Practical guides on billing, payment recovery, pricing strategy, and member retention — from 35 years of helping martial arts schools and fitness studios get paid.
Our team will review your billing setup and show you exactly where you're losing money — for free, no strings attached.
194 articles
Some students never chose to leave. A card expired or a payment failed and nobody called. How to win back members lost to failed payments and stop it repeating.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
What to ask when a student cancels, how to write down the reason, and how to say goodbye so a friendly win-back message later feels welcome instead of pushy.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Comeback discounts teach former students and current members to wait for a sale. See what pricing research says and five win-back offers that work better.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Copy-ready win-back message templates for martial arts students and gym members who cancelled, sorted by why they left, in text, email, and phone versions.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
How to win back former martial arts students and gym members without a discount: who to contact, when to reach out, what to say, and what to offer instead.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
View the 2027 Month-End Funding Disbursement Schedule from Member Solutions. Find disbursement dates to plan your financial timeline throughout 2027.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A martial arts school owner's order of operations for AI automation: what to automate first, what to automate later, and what should always stay a person's job.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
AI receptionists for martial arts schools: what they actually do and how to tell if you're missing enough after-hours leads to justify one.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A martial arts school owner's honest guide to AI: what saves real time (billing, parent comms, lead response) and what's still hype you can skip.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Your website gets visits but not signups? Here's what turns a website visitor into an actual lead, and how to track what's working once they do.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Running a back-to-school promotion? Here's the 4-week system: landing page, enrollment form, follow-up emails, and UTM tracking, with templates.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most martial arts school back-to-school promotions don't convert. Here are the three most common reasons, and what to do differently this year.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most member churn is decided long before renewal ever comes up. Here's exactly what needs to happen in a new member's first 30 days to keep them engaged.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Handling a membership freeze request well protects revenue and brings members back. Here's how to respond, set a real return date, and actually get them back on active billing.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
The specific, copy-paste AI prompts martial arts school owners actually reach for weekly, for parent emails, social captions, and tough conversations.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Parents ask teachers before they ever Google anything. Here's how martial arts schools build local school referrals before September enrollment hits.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most martial arts school and gym emails get ignored right at the subject line, and it shows up directly in your open rate. Here's what actually gets members to open them, and how to fix it fast.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A packed open house or tournament means nothing if nobody captures leads or follows up. These are the event planning mistakes that turn a big turnout into zero new enrollments.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
An honest 2026 comparison of martial arts school software, ranking 7 platforms on the question most roundups skip: what happens when a payment fails?
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Retention gimmicks like challenges and promos only go so far. Here's what actually keeps martial arts school and gym members for life.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Martial arts schools switching from Mindbody cite pricing, locked-in processing, and slow cancellations. Here's the pattern, and what a good switch looks like.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn why martial arts school and gym members resist price increases, and the specific timing and framing changes that actually reduce pushback.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Back-to-school enrollment can outpace your billing systems fast. Here's how to set up martial arts school billing and family accounts before the fall rush hits.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most martial arts school newsletters are just event announcements, and members stop opening them. These newsletter content ideas give you a monthly mix members actually read.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Acquiring a martial arts school or gym? Learn what happens to member and billing data during the handoff, and how to protect the members you're paying for.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Discounts rarely fix why martial arts schools lose members. See the real reasons behind cancellations and how to audit discounts before the next one.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Billing software works fine until it doesn't. Here are 7 signs your martial arts school has outgrown DIY billing and needs a service that handles follow-up too.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Run this admin time audit to calculate what manual billing really costs your martial arts school each month, in hours and dollars, then see what to fix.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Failed payments don't have to mean an awkward front-desk talk in front of parents and their kids. Get scripts and systems to handle declines with confidence.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Long-term contracts or month-to-month billing? An honest look at both sides of the martial arts membership debate, with a real example from Easton BJJ.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn how to sell martial arts school membership contracts without sounding pushy. Practical scripts, objection handling, and closing tips included.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Family billing errors quietly drain martial arts school revenue. Use this 2-minute demo test and 10-point checklist before you sign a contract.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Billing software gives you tools to collect payments — you run it. A billing service gives you a team that runs it for you, including human follow-up on failed payments.
Chris Fossenier
Martial arts billing runs ~$99/mo for software-plus-service up to a percentage of revenue. The real cost most owners miss: revenue lost to unrecovered failed payments.
Chris Fossenier
Most schools can run their own billing — until a payment fails. Here's the honest in-house vs. outsourced breakdown, including who chases the declined card.
Chris Fossenier
An honest head-to-head between the two most similar billing partners in fitness. The real difference: a human team doing recovery vs. automated retries plus a strong support team.
Chris Fossenier
When a payment fails, most software sends an automated email and retries the card, then writes it off. Real recovery means a person follows up — here's the difference.
Chris Fossenier
How to reduce gym cancellations in summer before the slump hits. A 4-step playbook from Member Solutions with data, scripts, and tools already in your account.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Peter Malik of World Martial Arts Palo Alto built a 185-student school on community, transparent policies, and a pricing strategy his members trust. Here's how.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Shane Nizzardo of Underground Fitness has been open for 19 years without contracts, without locking members in, and without the model that took his competitors down. Here's how.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Members don't hate your gym policies. They hate being surprised by them. Here's how to enforce your rules in a way that builds trust instead of breaking it.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Price increases don't have to mean cancellations. Here's a step-by-step framework for announcing rate changes — with scripts your members will actually respect.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Real newsletter templates for martial arts schools — belt milestones, tournament announcements, and lapsed student win-backs. Copy, edit, send tonight.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
When a member goes quiet, the right message can bring them back. 5 copy-and-paste gym member re-engagement templates - one for every stage of absence.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Summer gym member retention starts in May, not June. Here's why members quit in summer, the early warning signs, and what to do before the drift begins.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Your gym event is only half the job. Here's the gym event follow-up system most owners skip - the one that turns attendees into loyal members and guests into sign-ups.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most gym events are fun but forgettable. Here's a proven gym events for retention framework - plan events that strengthen member loyalty and actually reduce churn.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
When should you automate follow-ups? Learn which messages AI can handle and which need your personal touch.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Generic AI content sounds robotic. These 5 AI prompts for Gyms help write content in YOUR voice. Copy-paste templates included.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Stop spending hours on social media. Use these easy prompts to create AI social media content for gyms. Includes copy-paste templates.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Curious how to use AI for gym marketing? Most gym owners make this common mistake. Here's the 3-sentence framework that fixes it.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
AI for gym owners? AI won't replace you, but it WILL save you hours on marketing. Learn how ChatGPT can automate posts, emails, and more.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Is switching membership management software really as painful as everyone says? Okay, let's just be honest with each other for a second. You're probably...
Mary-Margaret Bennett
How do I find help with Member Solutions fast?
