Costco is a retail membership club known for many warehouse stores, branded products, and affordable prices. Here, we will share how much is a Costco membership and what are the benefits.
Also, you will find all info to get Costco membership.
How Much is a Costco Membership?
If you want to join Costco for the best shopping experience, you must purchase a Costco Membership. You might be considering signing up for a Costco Membership but wondering about the cost, benefits, and whether it’s worth it or not.
You cannot be anywhere else but here. We will share everything you need to know about Costco Membership and Costco Membership Promotion.
Costco Membership Cost:
- Gold Star Membership: $60 annually
- Business Membership: $60 annually
- Executive Membership: $120 annually
- Executive Business Membership: $120 annually
What is a Costco Membership?
Costco Membership card gives you access to all of Costco’s over 800 warehouses/stores as well as Costco gas stations.
Costco requires a shopper to have a membership for full-fledged shopping, and the retail giant strives to give its members the best products at the lowest possible prices.
The Costco membership fee allows the company to equalize many operating costs and lower the merchandise.
The brand-name merchandise within stores, specialty departments, and services are exclusively available for members.
Types of Costco Membership
Costco has three different membership options to offer in general. All of the memberships categories will allow you to shop at Costco warehouses, Costco Business Centers, and online.
The Costco Membership types are following:
- Gold Star Membership
- Business Membership
- Executive Membership
You must be aged 18 years or over to open a membership card. Costco offers a risk-free 100% satisfaction guarantee on all its membership options. It means Costco will refund your membership fee in full at any time if you are dissatisfied.
Gold Star Membership
Costco Membership begins with Gold Star, which costs you $60 annually. So if you’re an occasional Costco customer, a Gold Star plan will work just fine for you.
- $60 Annual membership fee
- Includes a free Household Card
- Valid at all Costco locations worldwide
- Valid for one year
You can purchase any product at every Costco location with the Gold Star Membership. Costco will also provide you with an additional card for another member of your family or household at no extra cost.
Business Membership
If you own a business and want to resale items, the Business Membership plan is the best option for you.
A Costco Business Membership allows you to purchase for resale at the cost of $60 per year. You will receive two membership cards at this Business Membership Plan. In addition, you can add additional people for $60 each.
- $60 Annual membership fee
- Includes a free Household Card
- Add Affiliate Cardholders for $60 each
- Valid at all Costco locations worldwide
- Purchase for resale
- Business Members must provide Costco with the appropriate resale information
If you want to apply for a Business Membership, you need to provide Costco with either your business license, resale certificate, or three pieces of business ID.
Executive Membership
If you are a Costco customer all the way and around the year, we suggest you consider getting the Executive Membership for the best experience. With this plan, you can enjoy the best of shopping for groceries, using Costco services for travel, refilling gas tanks, or prescriptions at the Costco Pharmacy.
You will earn rewards back for your purchases at this Executive Membership plan, which costs you $120 per year. The plan includes a 2% annual reward, discounts, a Costco Connection magazine, and two membership cards.
- $120 Annual membership fee ($60 membership fee, plus $60 upgrade fee)
- Includes a free Household Card
- Valid at all Costco locations worldwide
- Annual 2% Reward on qualified Costco purchases (up to $1,000)
- Additional benefits and greater savings on Costco Services
- Extra benefits on select Costco Travel products
Executive Business Membership
Executive Business Membership is available to business owners or operators. In addition, the plan offers an annual 2% Reward on most Costco purchases and all the Business Membership advantages.
Executive Business Membership will cost you $120 a year, but with many benefits.
- Additional values on check printing, payroll services, identity protection
- Account bonus for money market and online investing accounts
- Free roadside assistance for your vehicle
- Enables you to purchase for resale purposes
- A gift card for 2% (Cannot exceed $1000) of the total amount spent at Costco warehouses throughout the year
- Refund of the additional $60 (the Executive Membership plan price) back in rewards if you spend over $3,000 at Costco each year
Benefits of Costco Membership
Outside of what we look at typically, there are more significant benefits of shopping at Costco.
There is an annual membership fee, which may seem irritating in the first place. But, if you fully utilize the warehouse and membership benefits, you’ll even cover extra than the plan fee.
You’ll get access to exclusive warehouse products at discounted prices, along with enjoying a 100% satisfaction guarantee on both your membership and merchandise. So what’s stopping you from shopping with confidence?
Here are some remarkable benefits to look at:
- 25 to 35% off on gift cards and tickets (in-store and online) at other retailers such as Old Navy and Victoria’s Secret.
- Refill your vehicle’s tank with Costco’s premium gasoline
- Exclusive travel deals to save on vacation packages, rental cars, & more
- Discounted prescriptions at Costco Pharmacy
- Free hearing tests & follow-up diagnosis at the Costco Hearing Aid Center
- Up to 50% off on custom checks with free delivery (Additional 20% for Executive Members)
- Discounts on tires and auto services
- Medical insurance policy at competitive rates for members with both individual plans and small business plans
- Free health screenings through Costco pharmacy for conditions such as diabetes and osteoporosis
- Great deals on reading glasses and group vision plans
- Vaccinations and another services at the Costco pharmacy at a very competitive pricing
- Discounted movie admission tickets
- Up to 70% off on old ink cartridges refills
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Costco Membership Payment
You can enjoy almost every type of payment facility at Costco while paying. Costco warehouses accept Visa cards, debit/ATM, cash, checks, EBT, and Costco Shop Cards.
