Can You Add People To Your Costco Membership?

Costco offers customers unbeatable prices on various in-store goods from coffee to golf clubs — so long as you're a card-carrying member, that is. You may be able to purchase Kirkland Signature craft beer in certain states (where charging people a Costco membership fee for alcohol is forbidden), but folks in the market for cheap deals on other merchandise are out of luck without signing up for a card. There are some ethically questionable tricks that can get you an annual Costco membership for free, but a less controversial method is to get an existing member to add you to their account.

Costco allows customers who are the primary account holders of Gold Star Memberships (either the regular or executive variety) to add one other individual to the account. However, this doesn't necessarily mean your friend who gets jealous every time you show them your Costco receipt can be included. Enrolled customers can only add someone over 16 years old who lives in the same household as the paying member. If your neighbor or bestie wants to take advantage of Costco's low prices, they'll have to pony up for their own card unless they happen to live with you.

The cheapest way to access Costco's low prices is with the regular Gold Star Membership, which currently costs $65 for a year of access to the big-box store. An Executive Membership costs double that and includes extra perks and opportunities to save some dough, but both plans have the same guidelines regarding how to acquire an additional card for someone in your household. As long as the second person meets the conditions of eligibility, all that's required to get a second card issued is to visit your account details page on Costco's website or to inform someone at the membership counter you'd like to add someone to your account.

Folks who have signed up for the Business Membership program can buy products from the warehouse for resale if they meet specific eligibility criteria. These members can add more people to their account than Gold Star participants (for a supplementary fee). They're still able to include one person in their household over the age of 16 for free, but each additional person beyond that will cost another $65 — the annual price of a Business Membership. This can be done either online, by visiting the membership counter at your local warehouse, or by giving Costco's Member Services number a call (if you're into sending faxes, you can contact the store to add someone that way as well).