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Create membership billing services policies that retain members while building trust. Learn what makes billing policies clear and effective.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Stop billing problems before they start. Learn the essential billing conversation every gym, dojo or club should support at member signup.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn what your members actually expect when payments fail. Use our member retention guide to help prevent silent cancellations.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Discover the most damaging billing mistake that causes members to quit. Reduce customer churn with clear, immediate payment communication.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn why membership billing feels awkward and how to reframe it as professional communication. Get strategies to handle payment conversations with confidence and clarity.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn how your martial arts school can get more martial arts students using school programs, retention strategies, and billing systems.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
The digital fitness market hits $15.7B in 2026. We broke down what that means for gym owners, studio operators, and martial arts schools — no hype, just data.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A look back at our biggest platform improvements this year and a preview of what we’re building next.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn how to build stronger memberships in 2026 through smarter pricing, clearer value communication, and better member experience systems.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
In this interview, Mary-Margaret sits down with Michael to explore the vision, process, and innovation shaping the future of Member Manager.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
We gathered the top 2026 membership-based industry trends so you don’t have to. Explore what they mean for your studio.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Members don’t pick the cheapest option — they pick the one that feels most valuable. A pricing strategy guide built on 35 years of billing data from 11,000+ schools.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Discover how the recent AWS outage affected Member Solutions and grab your outage checklist to keep your business running smoothly.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
View the 2026 Month-End Funding Disbursement Schedule from Member Solutions. Find disbursement dates to plan your financial timeline throughout 2026.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
The churn rate formula, explained with real examples, plus why monthly churn compounds into a much bigger annual number than most calculators show.
Chris Fossenier
Full guide on invoice automation for membership businesses in 2026: benefits, examples, practical tips and implementation strategies.
Chris Fossenier
Explore creative member appreciation ideas to boost loyalty, strengthen relationships, and make your members feel truly valued.
Chris Fossenier
15 membership business ideas with real startup costs, margins, and billing advice. From fitness studios to coaching to subscription boxes — practical playbooks for recurring revenue.
Chris Fossenier
Discounts aren't incentives — they're margin killers. 12 membership incentive ideas that actually boost engagement and retention. From 35 years of billing data.
Chris Fossenier
Most schools lose members over billing — not price. Here's how to build a membership pricing strategy that attracts the right members, keeps them longer, and doesn't fall apart when a credit card declines.
Chris Fossenier
Subscription vs. membership: after 35 years managing 11,000+ schools and studios, here's the real difference and which model actually fits fitness businesses.
Chris Fossenier
Find boxing gym name ideas for classic, modern, high-end, and community gyms—plus expert tips on branding, marketing, and growing your business.
Chris Fossenier
Retention beats acquisition every time. These 15 strategies — from billing flexibility to community building — help gyms and studios keep the members they already have.
Chris Fossenier
8 types of gym memberships: monthly, annual, class packs, family plans, and more, each with hidden billing complexity. 35 years of data on which actually work.
Chris Fossenier
Copy-and-paste payment reminder email templates for every stage, from friendly nudge to final notice. Built from 35 years of billing for gyms, studios, and martial arts schools.
Vanessa Gonyea
Learn how to collect past due invoices, recover payments faster, and improve cash flow while maintaining strong customer relationships.
Vanessa Gonyea
Payment disputes cost you money and members. Here's a step-by-step process for resolving chargebacks, preventing future disputes, and keeping relationships intact.
Vanessa Gonyea
Learn how tiered pricing works and why it’s effective for membership businesses. Check this 2025 guide for key strategies, benefits, and practical tips.
Vanessa Gonyea
Most CrossFit boxes don't fail because of bad programming — they fail because of billing, pricing, and retention mistakes. Here are the 7 that kill the most gyms.
Chris Fossenier
Avoid common mistakes and learn what to do when dealing with negative gym reviews to protect and strengthen your gym’s reputation.
Chris Fossenier
Turn school breaks into business wins. Use off-season camps to attract new families, boost student retention, and grow your martial arts income.
Chris Fossenier
Stop wasting money on weak ads. Learn how top-performing Taekwondo schools market smarter, follow up better, and turn leads into lifelong students.
Chris Fossenier
Best gym, club & studio membership software, 10 platforms ranked: Mindbody, Glofox, Zen Planner, PushPress, and more. Scored on features and payment recovery.
Chris Fossenier
We tested the AI tools gym owners are actually using — for scheduling, member comms, marketing, and billing. Here's what saves time and what's just hype.
Chris Fossenier
See why blending martial arts VR training with traditional methods offers the best path to grow your school and engage modern students.
Chris Fossenier
Use our guide on gym membership invoice templates and advanced billing tools to improve member retention, legal compliance, and financial tracking.
Chris Fossenier
Gym exit surveys provide valuable insights to improve your services and keep more members engaged longer. Find out how to get started.
Chris Fossenier
How gym and studio owners are turning TikTok fitness trends into real members — not generic social media advice, but strategies that drive enrollment.
Chris Fossenier
Boost your gym’s membership sales with proven strategies for pricing, follow-ups, tours, and tech tools that simplify and enhance the sales process.
Todd Blyth
Cutting gym membership prices feels logical but tanks your revenue and attracts the wrong members. Here's what owners who keep 30%+ margins do instead.
Vanessa Gonyea
Increase gym revenue by improving retention, expanding services, and cutting inefficiencies. These tips work for all types of fitness businesses.
Chris Fossenier
Average gym profit margins run 10-15%, but top performers hit 30%+. The difference: failed payments, underpricing, and revenue leaks you can fix.
Vanessa Gonyea
Most dojos lose $2K-$5K/month in failed payments they never notice. 10 revenue strategies for martial arts schools that won't compromise your teaching or community.
Vanessa Gonyea
Discover the best CrossFit ads that actually convert prospects into members. See proven examples, learn what works, and get actionable strategies to grow your gym.
Chris Fossenier
Learn effective Pilates studio marketing strategies to attract more clients, boost retention, and streamline your business with the right tools.
Chris Fossenier
Six martial arts marketing strategies to attract new students: website, local SEO, paid ads, social media, email/SMS, and community events.
Chris Fossenier
Start and scale your yoga retreat business with confidence. Learn how to plan, price, market, and manage transformational retreats anywhere in the world.
Todd Blyth
Learn how to plan, promote, and manage fitness challenges that boost motivation, drive sign-ups, and turn participants into long-term members.
Chris Fossenier
The best personal training software compared: Trainerize, TrueCoach, My PT Hub, PTminder, Everfit, Mindbody. Scored on features and failed-payment handling.
Chris Fossenier
Real-world guide to opening a BJJ gym — startup costs, location, mats, insurance, billing setup, and the operational details most guides skip.
Chris Fossenier
Get more out of your fitness studio marketing. Use these strategies to grow your membership, engage your community, and ensure long-term success.
Chris Fossenier
Starting a group fitness training program requires planning. Learn how to create sessions, train coaches, and build a community to achieve success.
Todd Blyth
These actionable client retention tips for martial arts gyms will help you reduce dropouts, boost revenue, and build a stronger training community.
Chris Fossenier
Learn proven strategies for selling personal training packages that convert prospects into long-term clients. Create, price, and market packages that sell.
Avery Leary
Build a high-converting gym referral program and avoid common mistakes. Explore examples, tracking tips, and the best incentives to offer your members.
Chris Fossenier
150+ boxing gym name ideas sorted by vibe — classic, modern, high-end, and community-focused. Plus how to check availability and pick a name that attracts members.
Chris Fossenier
Wondering how to brand a martial arts studio? This step-by-step guide helps you stand out, attract students, and stay true to your values.
