How to expand your Costco Membership: Everything you need to know with your account
Costco has many benefits for their costumers but depends on a membership. Here is what you need to know with your account.
Shopping at Costco comes with numerous advantages, but these benefits are tied to having a membership. Since this membership comes with an annual fee, it’s understandable that you might consider lending your Costco card to a family member or friend to share in the bulk shopping experience.
However, Costco members are likely aware of the retailer’s recent efforts to tighten restrictions on card sharing. Whether at the checkout or before entering the store, sharing your membership card is no longer as simple as it once was.
Can you add more people to your Costco account?
The rule for adding someone to your Costco membership is straightforward. Each Costco member is allowed to include one additional person on their account, making it a total of two individuals who can shop and access the store freely.
However, there are restrictions for the additional member. They must be at least 16 years old and reside in the same household as the primary account holder. This technically means that adding your best friend, aunt, or grandmother to your membership wouldn’t be possible unless they share the same residence.
How can you add additional buyers to your Costco business membership?
The rules mentioned above apply specifically to Costco’s standard memberships, which include Gold Star and Executive memberships. However, the business membership program offers greater flexibility when it comes to adding members.
With a business account, up to six additional people can be added to a single membership for $65 per person, according to the retailer's app. Each of these additional members can also share their card with someone in their household. As with personal memberships, all members must be at least 16 years old and must present their own card when shopping in the store.
It’s worth noting that the annual membership fee for personal accounts starts at $65, a price Costco recently increased for the first time in years. As a result, using a business membership to bypass restrictions on adding members may not offer significant savings.
Regardless, $65 per year is a reasonable cost when you consider the savings achieved by purchasing items in bulk, such as paper towels, meats, and even beer. If needed, you can easily add or update your secondary member through Costco's website to avoid any issues at the entrance.