settings on the membership before going live.
Why It Matters
First Month Free helps you:
Convert hesitant patients who want to try membership value before committing to full price.
Run seasonal campaigns without rebuilding membership pricing or billing logic.
Keep billing predictable — only month one is discounted; renewals bill at the membership’s standard rate.
Stay in control — you choose where the offer lives (Special Offer, Reward, or Automated Offer) and who qualifies.
How It Works
Where it is configured: Create a Free Service discount in Special Offers, Rewards, or Automated Offers under MedCommerce Engine. Do not configure this inside the membership builder’s Smart Benefits.
What gets discounted: The Free Service discount applies to the first month only. Future renewals charge the membership’s full price on the billing cadence you set (monthly, annual, etc.).
Patient checkout flow: New patients add the membership to cart and complete checkout even when month one is free. Checkout captures billing information for future renewals. If they remove the membership from cart before purchase, the discount is not redeemed and remains available.
RepeatCash: Patients may apply RepeatCash toward the first month’s membership purchase when RepeatCash is enabled for your practice.
Existing members: Patients cannot apply a First Month Free offer to a membership they already hold. This applies to new sign-ups only.
Beyond month one: Free Service discounts cannot apply to months beyond the first.
Same process across surfaces: The Free Service configuration steps are the same whether you publish through Special Offers, Rewards, or Automated Offers. See Manage free services for rewards and offers (Admin Panel) for selection-mode detail.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Offer first month free through a Special Offer
Log in to your Admin Panel.
Click Special Offers in the MedCommerce Engine section of the left-side navigation.
Click Create new offer (or open an existing draft).
Select Free Service as the discount type.
In the free service configuration, select the membership to include. Only one item type is allowed — choose the membership only.
Complete offer details (title, description, visibility, eligible patients, and any usage rules).
Review the commitment warning if the membership has no minimum commitment period set.
Publish the offer.
Offer first month free through Rewards or Automated Offers
Log in to your Admin Panel.
Click Rewards or Automated Offers in the MedCommerce Engine section of the left-side navigation.
Create a new offer or open an existing draft.
Select Free Service as the discount type.
Select the target membership as the single included item.
Configure unlock rules (visit milestone, sign-up trigger, birthday, loyalty window, etc.) as needed for that surface.
Publish the offer.
Confirm membership commitment settings
Open Memberships from the MedCommerce Engine section (or Catalog → Services → Memberships).
Edit the membership tied to your First Month Free offer.
Enable minimum commitment period and set at least 3 months (or your preferred minimum).
Save and publish the membership if you made changes.
Best Practices and Pro Tips
Require a 3-month (or longer) commitment on the membership before promoting First Month Free. This reduces sign-up-and-cancel risk after the free month.
Use seasonal or limited-time campaigns to create urgency without permanently discounting membership pricing.
Highlight the offer in headlines and descriptions so patients understand month one is free and renewals bill at full price.
Coordinate with front desk so staff can explain why checkout is required even when the first month costs $0.
Test the patient path with a test account before launching a sitewide campaign.
Common Mistakes and FAQs
Q: Is First Month Free required for all memberships?
A: No. This is completely optional.
Q: Why do patients check out if the first month is free?
A: Checkout enrolls them in the membership and captures billing information for renewals starting in month two.
Q: Can I apply this to an existing member?
A: No. First Month Free applies to new membership sign-ups only.
Q: What if a patient signs up and cancels after the free month?
A: That is why we recommend a minimum 2-month commitment on the membership. Without commitment, patients can cancel after redeeming the free month.
Q: Can I configure this inside the membership builder?
A: No. Use a Free Service discount in Special Offers, Rewards, or Automated Offers.
Q: Can the free month apply to month two or later?
A: No. Free Service discounts for memberships apply to the first month only.
Q: Can patients use RepeatCash on the free month?
A: Yes, when RepeatCash is enabled. RepeatCash can apply to the initial membership purchase.
Next Steps and Support
Build a membership (Admin Panel) — create and publish the membership this offer discounts
Manage free services for rewards and offers (Admin Panel) — Free Service selection modes and configuration
Best practices for your membership program (Admin Panel) — commitment and pricing guidance
Creating Special Offers — sitewide and targeted special offer setup
Need help? Email support@repeatmd.com