As providers of Yoga Studio Management Software, we know that one of the greatest challenges to growing a successful Yoga studio is managing the ongoing client administration.
There’s no hiding from it, more clients may mean more revenue. But they also mean more classes to manage, more client rescheduling, more chasing of payments and so on!
Yoga teachers need studio management software.
Thankfully there are many booking systems available which can help you reduce costs, save time, increase revenues and attract new customers.
But with so many options on the market, how do you choose the right management software for your Yoga studio?
Here are 4 steps to help you make the right choice!
Step 1. Do you run a small, medium or large studio?
Your software requirements will vary depending on the size and number of studios you run.
If you are just starting out, it will be important to keep your costs in check. You want a booking system that won’t break the bank which includes the essential features you will need to help manage your growing client base.
Seasoned owners of Yoga franchises might be happy to pay a bit more for advanced features which allow them to track business revenue from multiple locations and calculate payroll for multiple instructors.
Keep this in mind when comparing different software solutions.
Step 2. What are your non-negotiable features?
Every Yoga studio is different. What are the things your studio needs to be able to function smoothly which a booking system can provide?
For example, it could be online bookings, online payments, client self service, selling inventory, online marketing or all of the above.
From the customer side, students now expect to be able to book and manage their own bookings from their phone.
For studio owners, essential features are usually those which mean spending less time doing administration, especially as your studio grows.
Here are seven popular features recommended for Yoga studios regardless of size.
- Easy to Use:
- Software which is easy to use saves time.
- Online Bookings:
- Means you can accept bookings 24/7.
- Client Self Service:
- Allow customers to manage their own bookings 24/7 saves you time.
- Customisable:
- Create flexible pricing, waiting lists and studio rules specific to your studio.
- Recurring Bookings & Payments:
- Spend less time adding clients into classes.
- Integrated Payment Processing:
- Ensures clients pay upfront and minimises lost revenue.
- Mobile Apps:
- Ability to conveniently manage the software/bookings from a mobile phone.
Step 3. What are your non-essential features?
Non-essential booking software features are nice to have. You might want them, but you don’t need them. Watch out for them as they may incur extra cost.
For example, do you sell inventory like Yoga mats? If not, then this feature is not needed. If you do, then also consider that inventory management can quite easily, and often more cheaply, be performed by adding an e-commerce plugin to your website. Do a comparison.
What about branded apps? They sound cool, right? Consider that branded apps actually take time to make, cost more to maintain, and ultimately deliver the same functionality as a well-designed web-based (PWA) mobile app.
Plus there is no evidence to suggest they will help you grow your business in any way.
Step 4. Weigh up the cost
Once you have identified your essential features, start looking for Yoga studio software that fits, and falls within your price bracket.
When weighing up the cost of the booking software, here are some important things to consider:
- Is the software priced in your local currency or in a foreign currency?
- Does the software lock you into a contract? Contracts make it difficult to cancel should you need to, e.g. if your lease is terminated.
- Does the software have flexible pricing options? Moving between pricing plans can be a hassle if your plan is linked to teachers, locations or features.
- What are the local and international fees for card payment processing? Is it competitive and are there any other hidden costs?
In Summary
Yoga teachers need studio software to manage clients, bookings and payments. By following these 4 steps you’ll be able to narrow the field. Good luck!