On the other hand, Costco.com accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, debit/ATM, and Costco Shop Cards.
In addition, Costco Gas Stations and Car Washes accept Visa, debit/ATM, and Costco Shop Cards.
Anywhere Visa Credit Card by Citi
Once you become a Costco member, you can apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa Credit Card by Citi. It allows members to earn Costco cash rewards anywhere Visa is accepted. You’ll earn rewards:
- 4% at gas stations
- 3% on travel and restaurants
- 2% on any purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% on everything else
Although you will have this application as a new member, you can apply any time thereafter.
Costco Membership Promotion
Once you sign up for a new Costco membership, you will receive a Costco Shop Card with a $10-20 bonus that can be used at any of their warehouses, gas stations, and online at Costco.com.
This promotion is like getting free money if you consider purchasing a membership.
Other Costco membership offers:
- Costco student membership: $20 Costco Shop Card with a new membership for a college student.
- Costco military membership: $30 Costco Shop Card with a new membership for military member or veteran.
Method to buy Costco Membership: How Do I Join Costco?
There is now way you cannot make up your mind to join Costco. Here are a few steps following which you can purchase a membership:
Costco In-store
The most precise method is to visit a Costco store and sign up at the membership counter.
For a Gold Star membership from Costco, you will need a form of photo identification indicating your current address and date of birth.
Costco will seek your ABN certificate or business license for a business membership, identification as the owner of the business, and personal photo identification.
However, you will also need to create an online account to shop online at Costco.
Costco Online
If you cannot visit a Costco store but need a membership right away, you can purchase your Costco Membership using the website.
There, please choose from the Executive, Business, or Gold Star membership at Costco and add it to your cart. Now, complete your membership application.
However, you will have to collect your Costco card from the membership counter at a warehouse.
Related: Does Costco Accept Apple Pay?
Costco Services and Perks without Membership
There are certain services you can still enjoy without a membership, despite Costco requires a membership for a full-fledged shopping. Below we share some Costco Services and Perks without Membership:
- Eye exam at Costco Optical
- Fill prescriptions and get a flu shot at the Costco Pharmacy
- Food from the food court (only applies if it is an outdoor food court like in Hawaii and non-members must pay with cash)
- Buy alcohol without a membership
- Purchase deals from Costco.com without a membership
- Shop in-club using a Shop Card
Is Costco Membership Worth to you?
Undoubtedly, Costco is a great retail chain shop, and we recommend anyone join Costco Wholesale Club. But we don’t want to suggest Costco to just everyone around.
It would be best if you found out Costco Membership is worth it or not for you.
Costco membership is worth it if:
- You live close to a 20 minutes drive to a warehouse.
- You live with at least one other person
- Car is big enough to fit bulk items
- You have to have room in your house to store bulk items
- You need to fill your gas tank frequently
- You spend at least $2,000 annually
- You don’t mind crowds and a few queue
- You own a Visa credit card (Costco only accepts Visa, Cash, Check, or Debit)
Costco Membership FAQs
What is the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee?
Costco is committed to providing quality and value on the products with a risk-free 100% satisfaction guarantee on both your membership and merchandise.
Can I shop at all Costco warehouses with my membership?
Yes, you can use your membership card at any Costco warehouse worldwide and online at Costco.com
Is Costco membership free now?
Costco doesn’t offer free or discounted memberships, but the cost of membership can be recovered quickly once you start shopping.
Can you share Costco membership with a friend?
Costco membership card is non-transferable, but you can share the experience with family and friends by following a several ways.
You can bring up to two guests to the Warehouse during each visit, if you have a card. However, purchasing items is exclusive to Costco members.
How many Costco cards can you have on one membership?
You can have two cards: one for primary member, plus a free household card for the member’s spouse/domestic partner, or anyone under 18 living at the same address.
What documents do I need for Costco membership?
You have to bring Email from Costco (with membership number), Valid government-issued photo identification, Business license (or three different pieces of business ID), Resale certificate (if applicable), Tobacco certificate (if applicable) to the Costco membership counter to pick up your new cards.
Does Costco take cash?
Costco accepts cash, checks, debit/ATM, EBT and Costco Cash Cards. Customers don’t always need to have a Visa card to pay for their Costco purchases.
How many members does Costco have 2021?
Costco has 111.6 million members as of September 2021. Costco has 288,000 employees, with 156,000+ of those working full-time.
How long does a Costco membership last?
Costco Membership is valid for one year at any Costco location worldwide, and at Costco.com. Once expires, all memberships must be renewed annually.
How do I pick up my Costco membership card?
Membership cards will not be mailed to you. You can obtain your new membership cards by visiting the membership counter of your local Costco.
Costco Overview
Costco requires its customers to have membership cards. As a result, most of the money Costco makes is through memberships rather than products.
In addition, Costco has an operating philosophy of keeping its product costs down to offer savings to its members, which is why the company is so popular.
James (Jim) Sinegal and Jeffrey H. Brotman opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle in 1983.
The company has products and services for business and home use at an affordable price. These include grocery, foods, automobile services, business delivery, optical, Pharmacy, etc.
Conclusion
Costco offers more than what a superstore can do best for savings, value, and convenience.
Therefore, this company continues to stand first as the largest retailer in the US. Investing in a Costco membership is a great way to buy in bulk and eat healthy on a budget.
In this post, we have covered everything about how much is a Costco membership and what you will get.
If the costs and benefits are suitable for you, you can go to the nearest Costco warehouse today if you consider being a member, and begin your happy shopping journey.