---
title: Giving new members a starting balance | Pairc Goodman
description: Choose how many hours new members receive when they join, or give hours to someone by hand.
canonical: https://pairc-goodman.com/help/admins/admin_timebanking/admin_starting_balance
generated: 2026-10-24T02:14:49.524Z
---Hours and the Community Fund

# Giving new members a starting balance

Choose how many hours new members receive when they join, or give hours to someone by hand.

---

A starting balance gives new members a few hours so they can ask for help straight away.

## Setting the amount for everyone who joins

1. Open Platform Operations in the admin menu and press Settings.
2. Scroll down to Additional configuration.
3. In the Wallet & credits card, enter the number of hours under Starting balance.
4. Press Save Changes in that area.

New members receive the hours when they join. If your community approves members first, they receive them when they are approved. Enter 0 if you do not want to give a starting balance.

If this setting shows 0 but new members still receive hours, contact the platform team to check what is saved for your community.

## Giving hours to one person

Use this for members who joined before you set a starting balance, or for special cases.

1. Open Financial in the admin menu and press Starting Balances.
2. Under Grant Starting Credits, type the member's name or email in Search Member and choose them.
3. Enter the Credit Amount in hours.
4. Write a Reason. It is kept in the records.
5. Press Grant Credits.

The **Grant History** list shows every grant, who made it and when.

[Go to this page](/admin/timebanking/starting-balances)

## More guides in this topic

[Seeing how hours move in your community](/help/admins/admin_timebanking/admin_timebanking_overview) [Correcting a member's balance](/help/admins/admin_timebanking/admin_adjust_balance) [Using the Community Fund](/help/admins/admin_timebanking/admin_community_fund)

## Still need help?

If you can't find what you need, get in touch and a person will help you.

[Contact us](/contact)