Your community already wants to support you. Give them a way to become monthly members. Almost no extra work for your team.
Free to set up · Earning revenue in your first week · We only make money when you do
The answer was overwhelming. Here's what matters, in order.
Predictable, low-churn recurring revenue that doesn't depend on foot traffic or a good month. Membership drives when you need a boost. Money that shows up every single month.
65% of what owners love most"Automated makes me happy, like seriously happy." Birthday coupons, member discounts, event access, welcome emails: it all runs on its own. You have enough to do already.
21% of what owners love mostMembers become a tight-knit inner circle of superfans who show up to events, spread the word, and root for you out loud. They connect with each other, too. They write testimonials that remind your whole team why the work matters.
What makes it matter"Thank you for everything you do!!! You make a difference in our bottom line every day and I don't say thank you enough. ❤️"Kelly JusticeFountain Bookstore owner
"Setting up memberships using Withfriends was easy, exciting, and we are thrilled with the results! We're so grateful that Withfriends gave our community another way to show their appreciation for us."Kate McMorranVillage Well team
"Just wanted to say thanks again for all your help with getting our drive up and going and for your great customer service. I know I was bothering you at random times, and you always came through! We hit our goal of 30 on Monday, and are still going! 😊"Dr. TashaLeft on Read owner
"Thank you for all the support and encouragement to complete this membership drive. I really did not believe we'd garner this much support from our community. Incredible! You made it easy! What a pleasure doing business with you!"Beth NylandAnthology for Books owner
Answer ten questions about your store and we generate membership tiers tailored to your bookstore, with pricing, perks, and graphics ready to go. Name them whatever you want, tweak anything you like, or just launch with what we built. The whole setup is fast.
Member perks run themselves and membership upsells send automatically. Works with BookManager, IndieCommerce 2.0, Square, Shopify, and more.
When you're ready, send our proven announcement email to your list letting customers know they can become members. Between 1 in 50 and 1 in 20 convert from that first email alone.
Automatic upsells in your online checkout, in-store QR codes, and event-to-membership conversion mean about 1 in 20 customers become members on an ongoing basis, without you lifting a finger.
Membership drives are like Kickstarter for recurring revenue. Run one for holidays, celebrations, or whenever you want a surge. Bookstores tell us drives are their best ROI.
Works with your stack. We handle the integration.
Shopify
Square
Mailchimp
WordPress
Squarespace
Wix
"In full disclosure, I am a Luddite."
That's fine. We hand-onboard every store, help with your website, and stay with you as a partner. You're never left alone with software.
Online: member discounts apply automatically at checkout on all platforms. In-store: members use their Mobile Wallet card or badge app, or sync directly to your POS (Square auto-syncs, others have simple manual steps). Set rules by category (5% retail vs. 5% food and drinks). Reliable, instant member lookup every time.
QR posters at your register, one-click upsells in your online checkout, and iPad integration all work together to grow your memberships without your staff ever having to pitch. Perfect for a non-hard-sell culture.
Birthday coupons, welcome emails, loyalty points, early event access, your "Our Members" page, private group auto-invites. Every member perk runs automatically from the moment you launch, so you never have to choose between running your store and running your membership program.
Like Kickstarter, but for recurring revenue. Perfect for holidays, celebrations, anniversary campaigns, or any time you want a surge of new members. Launch one in minutes, and we provide weekly newsletters, social posts, and analytics to keep it moving. Also your best tool when times get tough.
People need real, in-person connection. Your bookstore is where that connection forms. A reading becomes a conversation. A conversation becomes a friendship. A friendship becomes a neighborhood that actually knows each other.
That community forms whether or not someone is a member. Membership just makes sure the space stays funded so those connections keep growing.
We built Withfriends because human beings need places like yours to thrive and find meaning. Every membership you sell keeps one more gathering place alive.
Recurring revenue smooths your income, protects against slow months, and can mean the difference between red and black. Your community keeps forming because you're still there.
Readings, potlucks, game nights, book clubs. Memberships turn every event into a chance for attendees to support the space they love.
Your members are the ones who want your bookstore to exist forever. Membership gives them a way to show up for you, every single month.
Event pages that embed right on your website, so you never have to double-enter anything. No surprise fees, no shady practices. Supports ticketed, suggested-donation, and free events, and every RSVP flow is a chance to upsell memberships automatically.
Ship books and merch on your schedule. In-store pickup or delivery. Auto-generates orders with Pirate Ship, Shippo, ShipStation, Easyship, Stamps.com, USPS Click-N-Ship, Ingram Direct-To-Home, and more.
Let customers gift memberships at any interval: ongoing, a few months, whatever fits. Schedule gifts ahead for holidays and birthdays. Far-away supporters love this option. The perfect gift for every book lover.
Your members are people who care so much about your bookstore that they're paying just to make sure you're around. When you make it easy for them to meet each other, they tend to click fast and have a really good time. It can be as simple as a happy hour. You can go all out too, but even low-key gatherings become a favorite perk.
Offer tote bags, mugs, or apparel through our Printful integration, printed and shipped on demand with no inventory to manage. If you'd rather do it yourself, our built-in shipping label generator and in-store pickup tools have you covered.
When someone RSVPs to an event, we give them the option to make a one-time contribution to your store. One in five people do. They can also make a contribution on your membership page. Not everyone wants a membership, and that's okay. A lot of people still want to support you.
Legendary indie bookstores across the country already use Withfriends to build memberships, sell event tickets, and grow recurring revenue.
New York, NY
Culver City, CA
Richmond, VA
New Orleans, LA
St. Petersburg, FL
Brooklyn & Jersey City
San Francisco, CA
Baltimore, MD
Salt Lake City, UT
No setup fees. No long-term contracts. Cancel anytime.
Free to install and manage your existing members
Free to set up. We'll walk you through every step. Join 85+ indie bookstores keeping their doors open and their people close.
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