Chris Fossenier
Learn how to boost membership with actionable strategies like referral programs, local marketing, and optimizing the first 30 days for new members.
Todd Blyth
How much does it cost to start a boxing gym? Full line-by-line breakdown of rent, equipment, renovations, and insurance — plus funding options most new owners miss.
Todd Blyth
A genuinely fair comparison of Glofox, Mindbody, and Member Solutions — pricing, features, billing, and the question no comparison post answers.
Chris Fossenier
Real martial arts ad examples that fill dojos with students — Facebook, Instagram, Google, and local marketing strategies. What works and why, with screenshots.
Chris Fossenier
Improve your coaching skills, business strategies, and client retention with these must-read personal trainer blogs from industry experts.
Chris Fossenier
Find the best software for Aikido dojos to simplify administration, track rank progress, manage payments, and enhance engagement. Start optimizing today.
Chris Fossenier
7 honest Glofox alternatives for fitness & martial arts studios — pricing, strengths, and the one thing switchers forget to check: who recovers failed payments.
Chris Fossenier
Launch your own Taekwondo school with a detailed business plan. Learn how to attract students, set goals, and plan for long-term success.
Todd Blyth
Gym newsletter ideas for fitness studios and martial arts schools: member spotlights, win-back emails, event promos, and seasonal sends. Ready to copy and use.
Chris Fossenier
Want more students in your martial arts school? Discover a content strategy that builds trust, drives sign-ups, and grows your business effectively.
Chris Fossenier
Looking to strengthen your martial arts student retention? Consider these 3 communications that can be sent by email, text, and mail.
Todd Blyth
How do you move your martial arts & fitness members to ACH payments without disrupting their payment experience? Follow these tips
Avery Leary
Whether you’re running a week-long Summer camp or a one-hour self-defense seminar, the key to attracting event participants lies in effective marketing.
Chris Fossenier
Unlock the secrets to make your gym profitable—from adjusting membership pricing to exploring alternate revenue streams.
Todd Blyth
Enhance your martial arts business through financial planning. Tips to boost financial health, set clear goals, and more.
Chris Fossenier
Master your growth today! Unlock the potential of KPIs and financial monitoring for your martial arts school. Learn more now.
Vanessa Gonyea
Alternative sources to diversify income and accelerate cash flow for your martial arts school. Learn more.
Chris Fossenier
Multiply memberships. Boost gym revenue. 6 tiered membership pricing ideas for martial arts schools and fitness studios.
Chris Fossenier
Have you ever stopped to think about how incredible your community is?
Chris Fossenier
Using paper contracts? Switching to online student enrollment can bring many long-term benefits to your martial arts business. Discover the advantages.
Chris Fossenier
Simple ways to give your martial arts school a productivity boost—from spring cleaning your online presence to prepping for Spring events.
Chris Fossenier
What’s one of the most valuable assets a martial arts business can have?
Chris Fossenier
Keep your business running around the clock (and elevate your members' experience!) with these martial arts business tools. Learn more!
Chris Fossenier
February is more than just hearts and candy for your sweetie; it’s a time to shower your business with some L-O-V-E by way of lead generation and new member...
Chris Fossenier
Picture it: sunshine, BBQs firing up, and the anticipation of days spent by the pool. And of course, school will be out before you know it.
Chris Fossenier
Uncover effective methods to increase gym revenue. From optimizing pricing to improving operations, these strategies can maximize earnings.
Vanessa Gonyea
The new year lurking … hovering over your shoulder … whispering in your ear … “Psstt… hey … when are you going to make a plan for me?”
Chris Fossenier
Simple Fall events, activities, and offers to strengthen retention and attract new martial arts students.
Chris Fossenier
How to quickly and easily eliminate common event registration barriers — and maximize event sign-ups and payments.
Tyler Snyder
These easy-to-use metrics can help make your sales team more effective and significantly increase your gym membership selling skills.
Tyler Snyder
This year, more than ever, people in your community are ready to get back to a routine of in-school learning and after-school sports and activities. And,...
Chris Fossenier
It shouldn’t come as any surprise: online shopping is surging. COVID-19 lockdowns made many of the in-person shopping methods we all used for years an...
Chris Fossenier
Email marketing can make or break your fitness membership sales process. Great emails increase membership sales while bad emails will send your hard-earned...
Chris Fossenier
Think back to Fall of 2019, and…Woah, the way you do business certainly has changed!
Chris Fossenier
You’re familiar with members not paying on time. And even familiar with non-payments. And, like most small business owners, you’re all-too familiar with...
Chris Fossenier
Few things are more important to your studio’s financial well-being than your recurring member payments.
Chris Fossenier
Secondly, your business temporarily closed.
Chris Fossenier
Don't let member payments disappear. Use these tips to encourage prompt payment and reduce delinquency rates for your martial arts business.
Vanessa Gonyea
As an owner or manager of a business, you’ve likely heard of a Profit and Loss Statement (also known as a P & L Statement). But do you know what it is and...
Chris Fossenier
Looking for more ways to market your martial arts school? Read our 5-step process about how you can start getting leads from birthday party packages.
Chris Fossenier
Did you know that you could be losing members without even knowing it? Find out how to spot involuntary attrition and prevent it from hurting your business.
Vanessa Gonyea
Do you send an email newsletter for your business? If the answer is yes, great! You’ll see some great tips later on to get your email newsletters performing...
Chris Fossenier
A good sales process is less of an outright pitch and more of a dialogue that helps your prospect envision success with you.
Avery Leary
Asking your students for money is never easy. When a member of your martial arts school doesn’t pay on time, it’s tempting to let the delinquency slide to...
Chris Fossenier
The core of the trial membership martial arts discussion is attracting new people to your school while maintaining and demonstrating value.
Avery Leary
Member-owner relationships are a bit like marriages. You work hard to cultivate strong, long-lasting bonds. You do all you can to show you care and provide...
Chris Fossenier
Need summer conversions at your martial arts school? Try guerrilla marketing. We assure you it has nothing to do with bringing an actual gorilla along with...
Chris Fossenier
Explore these 11 tips to increase your martial arts event marketing and attract new members at community events in your area.
Chris Fossenier
We’re excited to say that we just launched the new Event Manager Dashboard! For anyone who is unfamiliar with Event Manager, it is a simple, powerful online...
Chris Fossenier
Need more members for your martial arts school? Follow these tips about how to use our email templates to convert more leads to full-time members.
Avery Leary
Need event ideas for your martial arts school, gym, community group, or another organization? With autumn approaching, you’ll have lots of opportunities to...
Chris Fossenier
16 classroom-tested tips for keeping kids enrolled in your martial arts program, from age-specific classes to achievement systems that build loyalty.
Tyler Snyder
Client Question: I am opening a new business soon. Can you provide some ideas to drive traffic to my business on our grand opening event day?
Chris Fossenier
We have read the headlines and listened to newscasts of the global economic crisis. Consumers are fearful and are not spending their hard-earned dollars as...
Chris Fossenier
The most successful gym and fitness business owners understand that gaining a new member is just the beginning. Over time, your members become much more...
Chris Fossenier
Here are eight helpful tips for you to consider before buying an existing martial arts school or fitness facility.
