Build a Gym Membership App

Tables: plans (name, duration, price, paystack_plan_code), members (name, email, phone, joined_at), memberships (member_id, plan_id, status, starts_at, expires_at, paystack_subscription_code), checkins (member_id, checked_in_at, method).

Create Paystack Plans once per tier (do this via dashboard or API on first setup):

async function createPlan(name, amountInKobo, interval) {
  var res = await fetch('https://api.paystack.co/plan', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer ' + process.env.PAYSTACK_SECRET_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({ name, amount: amountInKobo, interval, currency: 'NGN' }),
  });
  var data = await res.json();
  return data.data.plan_code; // store this in your plans table
}

// Run once:
// createPlan('Monthly Membership', 1500000, 'monthly') // NGN 15,000
// createPlan('Quarterly Membership', 4000000, 'quarterly') // NGN 40,000

When a member signs up, initialize a transaction with the plan attached. After the first payment, Paystack creates a subscription automatically and charges the card monthly.

async function signupMember(memberId, planId) {
  var member = await db.members.findById(memberId);
  var plan = await db.plans.findById(planId);

  var res = await fetch('https://api.paystack.co/transaction/initialize', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer ' + process.env.PAYSTACK_SECRET_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      email: member.email,
      amount: plan.price,
      plan: plan.paystack_plan_code,
      metadata: { member_id: memberId, plan_id: planId },
    }),
  });
  var data = await res.json();
  return data.data.authorization_url;
}

// Webhook handler
if (event.event === 'subscription.create') {
  var meta = event.data.metadata;
  var expiresAt = new Date();
  expiresAt.setMonth(expiresAt.getMonth() + 1);
  await db.memberships.create({
    member_id: meta.member_id,
    plan_id: meta.plan_id,
    status: 'active',
    paystack_subscription_code: event.data.subscription_code,
    expires_at: expiresAt,
  });
}

if (event.event === 'invoice.payment_failed') {
  var code = event.data.subscription.subscription_code;
  // Give 3-day grace period before suspending
  await db.memberships.update(code, { status: 'grace_period', grace_until: addDays(new Date(), 3) });
}

if (event.event === 'subscription.not_renew' || event.event === 'subscription.disable') {
  var code = event.data.subscription_code;
  await db.memberships.update(code, { status: 'suspended' });
}

// Check-in access gate
async function canCheckin(memberId) {
  var membership = await db.memberships.findActive(memberId);
  if (!membership) return false;
  if (membership.status === 'active' || membership.status === 'grace_period') return true;
  return false;
}

See build a sports club subscription system for a similar recurring billing pattern applied to clubs and leagues.

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