Choosing the Right Booking Platform for Your Pilates Studio
If you’ve recently opened your Pilates studio or you’re considering getting started, the right booking platform is essential to help you save time, reduce no-shows and manage your clients and classes. But where do you start?
Key takeaways:
- Automated reminders and pre-payment will help prevent no-shows
- Many Pilates booking systems allow you to customise your customer experience with different tiers of features
- Look for ease of use for you and your clients when choosing a Pilates booking platform
Do you need a studio booking platform?
Technically, you don’t need a studio booking platform to open a Pilates studio, but it’s usually very helpful. Imagine: you open your studio taking cash in hand or card payment as people come through the door. At the beginning with a small client offering, this is manageable. You communicate your schedule with your clients face-to-face or on your website and social channels.
But then your schedule changes, you bring on new instructors, you want to offer more classes and you can’t solve your no-shows.
A Pilates booking system brings all of that back into your control – and in real time. With a schedule at their fingertips, your clients can plan their time and pre-pay for classes, keeping them accountable to turn up. You can also manage schedule changes, substitute your instructors and plan ahead, avoiding double bookings and giving you more time to focus on the other parts of running your business.
What Pilates studio booking platforms exist?
There are a few booking platforms out there and the best one will be the one that suits your unique needs. Things to consider when it comes to choosing your booking platform are:
- Size - how many customers do you have and what level of sophistication do you need from your booking system?
- Clients - who are your customers and do advanced card payments create a barrier for them?
- Goal - are you looking for a better way to manage your existing clients or are you looking to scale your business?
Answering these questions will help you determine what software you need. Platforms like Mindbody offer different tiers of membership depending on what you need from the platform and how much support you want to offer your clients. Other popular platforms like TeamUp give you the chance to dial up and dial down your offering based on how many clients you have.
What to look for when choosing your booking platform
You’ll probably be using your booking platform every day so it needs to work for you. Look for something which is easy to use and has a layout that you find easy to navigate. Then look at how easy it is for your clients to use. You want a simple process that won’t cause friction or additional unnecessary steps.
You can also think about automation which will reduce your chance of no-shows. This could be things like booking and billing reminders plus automatic membership renewal, helping you keep on track of your income as well as prevent no-shows.
Integration and customisation are your next considerations. If possible, look for a booking system that integrates with your current website or social media sites. It means that you will have a smooth booking system for your clients and save yourself the hassle of redirecting customers which can make booking less of a simple process. And, if you want your app to look like your studio, rather than a generic app, then you may want to think about custom branding offers on your preferred booking platform.
Finally, look into customer support. How much customer support are you able to offer your clients and what does it look like when they have a problem or a question?
FAQs
How do I choose the right booking platform for my Pilates classes?
The best booking software is the one that works for you and your clients. You’re looking for an easy to manage system which integrates with any existing software. Choose customisations for your business, such as automatic reminders, payment portals and communication channels for an extra level of support.
What should I look for in Pilates studio management software?
Look for ease, billing reminders, payment options, membership management, integration with your current software, branding options and customer support.
How much does Pilates booking software cost?
Booking software can depend on a number of factors, including how many customers you have or how advanced you want your software to be. You can expect to pay around £100 a month for your software.
What’s the easiest way to automate bookings and payments for Pilates?
The best way is through a booking system or app. You can set up your bank account and card details and also offer members the option to pay per class, in a pack or as a recurring membership.
How do I reduce no-shows and cancellations at my Pilates studio?
A booking system with automatic reminders and payment collection will hold people accountable to their classes, helping to stop no-shows and allowing you to manage your business with ease.