> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://itemstores.com/help/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Run a gift card store > Give people a balance to spend instead of their own money A gift card store is one where the people buying spend an allowance you gave them. Uniform programs, staff swag and reward catalogs all work this way. Each order paid with gift cards or points carries a redemption fee, billed to you rather than to the participant. The rates are in [Licenses and limits](/help/tutorials/licenses-and-limits). ## 1. Decide who can get in Go to [Stores](https://itemstores.com/app/stores), open the store, and select **Settings**, then the **Add-ons** tab. Turn on **Gated access** when the store should not be publicly reachable, such as a staff store. A gated store lets in invitees and anyone with a gift card. For a company or school, add the email domains under **Allowed domains** so people can join themselves. Add-ons with Gated access on and itemstores.com entered under Allowed domains An open store works too. Anyone can browse, and only gift card holders have a balance to spend. ## 2. Hand out the allowance Open the store's **Gift cards and participants** and select **Create gift card**. Set the **Amount** each person gets. **Single use** gives one card per person, and **Number of gift cards** creates a batch. Create separate batches to give different people different amounts. The Create a new gift card dialog for a single use card, with amount, code, number of gift cards and expiration date **Multi-use** is one shared code. Everyone who redeems it gets the full amount, once each. **Max uses** caps how many people can. The Create a new gift card dialog for a multi-use card, with amount, code, max uses and expiration date Creating a card sends nothing. Give each code out however you like. Select a code in the list to copy it. A customer enters it under **Redeem a gift card** in the store's account menu, or with **Join by email or gift card** on a gated store. Storefront view of the Redeem a gift card dialog On the **Participants** tab, **Invite** offers **Email invite** for one person and **Upload CSV** for a list. A nonzero **Starting balance**, or `amount` column in the CSV, issues that person a gift card for it. Each invite emails a sign-in link. The Invite participants chooser with the Email invite and Upload CSV tiles With allowed domains set, **Welcome gift card** issues a gift card to anyone who joins through one. Leave it at \$0.00 to issue none. The Welcome gift card dialog with an amount entered ## 3. Let them earn points Optional. Turn on **Loyalty program** under **Add-ons** and set an **Earn rate** in points per dollar. 1 point is worth 1 cent. A store runs either the loyalty program or **Buy now pay later**, not both. Add-ons with Loyalty program on, an earn rate of 2 points per dollar, and the preview of what a purchase earns ## What participants see A participant's **Balance** is their gift card funds plus their points. It shows in the store's account menu and is applied at checkout automatically, points first. Storefront view of the account menu, with the Balance and points, Your orders, and Redeem a gift card ## Keeping track The **Gift cards** tab shows each card's status, what remains on it, and how many people hold it. The **Participants** tab shows each person's points, gift card funds and Balance. The Gift cards tab with status tabs, Filters, and cards showing amount, remaining, holders and status Everything above in reference form is in [Gift cards and participants](/help/knowledge-base/stores/participants). This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.