all membership-software
Best Martial Arts School Software (2026)
An honest 2026 comparison of martial arts school software, ranking 7 platforms on the question most roundups skip: what happens when a payment fails?
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
The Member Solutions Blog
Practical guides on billing, payment recovery, pricing strategy, and member retention — from 35 years of helping martial arts schools and fitness studios get paid.
Find out how much revenue you're leaving on the table
Our team will review your billing setup and show you exactly where you're losing money — for free, no strings attached.
All Articles
174 articles
all membership-software
Best Mindbody Alternative for Martial Arts
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
Martial Arts School Back-to-School Billing
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
Buying a Martial Arts School: Member Data
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
7 Signs You Need Martial Arts Billing Help
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
Manual Billing Costs at Martial Arts Schools
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
Failed Payments at Martial Arts Schools
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
Martial Arts Contracts vs. Month-to-Month
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
Selling Contracts at Martial Arts Schools
Learn how to sell martial arts school membership contracts without sounding pushy. Practical scripts, objection handling, and closing tips included.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
Martial Arts Family Billing Checklist
Family billing errors quietly drain martial arts school revenue. Use this 2-minute demo test and 10-point checklist before you sign a contract.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Billing Service vs. Billing Software: What's the Difference?
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How Much Does Martial Arts Billing Cost?
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Should You Outsource Martial Arts Billing or Do It In-House?
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Member Solutions vs ASF Payment Solutions
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
What Happens When a Membership Payment Fails?
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Reduce Gym Cancellations in Summer
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
He Grew from 30 to 185 Students Without Running a Single Ad
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
He Watched Every Competitor in Town Close. Here's How He's Still Here 19 Years Later.
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
AI for Martial Arts Schools: 8 Use Cases With Copy-Paste Prompts
Five real AI use cases for dojos, BJJ gyms, and martial arts schools — with copy-paste prompts for billing, parent communication, and member milestones. No tech background needed.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
The Policies Your Members Actually Want You to Enforce
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
How to Explain a Price Increase Without Losing Members
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Martial Arts School Newsletters: Templates for Belt Tests, Events & Win-Backs
Real newsletter templates for martial arts schools — belt milestones, tournament announcements, and lapsed student win-backs. Copy, edit, send tonight.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
5 Messages to Re-Engage Quiet Members
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Why Gym Members Quit in Summer (And How to Stop It)
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
The Post-Event Follow-Up Most Gym Owners Skip
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
How to Run Gym Events That Actually Keep Members
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
When to Automate Follow-Ups
When should you automate follow-ups? Learn which messages AI can handle and which need your personal touch.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
AI Social Media Content for Gyms
Stop spending hours on social media. Use these easy prompts to create AI social media content for gyms. Includes copy-paste templates.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
5 AI Prompts for Gyms That Sound Like You
Generic AI content sounds robotic. These 5 AI prompts for Gyms help write content in YOUR voice. Copy-paste templates included.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
How to Use AI for Gym Marketing
Curious how to use AI for gym marketing? Most gym owners make this common mistake. Here's the 3-sentence framework that fixes it.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
AI for Gym Owners: Save 5+ Hours Per Week
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Member Solutions Onboarding Process
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...
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Member Solutions Resource Center
How do I find help with Member Solutions fast?
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Billing Policies That Build Trust & Retain Members
Create membership billing services policies that retain members while building trust. Learn what makes billing policies clear and effective.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Have This Billing Conversation at Signup
Stop billing problems before they start. Learn the essential billing conversation every gym, dojo or club should support at member signup.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
What Members Expect When Payments Fail
Learn what your members actually expect when payments fail. Use our member retention guide to help prevent silent cancellations.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Reduce Customer Churn with Better Billing
Discover the most damaging billing mistake that causes members to quit. Reduce customer churn with clear, immediate payment communication.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Why Membership Billing Issues Feel Personal
Learn why membership billing feels awkward and how to reframe it as professional communication. Get strategies to handle payment conversations with confidence and clarity.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
How to Get More Martial Arts Students (Without Ads)
Learn how your martial arts school can get more martial arts students using school programs, retention strategies, and billing systems.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Digital Fitness Trends for Gym Owners
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all news
2025 Member Solutions Year in Review
A look back at our biggest platform improvements this year and a preview of what we’re building next.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
How to Build Stronger Memberships in 2026
Learn how to build stronger memberships in 2026 through smarter pricing, clearer value communication, and better member experience systems.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
membership-software news
Interview: Michael Brandt on Gym Success
In this interview, Mary-Margaret sits down with Michael to explore the vision, process, and innovation shaping the future of Member Manager.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
2026 Membership Industry Trends
We gathered the top 2026 membership-based industry trends so you don’t have to. Explore what they mean for your studio.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
managed-billing
Membership Pricing Strategy for 2026
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
managed-billing membership-software
AWS Outage: What Gym Owners Need to Know
Discover how the recent AWS outage affected Member Solutions and grab your outage checklist to keep your business running smoothly.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
managed-billing news
2026 Month-End Funding Disbursement Schedule
View the 2026 Month-End Funding Disbursement Schedule from Member Solutions. Find disbursement dates to plan your financial timeline throughout 2026.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Churn Rate Formula & Calculation Tips
Learn how to calculate customer churn? Read on for useful calculation tips, examples, and churn rate formulas.
C
Chris Fossenier
membership-software
Invoice Automation Guide for Gym Owners
Full guide on invoice automation for membership businesses in 2026: benefits, examples, practical tips and implementation strategies.
C
Chris Fossenier
membership-software
10 Member Appreciation Ideas for 2026
Explore creative member appreciation ideas to boost loyalty, strengthen relationships, and make your members feel truly valued.
C
Chris Fossenier
membership-software
15 Membership Business Ideas
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
membership-software
12 Membership Incentive Ideas
Discounts aren't incentives — they're margin killers. 12 membership incentive ideas that actually boost engagement and retention. From 35 years of billing data.