Avery Leary
Summer’s coming and I’m worried. A lot of our students, both children and adult students, took extended vacations last year and then never came back. Any advice you can give? Ways I could be proactive … increase my chances that students will take part in training during the summer and return after vacation? Korbett Miller’s […]
Avery Leary
Client Question: What Term membership length is best? What cancel notice period is optimal for ongoing memberships? Which one should I use?
Chris Fossenier
Client Question: I’m thinking of opening another location. What are the most important considerations to keep in mind before taking this big step?
Chris Fossenier
Question: I”m thinking of opening another location. What are the most important considerations to keep in mind before taking this big step?
Chris Fossenier
A camp. A clinic. A tournament. No matter which type of event you’re hosting, you have to get the word out and you need to get people to sign up for it....
Chris Fossenier
It doesn’t matter what kind of martial arts studio or fitness business you run. The goal is the same: to grow in both size and reputation Networking within...
Chris Fossenier
The #1 and #2 reasons for offering any event at your school are retention and new memberships. In last week’s post, I provided tips to help you get your...
Chris Fossenier
Membership programs have become one of the most effective ways for organizations to build loyalty, create stable revenue streams, and nurture strong...
Chris Fossenier
Why do some martial arts studios have 50 students while others have 500?
Chris Fossenier
“I’ve tried special events. They don’t work. I never get new enrollments from them.”
Chris Fossenier
The 27th of March was a good news day for me. One of my General Managers called to inform me that my two Krav Maga schools were ranked #1 and #2 in the...
Chris Fossenier
Our three-week martial arts summer camps usually bring in $12,000.00 to $15,000.00 each. We look forward to these events as a way to generate more revenue...
Chris Fossenier
Anyone who follows the show Game of Thrones knows the famous saying, “Winter is coming,” which is a warning of difficult times to come.
Chris Fossenier
The truth is that price is just one of the objections you’ll face during membership selling. In order to turn a hesitant prospect into a long-term member,...
Chris Fossenier
![The Essential Event Pick List for Martial Arts Schools [Infographic]](/images/blog/Martial-Arts-School-Event-Pick-List-Member-Solutions.webp)
Running an event is arguably one of the best things you can do for your martial arts business. Doing so provides three great benefits:
Chris Fossenier
A written billing agreement ― otherwise known as a membership contact — is a standard business document used by many membership-based businesses. Every day,...
Chris Fossenier
We are in an industry where you have to work hard consistently to build your school over time. It’s about establishing your reputation and identity in the...
Chris Fossenier
How you prepare for the back-to-school season can dictate the success of your martial arts business for the entire year. Also, for the best results, you...
Chris Fossenier
The more registrations you get for your events, the more opportunity you create to grow your business, camp, sports league, or organization.
Chris Fossenier
Want to know more about managing finances as a business owner? Read our cheat sheet of essential financial terms that will help you understand your money.
Vanessa Gonyea
Confused about Facebook ads? You’re not the only one.
Chris Fossenier
The start of your summer camp may be months away, but marketing your camp needs to happen now when families are planning their summer activities. The...
Chris Fossenier
“What do you mean they’re disputing the charge? They signed a contract!”
Chris Fossenier
Marketing is one of the important keys to a successful martial arts school. Unfortunately, many school owners get overwhelmed and lost in all the options...
Chris Fossenier
How to overcome objections in sales? Learn practical strategies for membership business to handle customer objections effectively.
Tyler Snyder
What’s a Good Member Retention Rate for Fitness & Martial Arts Programs?
Chris Fossenier
In the membership business world, growth doesn’t just depend on acquiring new customers. It hinges on knowing how to reduce customer churn, i.e., keeping...
Chris Fossenier
Everything you need to launch a back-to-school campaign that fills seats.
Simple, friendly scripts for the commitment conversation a lot of school owners struggle with.
Five ready-to-send emails — re-engagement, milestone, community, value, and check-in — with copy templates for all five.
Ready-to-copy subject lines for re-engagement, announcements, pricing updates, and community emails.
A 12-month plan for what to send your members every month — so you're never starting from a blank screen.
Word-for-word scripts for the conversations every gym owner dreads.
15 ready-to-send messages to keep members engaged all summer long.
Copy-and-paste messages for members, guests, and no-shows, sent within 48 hours.
Plan your next gym event in 20 minutes, with a follow-up plan already built in.
Templates, scripts, and checklists from the 5th-visit milestone to creating gym loyalists.
Scripts, templates, and checklists for handling billing issues without losing members.
97 Display's lead gen experts show what to fix on your site so more visitors fill out your forms.
Matthew Brenner's proven school outreach strategy that's generated $42K+ from a single day of effort.
Why contract members stay longer, how to bring it up without making it awkward, and what to say when a member pushes back.
The Member Solutions features that stop the 10–15% summer member drop — and how to turn them on before summer starts.
Five simple, repeatable event formats that strengthen member retention without breaking the bank.
Why most facilities lose 40-50% of new members in 30 days, and the proven checklist to fix it.
Matthew Brenner's proven strategy that generates $42K+ from a single day of outreach.
Some students never chose to leave. A card expired or a payment failed and nobody called. How to win back members lost to failed payments and stop it repeating.
What to ask when a student cancels, how to write down the reason, and how to say goodbye so a friendly win-back message later feels welcome instead of pushy.
Comeback discounts teach former students and current members to wait for a sale. See what pricing research says and five win-back offers that work better.
Some students never chose to leave. A card expired or a payment failed and nobody called. How to win back members lost to failed payments and stop it repeating.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
What to ask when a student cancels, how to write down the reason, and how to say goodbye so a friendly win-back message later feels welcome instead of pushy.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Comeback discounts teach former students and current members to wait for a sale. See what pricing research says and five win-back offers that work better.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Copy-ready win-back message templates for martial arts students and gym members who cancelled, sorted by why they left, in text, email, and phone versions.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
How to win back former martial arts students and gym members without a discount: who to contact, when to reach out, what to say, and what to offer instead.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
View the 2027 Month-End Funding Disbursement Schedule from Member Solutions. Find disbursement dates to plan your financial timeline throughout 2027.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A martial arts school owner's order of operations for AI automation: what to automate first, what to automate later, and what should always stay a person's job.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
AI receptionists for martial arts schools: what they actually do and how to tell if you're missing enough after-hours leads to justify one.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A martial arts school owner's honest guide to AI: what saves real time (billing, parent comms, lead response) and what's still hype you can skip.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Your website gets visits but not signups? Here's what turns a website visitor into an actual lead, and how to track what's working once they do.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Running a back-to-school promotion? Here's the 4-week system: landing page, enrollment form, follow-up emails, and UTM tracking, with templates.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most martial arts school back-to-school promotions don't convert. Here are the three most common reasons, and what to do differently this year.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most member churn is decided long before renewal ever comes up. Here's exactly what needs to happen in a new member's first 30 days to keep them engaged.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Handling a membership freeze request well protects revenue and brings members back. Here's how to respond, set a real return date, and actually get them back on active billing.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
The specific, copy-paste AI prompts martial arts school owners actually reach for weekly, for parent emails, social captions, and tough conversations.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Parents ask teachers before they ever Google anything. Here's how martial arts schools build local school referrals before September enrollment hits.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most martial arts school and gym emails get ignored right at the subject line, and it shows up directly in your open rate. Here's what actually gets members to open them, and how to fix it fast.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A packed open house or tournament means nothing if nobody captures leads or follows up. These are the event planning mistakes that turn a big turnout into zero new enrollments.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
An honest 2026 comparison of martial arts school software, ranking 7 platforms on the question most roundups skip: what happens when a payment fails?
