Setting up GoCardless.

01 · Connect

Connect GoCardless from GymFront

In GymFront, go to Admin → Setup and choose GoCardless (Direct Debit). You'll be handed to GoCardless to sign in, or to create an account if you don't have one — most of the form is pre-filled from your GymFront details, so it takes a minute or two.

When you land back in GymFront, the GoCardless page shows “Connected”. That's the plumbing done: membership billing now flows through your own GoCardless account, with money settling directly to your bank.

02 · Verify

Complete verification

GoCardless is required to verify your business before it pays out collected money. The badge on GymFront's GoCardless page shows where you stand: “Verified” means you're done; “Verification in review” means GoCardless is checking the details you gave; “Action required” means they need something from you — log into your GoCardless dashboard and complete the steps they list.

Collections still run while verification is in review, but payouts to your bank are held until it completes — so it's worth finishing this on day one.

03 · Refunds

Ask GoCardless to enable refunds

New GoCardless accounts can't issue refunds until refund access is switched on for the account. GymFront uses refunds when staff refund a payment and when a cancelled class refunds everyone booked — so this matters before you're live.

Contact GoCardless support (or your GoCardless contact) from your dashboard and ask for refunds to be enabled on your account. It's a one-time request.

04 · Success+

Enable Success+

Success+ is GoCardless's automatic failed-payment recovery: when a member's Direct Debit bounces, GoCardless retries it on the day their models say the money is most likely to be there — recovering the majority of failed payments without anyone chasing.

It's enabled per GoCardless account. In your GoCardless dashboard, find Success+ under the account's features and switch it on (note it carries a small fee on recovered payments — you keep the rest). GymFront shows “Retrying Direct Debit…” on the member while a retry is in flight, and everything reconciles automatically when it lands.

05 · Protect+

Set your Protect+ risk tolerance

Protect+ is GoCardless's fraud-prevention layer. It can verify a risky payer's identity with their bank during Direct Debit setup, monitor for fraud patterns, and challenge chargebacks on your behalf.

In your GoCardless dashboard, open the Protect+ settings and choose a risk tolerance. Most gyms are fine on the recommended setting: genuine members sail through, and the extra verification only appears for signups that look unusual.

06 · Done

What you should see

Back in GymFront: the GoCardless page shows Connected with a Verified badge, and the Setup hub shows GoCardless as done. From here, every membership you create in GymFront bills automatically — collections, retries, refunds and reporting all included.