C
Chris Fossenier
membership-software billing
Membership Pricing Strategy Guide
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
managed-billing membership-software
Subscription vs Membership Model Guide
After 35 years managing memberships for 11,000+ schools and studios, here's what we've learned about the real difference between subscriptions and memberships — and which model actually works for fitness businesses.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Master Yi Garden State Invitational 2025
Find boxing gym name ideas for classic, modern, high-end, and community gyms—plus expert tips on branding, marketing, and growing your business.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
15 Member Retention Strategies That Work
Retention beats acquisition every time. These 15 strategies — from billing flexibility to community building — help gyms and studios keep the members they already have.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
8 Types of Gym Memberships
Monthly, annual, class packs, family plans — each membership type has hidden billing complexity. 35 years of data from 11,000+ schools reveals which models actually work.
C
Chris Fossenier
billing managed-billing
Payment Reminder Emails: 4 Free Templates
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
How to Collect Past Due Invoices
Learn how to collect past due invoices, recover payments faster, and improve cash flow while maintaining strong customer relationships.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
How to Handle Member Payment Disputes
Payment disputes cost you money and members. Here's a step-by-step process for resolving chargebacks, preventing future disputes, and keeping relationships intact.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
What Is Tiered Pricing for Gyms?
Learn how tiered pricing works and why it’s effective for membership businesses. Check this 2025 guide for key strategies, benefits, and practical tips.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
7 CrossFit Gym Business Mistakes to Avoid
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Handle Negative Gym Reviews
Avoid common mistakes and learn what to do when dealing with negative gym reviews to protect and strengthen your gym’s reputation.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Youth Marketing Ideas
Turn school breaks into business wins. Use off-season camps to attract new families, boost student retention, and grow your martial arts income.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Taekwondo Ads That Convert
Stop wasting money on weak ads. Learn how top-performing Taekwondo schools market smarter, follow up better, and turn leads into lifelong students.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Membership Management Software 2026
Ten platforms ranked — Mindbody, Glofox, Zen Planner, PushPress and more. What each does well, where each falls short, and which recovers failed payments.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
AI Tools for Gyms: What Actually Works in 2026
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
VR Martial Arts Training
See why blending martial arts VR training with traditional methods offers the best path to grow your school and engage modern students.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Free Gym Membership Invoice Template
Use our guide on gym membership invoice templates and advanced billing tools to improve member retention, legal compliance, and financial tracking.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Gym Exit Survey Ideas
Gym exit surveys provide valuable insights to improve your services and keep more members engaged longer. Find out how to get started.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
TikTok Fitness Trends That Actually Fill Gyms
How gym and studio owners are turning TikTok fitness trends into real members — not generic social media advice, but strategies that drive enrollment.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Sell More Gym Memberships
Boost your gym’s membership sales with proven strategies for pricing, follow-ups, tours, and tech tools that simplify and enhance the sales process.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Gym Membership Pricing: Why Discounts Kill Revenue
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
How to Increase Gym Revenue
Increase gym revenue by improving retention, expanding services, and cutting inefficiencies. These tips work for all types of fitness businesses.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
What's a Good Gym Profit Margin?
Average gym profit margins run 10-15%, but top performers hit 30%+. The difference? Failed payments, underpricing, and revenue leaks you can actually fix. Real numbers inside.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
10 Martial Arts Revenue Strategies
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
Best CrossFit Ads That Convert
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Pilates Studio Marketing Strategies
Learn effective Pilates studio marketing strategies to attract more clients, boost retention, and streamline your business with the right tools.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Marketing Strategies Guide
Boost your martial arts studio’s visibility with expert marketing tactics to attract students and grow your local brand.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Start a Yoga Retreat Business
Start and scale your yoga retreat business with confidence. Learn how to plan, price, market, and manage transformational retreats anywhere in the world.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Fitness Challenge Ideas for Gyms
Learn how to plan, promote, and manage fitness challenges that boost motivation, drive sign-ups, and turn participants into long-term members.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Personal Training Software (2026)
Six platforms compared — Trainerize, TrueCoach, My PT Hub, PTminder, Everfit, Mindbody. Strengths, gaps, and how each handles failed payments.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Open a BJJ Gym: Costs, Setup & Real Talk
Real-world guide to opening a BJJ gym — startup costs, location, mats, insurance, billing setup, and the operational details most guides skip.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Fitness Studio Marketing Strategies
Get more out of your fitness studio marketing. Use these strategies to grow your membership, engage your community, and ensure long-term success.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Start a Group Fitness Program
Starting a group fitness training program requires planning. Learn how to create sessions, train coaches, and build a community to achieve success.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Client Retention for Martial Arts Gyms
These actionable client retention tips for martial arts gyms will help you reduce dropouts, boost revenue, and build a stronger training community.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Sell Personal Training Packages
Learn proven strategies for selling personal training packages that convert prospects into long-term clients. Create, price, and market packages that sell.
