Buying at Costco has many benefits, but it depends on a membership. That membership has an annual cost, so it makes sense that you want to hand over your Costco card to a family member or friend so they can also participate in the massive purchase
But any Costco member is likely to be aware of the retailer’s recent crackdown on card sharing at the checkout or before entering the store, which will no longer be so easy to do.
How many people can you add to the account?
The rule is quite simple when it comes to adding another person to your Costco membership. Any Costco member is entitled to add one additional person, for a total of two, to the account to enter and shop freely
But Costco does put a limitation on the additional member, who must be at least 16 years old and live in the same household. Technically, this would mean that adding your best friend, aunt or grandmother to your Costco membership would not be feasible, unless they live together.
How to add additional buyers to Costco business membership?
The above rules specifically apply to regular Costco memberships, known as Gold Star and Executive memberships. For its business membership program, there is more leeway for additional members
Business accounts can add up to six additional people on a single membership, according to the retailer’s app. It costs $65 per person, but that additional member can also share the card with someone in their household. Those people must be at least 16 years old and must have their own card present in order to shop in the store.
As a reminder, annual membership fees for personal accounts start at $65, which Costco recently increased for the first time in years, so it’s not much cheaper to add an additional person to a business account if you want to use that as a workaround
In any case, $65 a year is not too high a figure when you consider what you save by buying products in bulk, from paper towels to meats and even beer. Either way, you can add or change your secondary member on the Costco website so that you are not turned away at the door.