a "member" of a business most people think of Sams Club or country clubs, but membership programs can take on many forms. The following is an example of different types of membership programs, which include a business selling, (a) hard good products, (b) a company selling service, and lastly, (c) a company selling knowledge.   Every business on the planet will fall under one of these business categories so there is something to learn for every businessperson from the following three membership program examples:   Costco - Business and consumer supplies superstore.   Gold Star Membership - Allows consumers to purchase products for personal use at any Costco throughout the world.   Business Membership - Allows businesses to purchase products for business, personal and resale* use.   Executive Membership - Allows consumers and businesses to save money by offering exclusive services such as a 2% reward, business loans, and credit card processing, larger gift certificates for mortgage or real estate transactions, travel benefits and lower prices on check printing.   Hertz - Car rental company Hertz #1 Club - Private club number automatically fills out your information form, this speeding the rental process.   Hertz #1 Club Express - Available only to Hertz #1 Club members and provides an exclusive checkout counter for express members only.   Hertz #1 Awards - Available only to Hertz #1 Club members and allows you to earn points for every qualifying dollar you spend on business and leisure rentals that can be redeemed for prizes and air travel mileage.   Kennedy Inner Circle, Inc. - Marketing consulting services company   Silver Inner Circle - Receives monthly newsletter, periodic free tele-consulting calls, invitations to "marketing roundtables", and discounts on information products. Gold - Includes Silver membership benefits plus monthly taped interviews with marketing experts, exclusive additions to monthly newsletter, longer call-in consulting times, access to special members area of website containing newsletter past issues and articles, and receipt of three marketing books during the year. Gold+ - Includes Silver and Gold membership benefits plus one-on-one and group based tele-coaching, printed materials, additional coaching call-in days, and weekly success-stimulator faxes.