A
Avery Leary
all
Gym Referral Program Ideas
Build a high-converting gym referral program and avoid common mistakes. Explore examples, tracking tips, and the best incentives to offer your members.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Boxing Gym Name Ideas (150+)
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Brand a Martial Arts Studio
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Get More Gym Members: Proven Stategies
Learn how to boost membership with actionable strategies like referral programs, local marketing, and optimizing the first 30 days for new members.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Boxing Gym Startup Costs: $50K-$250K Breakdown
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.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Glofox vs Mindbody vs Member Solutions
A genuinely fair comparison of Glofox, Mindbody, and Member Solutions — pricing, features, billing, and the question no comparison post answers.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Ads That Actually Work (With Examples)
Real martial arts ad examples that fill dojos with students — Facebook, Instagram, Google, and local marketing strategies. What works and why, with screenshots.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Personal Trainer Blogs to Follow in 2026
Improve your coaching skills, business strategies, and client retention with these must-read personal trainer blogs from industry experts.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Martial Arts Software for Aikido Dojos in 2025
Find the best software for Aikido dojos to simplify administration, track rank progress, manage payments, and enhance engagement. Start optimizing today.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Glofox Alternatives for Fitness Studios
7 honest Glofox alternatives for fitness & martial arts studios — pricing, strengths, and the one thing switchers forget to check: who recovers failed payments.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Taekwondo Business Plan Guide
Launch your own Taekwondo school with a detailed business plan. Learn how to attract students, set goals, and plan for long-term success.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Gym Newsletter Ideas That Keep Members Coming Back
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Content Strategy for Martial Arts Schools
Want more students in your martial arts school? Discover a content strategy that builds trust, drives sign-ups, and grows your business effectively.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Communication Tips for Martial Arts Gyms
Looking to strengthen your martial arts student retention? Consider these 3 communications that can be sent by email, text, and mail.
T
Todd Blyth
all
How to Switch Members to ACH Payments
How do you move your martial arts & fitness members to ACH payments without disrupting their payment experience? Follow these tips
A
Avery Leary
all
Boost Your Martial Arts Event Turnout
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Quick Profitability Tips for Gym Owners
Unlock the secrets to make your gym profitable—from adjusting membership pricing to exploring alternate revenue streams.
T
Todd Blyth
all
7 Tips for Dojo Financial Planning
Enhance your martial arts business through financial planning. Tips to boost financial health, set clear goals, and more.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
KPIs & Financial Monitoring for Gyms
Master your growth today! Unlock the potential of KPIs and financial monitoring for your martial arts school. Learn more now.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
Increasing Martial Arts School Cash Flow
Alternative sources to diversify income and accelerate cash flow for your martial arts school. Learn more.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Grow Gym Revenue with Tiered Pricing
Multiply memberships. Boost gym revenue. 6 tiered membership pricing ideas for martial arts schools and fitness studios.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
3 Member Appreciation Event Tips
Have you ever stopped to think about how incredible your community is?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Benefits of Online Student Enrollment
Using paper contracts? Switching to online student enrollment can bring many long-term benefits to your martial arts business. Discover the advantages.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Spring Clean Your Martial Arts Business
Simple ways to give your martial arts school a productivity boost—from spring cleaning your online presence to prepping for Spring events.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
New Member Portal Release: What's New
What’s one of the most valuable assets a martial arts business can have?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Tools to Delight Martial Arts Members
Keep your business running around the clock (and elevate your members' experience!) with these martial arts business tools. Learn more!
C
Chris Fossenier
all
February Marketing Ideas for Martial Arts
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Summer Camp: Setup & Pricing
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all managed-billing
10 Ways to Increase Gym Revenue
Uncover effective methods to increase gym revenue. From optimizing pricing to improving operations, these strategies can maximize earnings.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
7 Steps to Build a New Year Business Plan
The new year lurking … hovering over your shoulder … whispering in your ear … “Psstt… hey … when are you going to make a plan for me?”
C
Chris Fossenier
all event-registration
9 Fall Events for Martial Arts Enrollment
Simple Fall events, activities, and offers to strengthen retention and attract new martial arts students.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Event Registration Barriers to Fix
How to quickly and easily eliminate common event registration barriers — and maximize event sign-ups and payments.
T
Tyler Snyder
all
1 Trick to Increase Gym Membership Sales
These easy-to-use metrics can help make your sales team more effective and significantly increase your gym membership selling skills.
T
Tyler Snyder
all
Master the Back-to-School Season with These 11 Tips
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,...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Driving Online Sales with Member Portal Marketplace
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
15 Email Templates to Boost Fitness Sales
Email marketing can make or break your fitness membership sales process. Great emails increase membership sales while bad emails will send your hard-earned...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Improve the Member Experience Online
Think back to Fall of 2019, and…Woah, the way you do business certainly has changed!
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Ways to Proactively Prevent Late Member Payments
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Gym Delinquency Management Text Service
Few things are more important to your studio’s financial well-being than your recurring member payments.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Deliver Recurring Value to Gym Members
Secondly, your business temporarily closed.
C
Chris Fossenier
all managed-billing
10 Ways to Reduce Gym Delinquency Rates
Don't let member payments disappear. Use these tips to encourage prompt payment and reduce delinquency rates for your martial arts business.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
Profit & Loss Statements Explained
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all event-registration
How to Plan Martial Arts Birthday Parties for Kids
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all managed-billing
How Involuntary Attrition Kills Retention
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
Email Newsletter Tips for Gym Owners
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all managed-billing
4 Steps to a Genuine Membership Sales Pitch
A good sales process is less of an outright pitch and more of a dialogue that helps your prospect envision success with you.
A
Avery Leary
all
7 Ways to Handle Late Member Payments
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all membership-software
How to Use Trial Memberships in Martial Arts
The core of the trial membership martial arts discussion is attracting new people to your school while maintaining and demonstrating value.
A
Avery Leary
all
Avoid Financial Disputes with Gym Members
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5-Step Guerrilla Marketing for Martial Arts Schools
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all event-registration
11 Martial Arts Event Marketing Tips
Explore these 11 tips to increase your martial arts event marketing and attract new members at community events in your area.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Tips to Boost Your Event Revenue
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
15 Martial Arts Email Templates That Sell
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.
A
Avery Leary
all
14 Fall Event Ideas for September & October
Need event ideas for your martial arts school, gym, community group, or another organization? With autumn approaching, you’ll have lots of opportunities to...
C
Chris Fossenier
all membership-software
16 Student Retention Tips for Martial Arts Kids Classes
16 classroom-tested tips for keeping kids enrolled in your martial arts program, from age-specific classes to achievement systems that build loyalty.
