# Create a member

> PositiveForm guide · Members · MEM-001
> Canonical page: https://positiveform.com/guides/members/create-member/
> This Markdown: https://positiveform.com/guides/members/create-member.md

**Summary:** Create a member with identity and contact details. The member is created and opens in the canonical member workspace.  
**Who can do this:** Organization owners, Managers, Staff  
**Required access:** `members.change`  
**Where in PositiveForm:** `/members`  
**Status:** Verified on 2026-07-29 against PositiveForm build `9096f81`.

## Who this is for

This guide is for **desk staff, managers, and owners** adding somebody who is
starting at the studio.

You need the `members.change` permission. If **Add member** is greyed out, check
you have a location selected before assuming it is a permission problem.

PositiveForm asks a different second question for a child than for an adult,
because a child needs a responsible adult on file. Answer the age question
honestly and the rest follows.

## Before you begin

- Select the location this person trains at, using the picker at the top of the
  console. A member is created at the selected location, and **Add member** will
  not proceed without one.
- Have their first and last name, and their date of birth if they are under 18.
- For a child, have the parent or guardian's first name, last name, and email.
  Those are required, because that adult becomes the household's contact.

## Steps

1. Click **Members** in the left navigation.
2. Click **Add member**. **Add a member** opens, and names the location the
   person will be created at.
3. Under **Who is this person?**, fill in **First name** and **Last name**.
4. Answer the age question. Tick **This person is 18 or older** for an adult.
   Leave it clear for a child and fill in **Date of birth**, which PositiveForm
   requires so it can collect their responsible adult.
5. Continue. The next step tells you which path you are on: **Adult — a
   household will be created automatically**, or **Child — parent or guardian
   details are required**.
6. For a **child**, fill in the parent or guardian's **First name**, **Last
   name**, **Email**, and **Relationship**. **Phone (optional)** is worth adding
   if you have it. This adult is added to the new household and linked to the
   child.
7. For an **adult**, add **Email (optional)** and **Phone (optional)** if you
   have them.
8. Save the member.

## Expected outcome

PositiveForm confirms with **Member added**, and the person opens in their member
workspace, which is where everything about them lives from now on.

They also have a household. An adult gets one created automatically; a child gets
one containing the parent or guardian you named. That household is what billing
attaches to later, which is why the parent's details are required rather than
optional.

The new member appears in the members list at the selected location, with a
member ID, a status of **Active member**, and no rank yet. Continue in
[Maintain member profile and notes](https://positiveform.com/guides/members/maintain-member-profile/) to fill in the rest of their profile, or
check them into a class straight away with
[Check in from a member workspace](https://positiveform.com/guides/attendance/member-check-in/).

## Screenshots

![Add a member, asking who the person is, with the location it will be created at and the age question](https://positiveform.com/guides/media/MEM-001/20260729T024000Z/001-add-member-identity.webp)

## Recovery

If you save without both names, PositiveForm refuses with **First and last name
are required.**

If you leave the age question unanswered, it refuses with **Enter a date of birth
or confirm that this person is an adult.** There is no default: a wrong guess
about a child's age would put their record in the wrong shape.

For a child with incomplete adult details, it refuses with **Parent or guardian
first name, last name, and email are required.**

If you see **Set an active location before adding a member.**, no location is
selected. Choose one with the picker at the top and try again.

If saving fails for another reason, PositiveForm shows **Failed to add member**
with the reason, and nothing is created. Your entries stay on screen.

If you created somebody twice, do not delete the duplicate blindly; check which
one has attendance or billing attached first. Search for the name to see both;
see [Browse and filter people](https://positiveform.com/guides/members/browse-people/).

## Related guides

- [Maintain member profile and notes](https://positiveform.com/guides/members/maintain-member-profile/) — finish the profile: contact details,
  emergency contacts, rank, and notes.
- [Check in from a member workspace](https://positiveform.com/guides/attendance/member-check-in/) — check the new member into a
  class.

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Source: PositiveForm customer guides, https://positiveform.com/guides/. 
Every guide as one file for AI assistants: https://positiveform.com/llms-full.txt. 
Guide index: https://positiveform.com/llms.txt.