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Retention gimmicks like challenges and promos only go so far. Here's what actually keeps martial arts school and gym members for life.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Martial arts schools switching from Mindbody cite pricing, locked-in processing, and slow cancellations. Here's the pattern, and what a good switch looks like.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn why martial arts school and gym members resist price increases, and the specific timing and framing changes that actually reduce pushback.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Back-to-school enrollment can outpace your billing systems fast. Here's how to set up martial arts school billing and family accounts before the fall rush hits.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most martial arts school newsletters are just event announcements, and members stop opening them. These newsletter content ideas give you a monthly mix members actually read.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Acquiring a martial arts school or gym? Learn what happens to member and billing data during the handoff, and how to protect the members you're paying for.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Discounts rarely fix why martial arts schools lose members. See the real reasons behind cancellations and how to audit discounts before the next one.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Billing software works fine until it doesn't. Here are 7 signs your martial arts school has outgrown DIY billing and needs a service that handles follow-up too.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Run this admin time audit to calculate what manual billing really costs your martial arts school each month, in hours and dollars, then see what to fix.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Failed payments don't have to mean an awkward front-desk talk in front of parents and their kids. Get scripts and systems to handle declines with confidence.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Long-term contracts or month-to-month billing? An honest look at both sides of the martial arts membership debate, with a real example from Easton BJJ.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn how to sell martial arts school membership contracts without sounding pushy. Practical scripts, objection handling, and closing tips included.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Family billing errors quietly drain martial arts school revenue. Use this 2-minute demo test and 10-point checklist before you sign a contract.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Billing software gives you tools to collect payments — you run it. A billing service gives you a team that runs it for you, including human follow-up on failed payments.
Chris Fossenier
Martial arts billing runs ~$99/mo for software-plus-service up to a percentage of revenue. The real cost most owners miss: revenue lost to unrecovered failed payments.
Chris Fossenier
Most schools can run their own billing — until a payment fails. Here's the honest in-house vs. outsourced breakdown, including who chases the declined card.
Chris Fossenier
An honest head-to-head between the two most similar billing partners in fitness. The real difference: a human team doing recovery vs. automated retries plus a strong support team.
Chris Fossenier
When a payment fails, most software sends an automated email and retries the card, then writes it off. Real recovery means a person follows up — here's the difference.
Chris Fossenier
How to reduce gym cancellations in summer before the slump hits. A 4-step playbook from Member Solutions with data, scripts, and tools already in your account.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Peter Malik of World Martial Arts Palo Alto built a 185-student school on community, transparent policies, and a pricing strategy his members trust. Here's how.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Shane Nizzardo of Underground Fitness has been open for 19 years without contracts, without locking members in, and without the model that took his competitors down. Here's how.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Members don't hate your gym policies. They hate being surprised by them. Here's how to enforce your rules in a way that builds trust instead of breaking it.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Price increases don't have to mean cancellations. Here's a step-by-step framework for announcing rate changes — with scripts your members will actually respect.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Real newsletter templates for martial arts schools — belt milestones, tournament announcements, and lapsed student win-backs. Copy, edit, send tonight.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
When a member goes quiet, the right message can bring them back. 5 copy-and-paste gym member re-engagement templates - one for every stage of absence.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Summer gym member retention starts in May, not June. Here's why members quit in summer, the early warning signs, and what to do before the drift begins.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Your gym event is only half the job. Here's the gym event follow-up system most owners skip - the one that turns attendees into loyal members and guests into sign-ups.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most gym events are fun but forgettable. Here's a proven gym events for retention framework - plan events that strengthen member loyalty and actually reduce churn.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
When should you automate follow-ups? Learn which messages AI can handle and which need your personal touch.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Generic AI content sounds robotic. These 5 AI prompts for Gyms help write content in YOUR voice. Copy-paste templates included.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Stop spending hours on social media. Use these easy prompts to create AI social media content for gyms. Includes copy-paste templates.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Curious how to use AI for gym marketing? Most gym owners make this common mistake. Here's the 3-sentence framework that fixes it.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
AI for gym owners? AI won't replace you, but it WILL save you hours on marketing. Learn how ChatGPT can automate posts, emails, and more.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Is switching membership management software really as painful as everyone says? Okay, let's just be honest with each other for a second. You're probably...
Mary-Margaret Bennett
How do I find help with Member Solutions fast?
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Create membership billing services policies that retain members while building trust. Learn what makes billing policies clear and effective.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Stop billing problems before they start. Learn the essential billing conversation every gym, dojo or club should support at member signup.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn what your members actually expect when payments fail. Use our member retention guide to help prevent silent cancellations.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Discover the most damaging billing mistake that causes members to quit. Reduce customer churn with clear, immediate payment communication.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn why membership billing feels awkward and how to reframe it as professional communication. Get strategies to handle payment conversations with confidence and clarity.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn how your martial arts school can get more martial arts students using school programs, retention strategies, and billing systems.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
The digital fitness market hits $15.7B in 2026. We broke down what that means for gym owners, studio operators, and martial arts schools — no hype, just data.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A look back at our biggest platform improvements this year and a preview of what we’re building next.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Learn how to build stronger memberships in 2026 through smarter pricing, clearer value communication, and better member experience systems.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
In this interview, Mary-Margaret sits down with Michael to explore the vision, process, and innovation shaping the future of Member Manager.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
We gathered the top 2026 membership-based industry trends so you don’t have to. Explore what they mean for your studio.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Members don’t pick the cheapest option — they pick the one that feels most valuable. A pricing strategy guide built on 35 years of billing data from 11,000+ schools.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Discover how the recent AWS outage affected Member Solutions and grab your outage checklist to keep your business running smoothly.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
View the 2026 Month-End Funding Disbursement Schedule from Member Solutions. Find disbursement dates to plan your financial timeline throughout 2026.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
The churn rate formula, explained with real examples, plus why monthly churn compounds into a much bigger annual number than most calculators show.
Chris Fossenier
Full guide on invoice automation for membership businesses in 2026: benefits, examples, practical tips and implementation strategies.
Chris Fossenier
Explore creative member appreciation ideas to boost loyalty, strengthen relationships, and make your members feel truly valued.
Chris Fossenier
15 membership business ideas with real startup costs, margins, and billing advice. From fitness studios to coaching to subscription boxes — practical playbooks for recurring revenue.
Chris Fossenier
Discounts aren't incentives — they're margin killers. 12 membership incentive ideas that actually boost engagement and retention. From 35 years of billing data.
Chris Fossenier
Most schools lose members over billing — not price. Here's how to build a membership pricing strategy that attracts the right members, keeps them longer, and doesn't fall apart when a credit card declines.
Chris Fossenier
Subscription vs. membership: after 35 years managing 11,000+ schools and studios, here's the real difference and which model actually fits fitness businesses.
Chris Fossenier
Find boxing gym name ideas for classic, modern, high-end, and community gyms—plus expert tips on branding, marketing, and growing your business.