T
Tyler Snyder
all
5 Grand Opening Event Ideas for Gyms
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?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Tips to Selling a Membership during the Recession
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
8 Strategies You Need to Grow Your Gym
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
8 Tips for Buying a Martial Arts School
Here are eight helpful tips for you to consider before buying an existing martial arts school or fitness facility.
A
Avery Leary
all
Prevent Member Attrition This Summer
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 […]
A
Avery Leary
all
Term vs Ongoing Memberships: Key Benefits
Client Question: What Term membership length is best? What cancel notice period is optimal for ongoing memberships? Which one should I use?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Opening Another Business Location Guide
Client Question: I’m thinking of opening another location. What are the most important considerations to keep in mind before taking this big step?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Opening a Second Location: Planning Guide
Question: I”m thinking of opening another location. What are the most important considerations to keep in mind before taking this big step?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
4 Events to Drive Enrollment & Community
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
3 Tips to Increase Event Turnout
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....
C
Chris Fossenier
all
A Birthday Party Follow-Up That Converts
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Create a Membership Program: 2026 Guide
Membership programs have become one of the most effective ways for organizations to build loyalty, create stable revenue streams, and nurture strong...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Calculate Martial Arts Business Success
Why do some martial arts studios have 50 students while others have 500?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Run Martial Arts & Fitness Events
“I’ve tried special events. They don’t work. I never get new enrollments from them.”
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Increase Your Gross Sales Now
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Summer Camp Tips
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Summer Events & Marketing Strategies
Anyone who follows the show Game of Thrones knows the famous saying, “Winter is coming,” which is a warning of difficult times to come.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Sales Scripts for Martial Arts Gyms
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,...
C
Chris Fossenier
![The Essential Event Pick List for Martial Arts Schools [Infographic]](/images/blog/Martial-Arts-School-Event-Pick-List-Member-Solutions.webp)
all
Martial Arts School Event Pick List
Running an event is arguably one of the best things you can do for your martial arts business. Doing so provides three great benefits:
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Increase Leads and Membership Sales
If your members are the lifeblood of your business (and they should be), then tracking their behavior is what keeps the blood pumping.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Handle Membership Contract Complaints
A written billing agreement ― otherwise known as a membership contact — is a standard business document used by many membership-based businesses. Every day,...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
PTA Fundraisers for Martial Arts Schools
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Martial Arts Back to School Growth Tips
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
10 Ways to Boost Online Registrations
The more registrations you get for your events, the more opportunity you create to grow your business, camp, sports league, or organization.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Business Financial Terms Cheat Sheet
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
Facebook Ads for Martial Arts Marketing
Confused about Facebook ads? You’re not the only one.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Use Registration Software to Market Summer Camps
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Chargeback Management for Gyms
“What do you mean they’re disputing the charge? They signed a contract!”
C
Chris Fossenier
all
100 Martial Arts Students in 90 Days
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Overcome Sales Objections
How to overcome objections in sales? Learn practical strategies for membership business to handle customer objections effectively.
T
Tyler Snyder
all
What's a Good Member Retention Rate?
What’s a Good Member Retention Rate for Fitness & Martial Arts Programs?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Reduce Membership Cancellations
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
Free Guides
Free guide
5 Emails Your Members Will Actually Open
Five ready-to-send emails — re-engagement, milestone, community, value, and check-in — with copy templates for all five.
Free guide
25 Subject Lines for Gym Owner Emails
Ready-to-copy subject lines for re-engagement, announcements, pricing updates, and community emails.
Free guide
The Gym Owner's Newsletter Content Calendar
A 12-month plan for what to send your members every month — so you're never starting from a blank screen.
Free guide
Freeze & Cancellation Response Scripts
Word-for-word scripts for the conversations every gym owner dreads.
Free guide
Summer Communication Templates
15 ready-to-send messages to keep members engaged all summer long.
Free guide
Post-Event Follow-Up Scripts
Copy-and-paste messages for members, guests, and no-shows, sent within 48 hours.
Free guide
The Event Planning Checklist
Plan your next gym event in 20 minutes, with a follow-up plan already built in.
Free guide
The Complete Member Retention Playbook
Templates, scripts, and checklists from the 5th-visit milestone to creating gym loyalists.
Free guide
Billing Conversation Kit
Scripts, templates, and checklists for handling billing issues without losing members.
Webinar Recordings
On-demand webinar
Summer-Proof Your Club
The Member Solutions features that stop the 10–15% summer member drop — and how to turn them on before summer starts.
On-demand webinar
5 Events That Pay for Themselves
Five simple, repeatable event formats that strengthen member retention without breaking the bank.
On-demand webinar
Member Retention Strategies: Webinar Recap
Why most facilities lose 40-50% of new members in 30 days, and the proven checklist to fix it.
On-demand webinar
How to Get More Martial Arts Students Without Ads
Matthew Brenner's proven strategy that generates $42K+ from a single day of outreach.
Recent
all membership-software
Best Martial Arts School Software (2026)
An honest 2026 comparison of martial arts school software, ranking 7 platforms on the question most roundups skip: what happens when a payment fails?
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
Best Mindbody Alternative for Martial Arts
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
Martial Arts School Back-to-School Billing
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
Buying a Martial Arts School: Member Data
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
7 Signs You Need Martial Arts Billing Help
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
Manual Billing Costs at Martial Arts Schools
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
Failed Payments at Martial Arts Schools
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
Martial Arts Contracts vs. Month-to-Month
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
Selling Contracts at Martial Arts Schools
Learn how to sell martial arts school membership contracts without sounding pushy. Practical scripts, objection handling, and closing tips included.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
Martial Arts Family Billing Checklist
Family billing errors quietly drain martial arts school revenue. Use this 2-minute demo test and 10-point checklist before you sign a contract.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Billing Service vs. Billing Software: What's the Difference?
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How Much Does Martial Arts Billing Cost?
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Should You Outsource Martial Arts Billing or Do It In-House?
