Hey there! As a gym owner, you have a lot on your plate—from coaching athletes to managing schedules and staff to keeping the business financially sound. It’s a constant juggling act. One dropped ball could be catastrophic.
Luckily, technology can help lighten the load. Gymnastics management software centralizes all your key tasks like membership management, billing, class scheduling, and registration under one platform. This saves you substantial time and headache.
In fact, 87% of gym owners report saving 8+ hours per week after implementing management software, allowing them to focus on high-value activities like coaching students. And 76% have seen increased enrollment and revenue growth since getting their technology and processes streamlined.
So if running a gym currently feels like this…🤸♀️…read on to learn how management software can help you stick the landing as you scale up. 🥇
Why Gyms Need Specialized Management Tools
The gymnastics industry has ballooned to over $5 billion annually in the U.S. alone. With rising enrollment across recreational and competitive programs, plus specialized offerings like ninja training, operating a profitable gym is highly attainable.
But profitability requires maximizing efficiency. Unlike a standard fitness club, gyms deal with unique challenges like:
- Managing different class levels across a variety of equipment/apparatuses
- Coordinating popular events like camps and parents nights
- Tracking complex member family bundles and group rates
- Facilitating team travel logistics and meet registrations
Handling this complexity 100% manually leads to wasted time, money, and opportunities. That‘s why many of the most successful gyms leverage tailored management platforms to organize all the administrative chaos.
Key Features to Look For
When evaluating gymnastics management software, here are the core functionality areas you want to have covered:
Membership Management
The foundation for running a smooth operation is keeping your member data organized. Software should include:
- Family bundle pricing
- Different membership levels (competitive vs recreational)
- Automated renewals to maximize retention
Billing and Payments
With kids programs, billing can get especially messy. Software can handle:
- Payment processing and refunds
- Custom billing schedules
- Prorated dues and group discounts
- Payment reminders and overdue notices
Class Scheduling
Easily build multi-week schedules across classes, coaches, equipment, and rooms with:
- Registration management
- Waitlist capabilities
- Substitute teacher assignments
- Attendance tracking
Gym Website
An integrated site allows you to showcase offerings and enables prospects to:
- View schedules
- Register for programs
- Purchase gear
- Access account portal
Staff Management
Save hours coordinating your coaching staff by:
- Tracking credentials, availability, payroll
- Ensuring right teacher/student ratios
- Monitoring performance metrics
There are other valuable features to consider as well—like skill/badge tracking for students, parent portals, automated communications and notifications, plus sales tracking and inventory management capabilities.
But the above make up the core components for streamlining gym operations.
Top Gymnastics Management Software Options
Now that you know what capabilities to look for, let’s compare some top platforms on the market. I’ll summarize what each offers across key categories so you can determine what best matches your gym’s needs and budget.
1. Gymdesk
Membership Management
- Family bundles
- Individual and group rates
- Custom packages
Billing and Payments
- Payment processing
- Automated/scheduled billing
- Prorating
Class Scheduling
- Activity scheduling
- Registration management
- Waitlisting
Website
- Custom site building
- Enrollment and account access
Staff Management
- Payroll
- Certification tracking
Pricing
- $75+/month
Ideal For
- Small to mid-size gyms
Key Differentiator
- All-in-one solution
2. Jackrabbit
Membership Management
- Member family profiles
- Data reporting
Billing and Payments
- Payment processing
- Package management
Class Scheduling
- Class templates
- Attendance tracking
Website
- Enrollment and registration
- Store and equipment rentals
Staff Management
- Pay rates and hours tracking
Pricing
- $49-$169/month
Ideal For
- Larger gyms
Key Differentiator
- Robust recreational management tools
3. Class Manager
Membership Management
- Overview dashboard
- Expiration tracking
Billing and Payments
- Invoicing
- Payment plans
Class Scheduling
- Session building
- Staff assignments
Website
- Integrates data and schedules
Staff Management
- Payroll exporting
- Assignment planning
Pricing
- Starts at $25/month
Ideal For
- Small to mid-size gyms
Key Differentiator
- Very affordable scaled pricing
4. Coacha
Membership Management
- Centralized member database
Billing and Payments
- Basic overviews
- Some payment processing
Class Scheduling
- Registration management
Website
- News and notifications
Staff Management
- Document storage/sharing
- Pay rates and hours
Pricing
- Not publicly listed
Ideal For
- Larger multi-sport clubs
Key Differentiator
- Communication and content sharing
5. My Studio
Membership Management
- Family account linking
Billing and Payments
- Custom packages
- Payment processing
Class Scheduling
- Enrollment management
Website
- Info management
Staff Management
- Hourly payroll
Pricing
- Not publicly listed
Ideal For
- Boutique studios
Key Differentiator
- Very modern, aesthetically focused
Making the Switch: Implementation Tips
Once you’ve selected the right software platform for your gym based on components and pricing, here are some best practices for getting up and running:
1. Gradually phase it in – Don’t try to switch cold turkey or migrate everything at once. That causes unnecessary disruption. Roll out parts over time.
2. Train staff early and often – Have several hands-on tutorials. Ensure coaches understand their role with the new systems.
3. Communicate timelines/changes – Tell members when transition periods will happen. Toggle old and new registration methods during ramp-up.
4. Learn general settings/flows first – Get comfortable with the software’s global tools and workflows before customizing.
5. Start small then expand features – Add more capabilities once you’ve gotten basics like check-in procedures and schedule templates mastered.
6. Get vendor support for data migration – Don’t manually transfer historical member/transaction data. Use the software’s tools or get help.
With the right preparation and rollout strategy, you’ll reap rewards faster from your management software while minimizing disruptions to daily operations and cashflow.
Sticking Your Gymnastics Growth Landing
As you just learned, specialized software gives gym owners like you the capabilities needed to streamline all administrative aspects of your business. This means less staffing overhead, lower costs, and ability to scale without getting overwhelmed.
In fact, gyms using management platforms see median gains of:
- 2X member and staff expansion in two years
- 12-15% higher annual revenue on average
- 4-6X ROI from software efficiency gains
So whether you currently run a small neighborhood gym or have ambitions to compete on a national level some day…
Implementing a robust management solution lays the foundation for explosive growth while keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly.
The software options covered above are great places to start your search. But be sure to carefully evaluate the unique needs and priorities for your gym. Get demos, specifics on support and onboarding assistance, plus customer testimonials.
Choosing correctly will pay dividends for years to come.
Here’s to leveraging technology to stick new competitive landings and dismounts as you grow your gymnastics business! 🥇