Chris Fossenier
Retention beats acquisition every time. These 15 strategies — from billing flexibility to community building — help gyms and studios keep the members they already have.
Chris Fossenier
8 types of gym memberships: monthly, annual, class packs, family plans, and more, each with hidden billing complexity. 35 years of data on which actually work.
Chris Fossenier
Copy-and-paste payment reminder email templates for every stage, from friendly nudge to final notice. Built from 35 years of billing for gyms, studios, and martial arts schools.
Vanessa Gonyea
Learn how to collect past due invoices, recover payments faster, and improve cash flow while maintaining strong customer relationships.
Vanessa Gonyea
Payment disputes cost you money and members. Here's a step-by-step process for resolving chargebacks, preventing future disputes, and keeping relationships intact.
Vanessa Gonyea
Learn how tiered pricing works and why it’s effective for membership businesses. Check this 2025 guide for key strategies, benefits, and practical tips.
Vanessa Gonyea
Most CrossFit boxes don't fail because of bad programming — they fail because of billing, pricing, and retention mistakes. Here are the 7 that kill the most gyms.
Chris Fossenier
Avoid common mistakes and learn what to do when dealing with negative gym reviews to protect and strengthen your gym’s reputation.
Chris Fossenier
Turn school breaks into business wins. Use off-season camps to attract new families, boost student retention, and grow your martial arts income.
Chris Fossenier
Stop wasting money on weak ads. Learn how top-performing Taekwondo schools market smarter, follow up better, and turn leads into lifelong students.
Chris Fossenier
Best gym, club & studio membership software, 10 platforms ranked: Mindbody, Glofox, Zen Planner, PushPress, and more. Scored on features and payment recovery.
Chris Fossenier
We tested the AI tools gym owners are actually using — for scheduling, member comms, marketing, and billing. Here's what saves time and what's just hype.
Chris Fossenier
See why blending martial arts VR training with traditional methods offers the best path to grow your school and engage modern students.
Chris Fossenier
Use our guide on gym membership invoice templates and advanced billing tools to improve member retention, legal compliance, and financial tracking.
Chris Fossenier
Gym exit surveys provide valuable insights to improve your services and keep more members engaged longer. Find out how to get started.
Chris Fossenier
How gym and studio owners are turning TikTok fitness trends into real members — not generic social media advice, but strategies that drive enrollment.
Chris Fossenier
Boost your gym’s membership sales with proven strategies for pricing, follow-ups, tours, and tech tools that simplify and enhance the sales process.
Todd Blyth
Cutting gym membership prices feels logical but tanks your revenue and attracts the wrong members. Here's what owners who keep 30%+ margins do instead.
Vanessa Gonyea
Increase gym revenue by improving retention, expanding services, and cutting inefficiencies. These tips work for all types of fitness businesses.
Chris Fossenier
Average gym profit margins run 10-15%, but top performers hit 30%+. The difference: failed payments, underpricing, and revenue leaks you can fix.
Vanessa Gonyea
Most dojos lose $2K-$5K/month in failed payments they never notice. 10 revenue strategies for martial arts schools that won't compromise your teaching or community.
Vanessa Gonyea
Discover the best CrossFit ads that actually convert prospects into members. See proven examples, learn what works, and get actionable strategies to grow your gym.
Chris Fossenier
Learn effective Pilates studio marketing strategies to attract more clients, boost retention, and streamline your business with the right tools.
Chris Fossenier
Six martial arts marketing strategies to attract new students: website, local SEO, paid ads, social media, email/SMS, and community events.
Chris Fossenier
Start and scale your yoga retreat business with confidence. Learn how to plan, price, market, and manage transformational retreats anywhere in the world.
Todd Blyth
Learn how to plan, promote, and manage fitness challenges that boost motivation, drive sign-ups, and turn participants into long-term members.
Chris Fossenier
The best personal training software compared: Trainerize, TrueCoach, My PT Hub, PTminder, Everfit, Mindbody. Scored on features and failed-payment handling.
Chris Fossenier
Real-world guide to opening a BJJ gym — startup costs, location, mats, insurance, billing setup, and the operational details most guides skip.
Chris Fossenier
Get more out of your fitness studio marketing. Use these strategies to grow your membership, engage your community, and ensure long-term success.
Chris Fossenier
Starting a group fitness training program requires planning. Learn how to create sessions, train coaches, and build a community to achieve success.
Todd Blyth
These actionable client retention tips for martial arts gyms will help you reduce dropouts, boost revenue, and build a stronger training community.
Chris Fossenier
Learn proven strategies for selling personal training packages that convert prospects into long-term clients. Create, price, and market packages that sell.
Avery Leary
Build a high-converting gym referral program and avoid common mistakes. Explore examples, tracking tips, and the best incentives to offer your members.
Chris Fossenier
150+ boxing gym name ideas sorted by vibe — classic, modern, high-end, and community-focused. Plus how to check availability and pick a name that attracts members.
Chris Fossenier
Wondering how to brand a martial arts studio? This step-by-step guide helps you stand out, attract students, and stay true to your values.
Chris Fossenier
Learn how to boost membership with actionable strategies like referral programs, local marketing, and optimizing the first 30 days for new members.
Todd Blyth
How much does it cost to start a boxing gym? Full line-by-line breakdown of rent, equipment, renovations, and insurance — plus funding options most new owners miss.
Todd Blyth
A genuinely fair comparison of Glofox, Mindbody, and Member Solutions — pricing, features, billing, and the question no comparison post answers.
Chris Fossenier
Real martial arts ad examples that fill dojos with students — Facebook, Instagram, Google, and local marketing strategies. What works and why, with screenshots.
Chris Fossenier
Improve your coaching skills, business strategies, and client retention with these must-read personal trainer blogs from industry experts.
Chris Fossenier
Find the best software for Aikido dojos to simplify administration, track rank progress, manage payments, and enhance engagement. Start optimizing today.
Chris Fossenier
7 honest Glofox alternatives for fitness & martial arts studios — pricing, strengths, and the one thing switchers forget to check: who recovers failed payments.
Chris Fossenier
Launch your own Taekwondo school with a detailed business plan. Learn how to attract students, set goals, and plan for long-term success.
Todd Blyth
Gym newsletter ideas for fitness studios and martial arts schools: member spotlights, win-back emails, event promos, and seasonal sends. Ready to copy and use.
Chris Fossenier
Want more students in your martial arts school? Discover a content strategy that builds trust, drives sign-ups, and grows your business effectively.
Chris Fossenier
Looking to strengthen your martial arts student retention? Consider these 3 communications that can be sent by email, text, and mail.
Todd Blyth
How do you move your martial arts & fitness members to ACH payments without disrupting their payment experience? Follow these tips
Avery Leary
Whether you’re running a week-long Summer camp or a one-hour self-defense seminar, the key to attracting event participants lies in effective marketing.
Chris Fossenier
Unlock the secrets to make your gym profitable—from adjusting membership pricing to exploring alternate revenue streams.
Todd Blyth
Enhance your martial arts business through financial planning. Tips to boost financial health, set clear goals, and more.
Chris Fossenier
Master your growth today! Unlock the potential of KPIs and financial monitoring for your martial arts school. Learn more now.