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Member Solutions vs ASF Payment Solutions
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
What Happens When a Membership Payment Fails?
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Reduce Gym Cancellations in Summer
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
He Grew from 30 to 185 Students Without Running a Single Ad
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
He Watched Every Competitor in Town Close. Here's How He's Still Here 19 Years Later.
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
AI for Martial Arts Schools: 8 Use Cases With Copy-Paste Prompts
Five real AI use cases for dojos, BJJ gyms, and martial arts schools — with copy-paste prompts for billing, parent communication, and member milestones. No tech background needed.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
The Policies Your Members Actually Want You to Enforce
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
How to Explain a Price Increase Without Losing Members
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Martial Arts School Newsletters: Templates for Belt Tests, Events & Win-Backs
Real newsletter templates for martial arts schools — belt milestones, tournament announcements, and lapsed student win-backs. Copy, edit, send tonight.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
5 Messages to Re-Engage Quiet Members
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Why Gym Members Quit in Summer (And How to Stop It)
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
The Post-Event Follow-Up Most Gym Owners Skip
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
How to Run Gym Events That Actually Keep Members
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
When to Automate Follow-Ups
When should you automate follow-ups? Learn which messages AI can handle and which need your personal touch.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
AI Social Media Content for Gyms
Stop spending hours on social media. Use these easy prompts to create AI social media content for gyms. Includes copy-paste templates.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
5 AI Prompts for Gyms That Sound Like You
Generic AI content sounds robotic. These 5 AI prompts for Gyms help write content in YOUR voice. Copy-paste templates included.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
How to Use AI for Gym Marketing
Curious how to use AI for gym marketing? Most gym owners make this common mistake. Here's the 3-sentence framework that fixes it.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
AI for Gym Owners: Save 5+ Hours Per Week
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Member Solutions Onboarding Process
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...
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Member Solutions Resource Center
How do I find help with Member Solutions fast?
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Billing Policies That Build Trust & Retain Members
Create membership billing services policies that retain members while building trust. Learn what makes billing policies clear and effective.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Have This Billing Conversation at Signup
Stop billing problems before they start. Learn the essential billing conversation every gym, dojo or club should support at member signup.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
What Members Expect When Payments Fail
Learn what your members actually expect when payments fail. Use our member retention guide to help prevent silent cancellations.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Reduce Customer Churn with Better Billing
Discover the most damaging billing mistake that causes members to quit. Reduce customer churn with clear, immediate payment communication.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Why Membership Billing Issues Feel Personal
Learn why membership billing feels awkward and how to reframe it as professional communication. Get strategies to handle payment conversations with confidence and clarity.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
How to Get More Martial Arts Students (Without Ads)
Learn how your martial arts school can get more martial arts students using school programs, retention strategies, and billing systems.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Digital Fitness Trends for Gym Owners
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all news
2025 Member Solutions Year in Review
A look back at our biggest platform improvements this year and a preview of what we’re building next.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
How to Build Stronger Memberships in 2026
Learn how to build stronger memberships in 2026 through smarter pricing, clearer value communication, and better member experience systems.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
membership-software news
Interview: Michael Brandt on Gym Success
In this interview, Mary-Margaret sits down with Michael to explore the vision, process, and innovation shaping the future of Member Manager.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
2026 Membership Industry Trends
We gathered the top 2026 membership-based industry trends so you don’t have to. Explore what they mean for your studio.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
managed-billing
Membership Pricing Strategy for 2026
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
managed-billing membership-software
AWS Outage: What Gym Owners Need to Know
Discover how the recent AWS outage affected Member Solutions and grab your outage checklist to keep your business running smoothly.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
managed-billing news
2026 Month-End Funding Disbursement Schedule
View the 2026 Month-End Funding Disbursement Schedule from Member Solutions. Find disbursement dates to plan your financial timeline throughout 2026.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all
Churn Rate Formula & Calculation Tips
Learn how to calculate customer churn? Read on for useful calculation tips, examples, and churn rate formulas.
C
Chris Fossenier
membership-software
Invoice Automation Guide for Gym Owners
Full guide on invoice automation for membership businesses in 2026: benefits, examples, practical tips and implementation strategies.
C
Chris Fossenier
membership-software
10 Member Appreciation Ideas for 2026
Explore creative member appreciation ideas to boost loyalty, strengthen relationships, and make your members feel truly valued.
C
Chris Fossenier
membership-software
15 Membership Business Ideas
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
membership-software
12 Membership Incentive Ideas
Discounts aren't incentives — they're margin killers. 12 membership incentive ideas that actually boost engagement and retention. From 35 years of billing data.
C
Chris Fossenier
membership-software billing
Membership Pricing Strategy Guide
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
managed-billing membership-software
Subscription vs Membership Model Guide
After 35 years managing memberships for 11,000+ schools and studios, here's what we've learned about the real difference between subscriptions and memberships — and which model actually works for fitness businesses.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Master Yi Garden State Invitational 2025
Find boxing gym name ideas for classic, modern, high-end, and community gyms—plus expert tips on branding, marketing, and growing your business.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
15 Member Retention Strategies That Work
Retention beats acquisition every time. These 15 strategies — from billing flexibility to community building — help gyms and studios keep the members they already have.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
8 Types of Gym Memberships
Monthly, annual, class packs, family plans — each membership type has hidden billing complexity. 35 years of data from 11,000+ schools reveals which models actually work.
C
Chris Fossenier
billing managed-billing
Payment Reminder Emails: 4 Free Templates
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
How to Collect Past Due Invoices
Learn how to collect past due invoices, recover payments faster, and improve cash flow while maintaining strong customer relationships.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
How to Handle Member Payment Disputes
Payment disputes cost you money and members. Here's a step-by-step process for resolving chargebacks, preventing future disputes, and keeping relationships intact.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
What Is Tiered Pricing for Gyms?
