> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.1club.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Check-in Models

> Choose how members get into your club — book and pay, walk-in with payment, or flexible check-in.

In a nutshell, 1club supports the three industry-standard ways members enter a club. You pick the model that matches how your business runs and configure a small set of toggles to enforce it.

## Overview

Every gym has its own front-desk culture. Some require members to book and pay before they ever set foot in the building. Others welcome walk-ins as long as the member has a paid membership or pays at the door. A third group - community gyms, martial-arts schools, kids' programs - log attendance on the spot and trust staff to handle payment separately.

### The three check-in models

| Model                       | Booking required | Payment enforced    | Typical clubs                                        |
| :-------------------------- | :--------------- | :------------------ | :--------------------------------------------------- |
| **Book & Pay**              | Yes              | Yes - at booking    | Class-based studios, boutique fitness, racket sports |
| **Walk-in + Payment Check** | No               | Yes - at check-in   | Drop-in yoga, casual gyms, day passes                |
| **Flexible Check-in**       | No               | No - staff judgment | Community gyms, martial-arts schools, kids' programs |

The model is configured in two settings that work together:

* **Booking Policies** (`Settings → Booking Policies`) - the **Enforce payment** dropdown decides whether payment is required at booking, at check-in, or not at all. See [Booking Policies](/operations/booking-policies).
* **Access Control Settings** (`Settings → Access Control Settings`) - controls whether walk-ins without a member account can be checked in. See [Access Control](/settings/access-control).

### 1. Book & Pay

Members must book in advance and pay before the booking is confirmed. No booking, no entry. The schedule is the source of truth.

To configure:

* In your booking policy, set **Enforce payment** to **At booking**.
* **Check-in required** is usually on as well, so unclaimed bookings auto-mark as no-shows.

### 2. Walk-in + Payment Check

Members can show up without a booking, but the front desk must confirm an active membership, an external program, or collect a direct payment before letting them in.

To configure:

* In your booking policy, set **Enforce payment** to **At check-in**.
* In Access Control Settings, turn **Check-in Mode** to **Flexible** if you also want to allow check-ins for people without a member account.

When the front desk checks someone in, they pick an entrance method (membership, external program, or direct payment) - see below.

### 3. Flexible Check-in

Staff logs attendance as members arrive. Payment status is visible but does not block entry. The front desk uses judgment to follow up on overdue accounts.

To configure:

* In your booking policy, set **Enforce payment** to **None**.
* In Access Control Settings, turn **Check-in Mode** to **Flexible** if you want anonymous check-ins for guests and trial visitors.

## Entrance methods at check-in

When the front desk checks a member in, they pick how the member is entering. Three entrance methods exist:

* **Membership** - A check-in counts against the member's active membership. Usage is decremented automatically if the plan has a session limit. Members can enter more than once a day; there is no per-day cap.
* **External Program** - The member enters via a third-party program (a partner curriculum, a corporate-wellness benefit, a federation pass). See [External Programs](/settings/external-programs).
* **Direct Payment** - The member pays for this single visit at the front desk.

Which entrance methods are required at check-in depends on your booking policy. If **Enforce payment** is set to **At check-in** (or to **At booking** with an outstanding balance on the booking), staff must select one of the three before the system records the check-in. If **Enforce payment** is **None**, the front desk can record the check-in without selecting a method.

## Picking your model

Most gyms settle on one model per location, sometimes with a different policy for personal training, wellness area, or special programs. If you run multiple locations under one organization, you can scope different booking policies to each - see the **Scope** section in [Booking Policies](/operations/booking-policies).

If you're not sure where to start:

* A studio that sells classes online and runs a tight schedule wants **Book & Pay**.
* A neighborhood yoga studio with lots of drop-ins wants **Walk-in + Payment Check**.
* A martial-arts school or community gym where members come and go wants **Flexible Check-in**.

You can change settings at any time. The new policy applies from the moment you save it. Existing bookings are not retroactively re-validated.

## Related

* [Booking Policies](/operations/booking-policies) - Configure payment, anonymous bookings, and check-in rules.
* [Access Control](/settings/access-control) - Configure check-in mode and identification methods per club.
* [External Programs](/settings/external-programs) - Add partner offerings and corporate wellness benefits as entrance methods.
* [Attendance](/members/attendance) - Record and review check-ins.