Vanessa Gonyea
Alternative sources to diversify income and accelerate cash flow for your martial arts school. Learn more.
Chris Fossenier
Multiply memberships. Boost gym revenue. 6 tiered membership pricing ideas for martial arts schools and fitness studios.
Chris Fossenier
Have you ever stopped to think about how incredible your community is?
Chris Fossenier
Using paper contracts? Switching to online student enrollment can bring many long-term benefits to your martial arts business. Discover the advantages.
Chris Fossenier
Simple ways to give your martial arts school a productivity boost—from spring cleaning your online presence to prepping for Spring events.
Chris Fossenier
What’s one of the most valuable assets a martial arts business can have?
Chris Fossenier
Keep your business running around the clock (and elevate your members' experience!) with these martial arts business tools. Learn more!
Chris Fossenier
February is more than just hearts and candy for your sweetie; it’s a time to shower your business with some L-O-V-E by way of lead generation and new member...
Chris Fossenier
Picture it: sunshine, BBQs firing up, and the anticipation of days spent by the pool. And of course, school will be out before you know it.
Chris Fossenier
Uncover effective methods to increase gym revenue. From optimizing pricing to improving operations, these strategies can maximize earnings.
Vanessa Gonyea
The new year lurking … hovering over your shoulder … whispering in your ear … “Psstt… hey … when are you going to make a plan for me?”
Chris Fossenier
Simple Fall events, activities, and offers to strengthen retention and attract new martial arts students.
Chris Fossenier
How to quickly and easily eliminate common event registration barriers — and maximize event sign-ups and payments.
Tyler Snyder
These easy-to-use metrics can help make your sales team more effective and significantly increase your gym membership selling skills.
Tyler Snyder
This year, more than ever, people in your community are ready to get back to a routine of in-school learning and after-school sports and activities. And,...
Chris Fossenier
It shouldn’t come as any surprise: online shopping is surging. COVID-19 lockdowns made many of the in-person shopping methods we all used for years an...
Chris Fossenier
Email marketing can make or break your fitness membership sales process. Great emails increase membership sales while bad emails will send your hard-earned...
Chris Fossenier
Think back to Fall of 2019, and…Woah, the way you do business certainly has changed!
Chris Fossenier
You’re familiar with members not paying on time. And even familiar with non-payments. And, like most small business owners, you’re all-too familiar with...
Chris Fossenier
Few things are more important to your studio’s financial well-being than your recurring member payments.
Chris Fossenier
Secondly, your business temporarily closed.
Chris Fossenier
Don't let member payments disappear. Use these tips to encourage prompt payment and reduce delinquency rates for your martial arts business.
Vanessa Gonyea
As an owner or manager of a business, you’ve likely heard of a Profit and Loss Statement (also known as a P & L Statement). But do you know what it is and...
Chris Fossenier
Looking for more ways to market your martial arts school? Read our 5-step process about how you can start getting leads from birthday party packages.
Chris Fossenier
Did you know that you could be losing members without even knowing it? Find out how to spot involuntary attrition and prevent it from hurting your business.
Vanessa Gonyea
Do you send an email newsletter for your business? If the answer is yes, great! You’ll see some great tips later on to get your email newsletters performing...
Chris Fossenier
A good sales process is less of an outright pitch and more of a dialogue that helps your prospect envision success with you.
Avery Leary
Asking your students for money is never easy. When a member of your martial arts school doesn’t pay on time, it’s tempting to let the delinquency slide to...
Chris Fossenier
The core of the trial membership martial arts discussion is attracting new people to your school while maintaining and demonstrating value.
Avery Leary
Member-owner relationships are a bit like marriages. You work hard to cultivate strong, long-lasting bonds. You do all you can to show you care and provide...
Chris Fossenier
Need summer conversions at your martial arts school? Try guerrilla marketing. We assure you it has nothing to do with bringing an actual gorilla along with...
Chris Fossenier
Explore these 11 tips to increase your martial arts event marketing and attract new members at community events in your area.
Chris Fossenier
We’re excited to say that we just launched the new Event Manager Dashboard! For anyone who is unfamiliar with Event Manager, it is a simple, powerful online...
Chris Fossenier
Need more members for your martial arts school? Follow these tips about how to use our email templates to convert more leads to full-time members.
Avery Leary
Need event ideas for your martial arts school, gym, community group, or another organization? With autumn approaching, you’ll have lots of opportunities to...
Chris Fossenier
16 classroom-tested tips for keeping kids enrolled in your martial arts program, from age-specific classes to achievement systems that build loyalty.
Tyler Snyder
Client Question: I am opening a new business soon. Can you provide some ideas to drive traffic to my business on our grand opening event day?
Chris Fossenier
We have read the headlines and listened to newscasts of the global economic crisis. Consumers are fearful and are not spending their hard-earned dollars as...
Chris Fossenier
The most successful gym and fitness business owners understand that gaining a new member is just the beginning. Over time, your members become much more...
Chris Fossenier
Here are eight helpful tips for you to consider before buying an existing martial arts school or fitness facility.
Avery Leary
Summer’s coming and I’m worried. A lot of our students, both children and adult students, took extended vacations last year and then never came back. Any advice you can give? Ways I could be proactive … increase my chances that students will take part in training during the summer and return after vacation? Korbett Miller’s […]
Avery Leary
Client Question: What Term membership length is best? What cancel notice period is optimal for ongoing memberships? Which one should I use?
Chris Fossenier
Client Question: I’m thinking of opening another location. What are the most important considerations to keep in mind before taking this big step?
Chris Fossenier
Question: I”m thinking of opening another location. What are the most important considerations to keep in mind before taking this big step?
Chris Fossenier
A camp. A clinic. A tournament. No matter which type of event you’re hosting, you have to get the word out and you need to get people to sign up for it....
Chris Fossenier
It doesn’t matter what kind of martial arts studio or fitness business you run. The goal is the same: to grow in both size and reputation Networking within...
Chris Fossenier
The #1 and #2 reasons for offering any event at your school are retention and new memberships. In last week’s post, I provided tips to help you get your...
Chris Fossenier
Membership programs have become one of the most effective ways for organizations to build loyalty, create stable revenue streams, and nurture strong...
Chris Fossenier
Why do some martial arts studios have 50 students while others have 500?
Chris Fossenier
“I’ve tried special events. They don’t work. I never get new enrollments from them.”
Chris Fossenier
The 27th of March was a good news day for me. One of my General Managers called to inform me that my two Krav Maga schools were ranked #1 and #2 in the...
Chris Fossenier
Our three-week martial arts summer camps usually bring in $12,000.00 to $15,000.00 each. We look forward to these events as a way to generate more revenue...
Chris Fossenier
Anyone who follows the show Game of Thrones knows the famous saying, “Winter is coming,” which is a warning of difficult times to come.
Chris Fossenier
The truth is that price is just one of the objections you’ll face during membership selling. In order to turn a hesitant prospect into a long-term member,...
Chris Fossenier
Running an event is arguably one of the best things you can do for your martial arts business. Doing so provides three great benefits:
Chris Fossenier
A written billing agreement ― otherwise known as a membership contact — is a standard business document used by many membership-based businesses. Every day,...
Chris Fossenier
We are in an industry where you have to work hard consistently to build your school over time. It’s about establishing your reputation and identity in the...