Learn how tiered pricing works and why it’s effective for membership businesses. Check this 2025 guide for key strategies, benefits, and practical tips.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
7 CrossFit Gym Business Mistakes to Avoid
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Handle Negative Gym Reviews
Avoid common mistakes and learn what to do when dealing with negative gym reviews to protect and strengthen your gym’s reputation.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Youth Marketing Ideas
Turn school breaks into business wins. Use off-season camps to attract new families, boost student retention, and grow your martial arts income.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Taekwondo Ads That Convert
Stop wasting money on weak ads. Learn how top-performing Taekwondo schools market smarter, follow up better, and turn leads into lifelong students.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Membership Management Software 2026
Ten platforms ranked — Mindbody, Glofox, Zen Planner, PushPress and more. What each does well, where each falls short, and which recovers failed payments.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
AI Tools for Gyms: What Actually Works in 2026
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
VR Martial Arts Training
See why blending martial arts VR training with traditional methods offers the best path to grow your school and engage modern students.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Free Gym Membership Invoice Template
Use our guide on gym membership invoice templates and advanced billing tools to improve member retention, legal compliance, and financial tracking.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Gym Exit Survey Ideas
Gym exit surveys provide valuable insights to improve your services and keep more members engaged longer. Find out how to get started.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
TikTok Fitness Trends That Actually Fill Gyms
How gym and studio owners are turning TikTok fitness trends into real members — not generic social media advice, but strategies that drive enrollment.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Sell More Gym Memberships
Boost your gym’s membership sales with proven strategies for pricing, follow-ups, tours, and tech tools that simplify and enhance the sales process.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Gym Membership Pricing: Why Discounts Kill Revenue
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
How to Increase Gym Revenue
Increase gym revenue by improving retention, expanding services, and cutting inefficiencies. These tips work for all types of fitness businesses.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
What's a Good Gym Profit Margin?
Average gym profit margins run 10-15%, but top performers hit 30%+. The difference? Failed payments, underpricing, and revenue leaks you can actually fix. Real numbers inside.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
10 Martial Arts Revenue Strategies
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
Best CrossFit Ads That Convert
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Pilates Studio Marketing Strategies
Learn effective Pilates studio marketing strategies to attract more clients, boost retention, and streamline your business with the right tools.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Marketing Strategies Guide
Boost your martial arts studio’s visibility with expert marketing tactics to attract students and grow your local brand.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Start a Yoga Retreat Business
Start and scale your yoga retreat business with confidence. Learn how to plan, price, market, and manage transformational retreats anywhere in the world.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Fitness Challenge Ideas for Gyms
Learn how to plan, promote, and manage fitness challenges that boost motivation, drive sign-ups, and turn participants into long-term members.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Personal Training Software (2026)
Six platforms compared — Trainerize, TrueCoach, My PT Hub, PTminder, Everfit, Mindbody. Strengths, gaps, and how each handles failed payments.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Open a BJJ Gym: Costs, Setup & Real Talk
Real-world guide to opening a BJJ gym — startup costs, location, mats, insurance, billing setup, and the operational details most guides skip.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Fitness Studio Marketing Strategies
Get more out of your fitness studio marketing. Use these strategies to grow your membership, engage your community, and ensure long-term success.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Start a Group Fitness Program
Starting a group fitness training program requires planning. Learn how to create sessions, train coaches, and build a community to achieve success.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Client Retention for Martial Arts Gyms
These actionable client retention tips for martial arts gyms will help you reduce dropouts, boost revenue, and build a stronger training community.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Sell Personal Training Packages
Learn proven strategies for selling personal training packages that convert prospects into long-term clients. Create, price, and market packages that sell.
A
Avery Leary
all
Gym Referral Program Ideas
Build a high-converting gym referral program and avoid common mistakes. Explore examples, tracking tips, and the best incentives to offer your members.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Boxing Gym Name Ideas (150+)
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Brand a Martial Arts Studio
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Get More Gym Members: Proven Stategies
Learn how to boost membership with actionable strategies like referral programs, local marketing, and optimizing the first 30 days for new members.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Boxing Gym Startup Costs: $50K-$250K Breakdown
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.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Glofox vs Mindbody vs Member Solutions
A genuinely fair comparison of Glofox, Mindbody, and Member Solutions — pricing, features, billing, and the question no comparison post answers.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Ads That Actually Work (With Examples)
Real martial arts ad examples that fill dojos with students — Facebook, Instagram, Google, and local marketing strategies. What works and why, with screenshots.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Personal Trainer Blogs to Follow in 2026
Improve your coaching skills, business strategies, and client retention with these must-read personal trainer blogs from industry experts.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Best Martial Arts Software for Aikido Dojos in 2025
Find the best software for Aikido dojos to simplify administration, track rank progress, manage payments, and enhance engagement. Start optimizing today.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Glofox Alternatives for Fitness Studios
7 honest Glofox alternatives for fitness & martial arts studios — pricing, strengths, and the one thing switchers forget to check: who recovers failed payments.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Taekwondo Business Plan Guide
Launch your own Taekwondo school with a detailed business plan. Learn how to attract students, set goals, and plan for long-term success.
T
Todd Blyth
all
Gym Newsletter Ideas That Keep Members Coming Back
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Content Strategy for Martial Arts Schools
Want more students in your martial arts school? Discover a content strategy that builds trust, drives sign-ups, and grows your business effectively.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Communication Tips for Martial Arts Gyms
Looking to strengthen your martial arts student retention? Consider these 3 communications that can be sent by email, text, and mail.
T
Todd Blyth
all
How to Switch Members to ACH Payments
How do you move your martial arts & fitness members to ACH payments without disrupting their payment experience? Follow these tips
A
Avery Leary
all
Boost Your Martial Arts Event Turnout
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Quick Profitability Tips for Gym Owners
Unlock the secrets to make your gym profitable—from adjusting membership pricing to exploring alternate revenue streams.
T
Todd Blyth
all
7 Tips for Dojo Financial Planning
Enhance your martial arts business through financial planning. Tips to boost financial health, set clear goals, and more.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
KPIs & Financial Monitoring for Gyms
Master your growth today! Unlock the potential of KPIs and financial monitoring for your martial arts school. Learn more now.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
Increasing Martial Arts School Cash Flow
Alternative sources to diversify income and accelerate cash flow for your martial arts school. Learn more.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Grow Gym Revenue with Tiered Pricing
Multiply memberships. Boost gym revenue. 6 tiered membership pricing ideas for martial arts schools and fitness studios.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
3 Member Appreciation Event Tips
Have you ever stopped to think about how incredible your community is?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Benefits of Online Student Enrollment
Using paper contracts? Switching to online student enrollment can bring many long-term benefits to your martial arts business. Discover the advantages.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Spring Clean Your Martial Arts Business
Simple ways to give your martial arts school a productivity boost—from spring cleaning your online presence to prepping for Spring events.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
New Member Portal Release: What's New
What’s one of the most valuable assets a martial arts business can have?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Tools to Delight Martial Arts Members
Keep your business running around the clock (and elevate your members' experience!) with these martial arts business tools. Learn more!
C
Chris Fossenier
all
February Marketing Ideas for Martial Arts
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Summer Camp: Setup & Pricing
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all managed-billing
10 Ways to Increase Gym Revenue
Uncover effective methods to increase gym revenue. From optimizing pricing to improving operations, these strategies can maximize earnings.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
7 Steps to Build a New Year Business Plan
The new year lurking … hovering over your shoulder … whispering in your ear … “Psstt… hey … when are you going to make a plan for me?”
C
Chris Fossenier
all event-registration
9 Fall Events for Martial Arts Enrollment
Simple Fall events, activities, and offers to strengthen retention and attract new martial arts students.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Event Registration Barriers to Fix
How to quickly and easily eliminate common event registration barriers — and maximize event sign-ups and payments.
T
Tyler Snyder
all
1 Trick to Increase Gym Membership Sales
These easy-to-use metrics can help make your sales team more effective and significantly increase your gym membership selling skills.
T
Tyler Snyder
all
Master the Back-to-School Season with These 11 Tips
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,...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Driving Online Sales with Member Portal Marketplace
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
15 Email Templates to Boost Fitness Sales
Email marketing can make or break your fitness membership sales process. Great emails increase membership sales while bad emails will send your hard-earned...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Improve the Member Experience Online
Think back to Fall of 2019, and…Woah, the way you do business certainly has changed!
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Ways to Proactively Prevent Late Member Payments
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Gym Delinquency Management Text Service
Few things are more important to your studio’s financial well-being than your recurring member payments.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Deliver Recurring Value to Gym Members
Secondly, your business temporarily closed.
C
Chris Fossenier
all managed-billing
10 Ways to Reduce Gym Delinquency Rates
Don't let member payments disappear. Use these tips to encourage prompt payment and reduce delinquency rates for your martial arts business.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
Profit & Loss Statements Explained
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all event-registration
How to Plan Martial Arts Birthday Parties for Kids
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
all managed-billing
How Involuntary Attrition Kills Retention
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
Email Newsletter Tips for Gym Owners
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all managed-billing
4 Steps to a Genuine Membership Sales Pitch
A good sales process is less of an outright pitch and more of a dialogue that helps your prospect envision success with you.
A
Avery Leary
all
7 Ways to Handle Late Member Payments
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all membership-software
How to Use Trial Memberships in Martial Arts
The core of the trial membership martial arts discussion is attracting new people to your school while maintaining and demonstrating value.
A
Avery Leary
all
Avoid Financial Disputes with Gym Members
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5-Step Guerrilla Marketing for Martial Arts Schools
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all event-registration
11 Martial Arts Event Marketing Tips
Explore these 11 tips to increase your martial arts event marketing and attract new members at community events in your area.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Tips to Boost Your Event Revenue
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
15 Martial Arts Email Templates That Sell
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.
A
Avery Leary
all
14 Fall Event Ideas for September & October
Need event ideas for your martial arts school, gym, community group, or another organization? With autumn approaching, you’ll have lots of opportunities to...
C
Chris Fossenier
all membership-software
16 Student Retention Tips for Martial Arts Kids Classes
16 classroom-tested tips for keeping kids enrolled in your martial arts program, from age-specific classes to achievement systems that build loyalty.
T
Tyler Snyder
all
5 Grand Opening Event Ideas for Gyms
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?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Tips to Selling a Membership during the Recession
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
8 Strategies You Need to Grow Your Gym
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
8 Tips for Buying a Martial Arts School
Here are eight helpful tips for you to consider before buying an existing martial arts school or fitness facility.
A
Avery Leary
all
Prevent Member Attrition This Summer
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 […]
A
Avery Leary
all
Term vs Ongoing Memberships: Key Benefits
Client Question: What Term membership length is best? What cancel notice period is optimal for ongoing memberships? Which one should I use?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Opening Another Business Location Guide
Client Question: I’m thinking of opening another location. What are the most important considerations to keep in mind before taking this big step?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Opening a Second Location: Planning Guide
Question: I”m thinking of opening another location. What are the most important considerations to keep in mind before taking this big step?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
4 Events to Drive Enrollment & Community
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
3 Tips to Increase Event Turnout
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....
C
Chris Fossenier
all
A Birthday Party Follow-Up That Converts
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Create a Membership Program: 2026 Guide
Membership programs have become one of the most effective ways for organizations to build loyalty, create stable revenue streams, and nurture strong...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Calculate Martial Arts Business Success
Why do some martial arts studios have 50 students while others have 500?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Run Martial Arts & Fitness Events
“I’ve tried special events. They don’t work. I never get new enrollments from them.”