Chris Fossenier
How you prepare for the back-to-school season can dictate the success of your martial arts business for the entire year. Also, for the best results, you...
Chris Fossenier
The more registrations you get for your events, the more opportunity you create to grow your business, camp, sports league, or organization.
Chris Fossenier
Want to know more about managing finances as a business owner? Read our cheat sheet of essential financial terms that will help you understand your money.
Vanessa Gonyea
Confused about Facebook ads? You’re not the only one.
Chris Fossenier
The start of your summer camp may be months away, but marketing your camp needs to happen now when families are planning their summer activities. The...
Chris Fossenier
“What do you mean they’re disputing the charge? They signed a contract!”
Chris Fossenier
Marketing is one of the important keys to a successful martial arts school. Unfortunately, many school owners get overwhelmed and lost in all the options...
Chris Fossenier
How to overcome objections in sales? Learn practical strategies for membership business to handle customer objections effectively.
Tyler Snyder
What’s a Good Member Retention Rate for Fitness & Martial Arts Programs?
Chris Fossenier
In the membership business world, growth doesn’t just depend on acquiring new customers. It hinges on knowing how to reduce customer churn, i.e., keeping...
Chris Fossenier
Some students never chose to leave. A card expired or a payment failed and nobody called. How to win back members lost to failed payments and stop it repeating.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
What to ask when a student cancels, how to write down the reason, and how to say goodbye so a friendly win-back message later feels welcome instead of pushy.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Comeback discounts teach former students and current members to wait for a sale. See what pricing research says and five win-back offers that work better.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Some students never chose to leave. A card expired or a payment failed and nobody called. How to win back members lost to failed payments and stop it repeating.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
View the 2027 Month-End Funding Disbursement Schedule from Member Solutions. Find disbursement dates to plan your financial timeline throughout 2027.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
An honest 2026 comparison of martial arts school software, ranking 7 platforms on the question most roundups skip: what happens when a payment fails?
Mary-Margaret Bennett
What to ask when a student cancels, how to write down the reason, and how to say goodbye so a friendly win-back message later feels welcome instead of pushy.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Comeback discounts teach former students and current members to wait for a sale. See what pricing research says and five win-back offers that work better.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Copy-ready win-back message templates for martial arts students and gym members who cancelled, sorted by why they left, in text, email, and phone versions.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Comeback discounts teach former students and current members to wait for a sale. See what pricing research says and five win-back offers that work better.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Copy-ready win-back message templates for martial arts students and gym members who cancelled, sorted by why they left, in text, email, and phone versions.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
How to win back former martial arts students and gym members without a discount: who to contact, when to reach out, what to say, and what to offer instead.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
View the 2027 Month-End Funding Disbursement Schedule from Member Solutions. Find disbursement dates to plan your financial timeline throughout 2027.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A look back at our biggest platform improvements this year and a preview of what we’re building next.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
In this interview, Mary-Margaret sits down with Michael to explore the vision, process, and innovation shaping the future of Member Manager.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A packed open house or tournament means nothing if nobody captures leads or follows up. These are the event planning mistakes that turn a big turnout into zero new enrollments.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Back-to-school enrollment can outpace your billing systems fast. Here's how to set up martial arts school billing and family accounts before the fall rush hits.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Simple Fall events, activities, and offers to strengthen retention and attract new martial arts students.
Chris Fossenier
A martial arts school owner's order of operations for AI automation: what to automate first, what to automate later, and what should always stay a person's job.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
AI receptionists for martial arts schools: what they actually do and how to tell if you're missing enough after-hours leads to justify one.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
A martial arts school owner's honest guide to AI: what saves real time (billing, parent comms, lead response) and what's still hype you can skip.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Your website gets visits but not signups? Here's what turns a website visitor into an actual lead, and how to track what's working once they do.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Running a back-to-school promotion? Here's the 4-week system: landing page, enrollment form, follow-up emails, and UTM tracking, with templates.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most martial arts school back-to-school promotions don't convert. Here are the three most common reasons, and what to do differently this year.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Running a back-to-school promotion? Here's the 4-week system: landing page, enrollment form, follow-up emails, and UTM tracking, with templates.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most martial arts school back-to-school promotions don't convert. Here are the three most common reasons, and what to do differently this year.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Parents ask teachers before they ever Google anything. Here's how martial arts schools build local school referrals before September enrollment hits.
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Most schools lose members over billing — not price. Here's how to build a membership pricing strategy that attracts the right members, keeps them longer, and doesn't fall apart when a credit card declines.
Chris Fossenier
Copy-and-paste payment reminder email templates for every stage, from friendly nudge to final notice. Built from 35 years of billing for gyms, studios, and martial arts schools.
Vanessa Gonyea
A monthly check-up that spots members who might cancel while there's still time to talk.
Separating AI audit fact from fiction, and the fixes that actually turn visitors into signups.
Everything you need to launch a back-to-school campaign that fills seats.
Simple, friendly scripts for the commitment conversation a lot of school owners struggle with.
Five ready-to-send emails — re-engagement, milestone, community, value, and check-in — with copy templates for all five.
Ready-to-copy subject lines for re-engagement, announcements, pricing updates, and community emails.
A 12-month plan for what to send your members every month — so you're never starting from a blank screen.
Word-for-word scripts for the conversations every gym owner dreads — freezes, cancellations, and objections.
15 ready-to-send messages to keep members engaged and reduce seasonal dropoff all summer long.
Copy-and-paste messages for members, guests, and no-shows — sent within 48 hours to turn your event into retention.
Plan your next gym event in 20 minutes — with a goal, invite strategy, check-in system, and 48-hour follow-up built in.
20 copy-paste prompts for social media, emails, ads, and parent communication.
Scripts, templates, and checklists for handling billing issues without losing members.
Day-by-day touchpoints, email templates, and text scripts to keep new members past their first month.
Templates, scripts, and checklists — from the 5th-visit milestone to creating gym loyalists.
Simple formulas to track revenue growth, ARPM, retention rate, and member lifespan.
10 simple cues that help members say "yes" — without lowering your price.
10-step review to make sure your discounts are attracting the right members, not eroding your value.
Revenue projections, communication plan template, and a confidence check before raising rates.
Framework with progression stages, milestone library, perks menu, and upgrade scripts.
97 Display's lead gen experts show what to fix on your site so more visitors fill out your forms, plus The Website Lead Checklist.
Matthew Brenner's proven school outreach strategy that's generated $42K+ from a single day of effort — plus The Ultimate Back-to-School Campaign Kit.
Why contract members stay longer, how to bring it up without making it awkward, and what to say when a member pushes back — plus the Contract Conversation Cheat Sheet.
The Member Solutions features that stop the 10–15% summer member drop — and how to turn them on before summer starts.
Five simple, repeatable event formats that strengthen member retention without breaking the bank — plus the Event Planning Checklist and Post-Event Follow-Up Scripts.
Why most facilities lose 40–50% of new members in 30 days — and the proven checklist to fix it.
Matthew Brenner's proven school program strategy that generates $42K+ from a single day of outreach.
Tristan Stier of Veuze Media shares simple, repeatable systems to bring in committed students without consuming your calendar.
Our team recovers the revenue that billing software misses. Find out how much you're leaving on the table.