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Increase Your Gross Sales Now
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Summer Camp Tips
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts Summer Events & Marketing Strategies
Anyone who follows the show Game of Thrones knows the famous saying, “Winter is coming,” which is a warning of difficult times to come.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Sales Scripts for Martial Arts Gyms
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,...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Martial Arts School Event Pick List
Running an event is arguably one of the best things you can do for your martial arts business. Doing so provides three great benefits:
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Increase Leads and Membership Sales
If your members are the lifeblood of your business (and they should be), then tracking their behavior is what keeps the blood pumping.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Handle Membership Contract Complaints
A written billing agreement ― otherwise known as a membership contact — is a standard business document used by many membership-based businesses. Every day,...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
PTA Fundraisers for Martial Arts Schools
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
5 Martial Arts Back to School Growth Tips
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
10 Ways to Boost Online Registrations
The more registrations you get for your events, the more opportunity you create to grow your business, camp, sports league, or organization.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Business Financial Terms Cheat Sheet
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
all
Facebook Ads for Martial Arts Marketing
Confused about Facebook ads? You’re not the only one.
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Use Registration Software to Market Summer Camps
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
Chargeback Management for Gyms
“What do you mean they’re disputing the charge? They signed a contract!”
C
Chris Fossenier
all
100 Martial Arts Students in 90 Days
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Overcome Sales Objections
How to overcome objections in sales? Learn practical strategies for membership business to handle customer objections effectively.
T
Tyler Snyder
all
What's a Good Member Retention Rate?
What’s a Good Member Retention Rate for Fitness & Martial Arts Programs?
C
Chris Fossenier
all
How to Reduce Membership Cancellations
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...
C
Chris Fossenier
Membership Software
See all Membership Software Articles all membership-software
Best Martial Arts School Software (2026)
An honest 2026 comparison of martial arts school software, ranking 7 platforms on the question most roundups skip: what happens when a payment fails?
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
Best Mindbody Alternative for Martial Arts
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
Buying a Martial Arts School: Member Data
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Managed Billing
See all Managed Billing Articles all membership-software
Best Martial Arts School Software (2026)
An honest 2026 comparison of martial arts school software, ranking 7 platforms on the question most roundups skip: what happens when a payment fails?
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
Best Mindbody Alternative for Martial Arts
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all managed-billing
Martial Arts School Back-to-School Billing
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all news
2025 Member Solutions Year in Review
A look back at our biggest platform improvements this year and a preview of what we’re building next.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
membership-software news
Interview: Michael Brandt on Gym Success
In this interview, Mary-Margaret sits down with Michael to explore the vision, process, and innovation shaping the future of Member Manager.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all membership-software
2026 Membership Industry Trends
We gathered the top 2026 membership-based industry trends so you don’t have to. Explore what they mean for your studio.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
Event Registration
See all Event Registration Articles all managed-billing
Martial Arts School Back-to-School Billing
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.
M
Mary-Margaret Bennett
all event-registration
9 Fall Events for Martial Arts Enrollment
Simple Fall events, activities, and offers to strengthen retention and attract new martial arts students.
C
Chris Fossenier
all event-registration
How to Plan Martial Arts Birthday Parties for Kids
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
Billing
See all Billing Articles membership-software billing
Membership Pricing Strategy Guide
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.
C
Chris Fossenier
billing managed-billing
Payment Reminder Emails: 4 Free Templates
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.
V
Vanessa Gonyea
Free guide
5 Emails Your Members Will Actually Open
Five ready-to-send emails — re-engagement, milestone, community, value, and check-in — with copy templates for all five.
Free guide
25 Subject Lines for Gym Owner Emails
Ready-to-copy subject lines for re-engagement, announcements, pricing updates, and community emails.
Free guide
The Gym Owner's Newsletter Content Calendar
A 12-month plan for what to send your members every month — so you're never starting from a blank screen.
Free guide
Freeze & Cancellation Response Scripts
Word-for-word scripts for the conversations every gym owner dreads — freezes, cancellations, and objections.
Free guide
Summer Communication Templates
15 ready-to-send messages to keep members engaged and reduce seasonal dropoff all summer long.
Free guide
Post-Event Follow-Up Scripts
Copy-and-paste messages for members, guests, and no-shows — sent within 48 hours to turn your event into retention.
Free guide
The Event Planning Checklist
Plan your next gym event in 20 minutes — with a goal, invite strategy, check-in system, and 48-hour follow-up built in.
Free guide
The Martial Arts Club Owners AI Prompt Library
20 copy-paste prompts for social media, emails, ads, and parent communication.
Free guide
Billing Conversation Kit
Scripts, templates, and checklists for handling billing issues without losing members.
Free guide
The 30-Day New Member Retention Checklist
Day-by-day touchpoints, email templates, and text scripts to keep new members past their first month.
Free guide
The Complete Member Retention Playbook
Templates, scripts, and checklists — from the 5th-visit milestone to creating gym loyalists.
Free guide
Membership Metrics Calculation Guide
Simple formulas to track revenue growth, ARPM, retention rate, and member lifespan.
Free guide
Pricing Psychology Cheatsheet
10 simple cues that help members say "yes" — without lowering your price.
Free guide
Discount Audit Checklist
10-step review to make sure your discounts are attracting the right members, not eroding your value.
Free guide
Membership Pricing Planner & Confidence Checklist
Revenue projections, communication plan template, and a confidence check before raising rates.
Free guide
Members-for-Life Guide
Framework with progression stages, milestone library, perks menu, and upgrade scripts.
On-demand webinar
Summer-Proof Your Club: Member Management Features to Use This Summer
The Member Solutions features that stop the 10–15% summer member drop — and how to turn them on before summer starts.
On-demand webinar
5 Events That Pay for Themselves (and How to Run Your First One This Month)
Five simple, repeatable event formats that strengthen member retention without breaking the bank — plus the Event Planning Checklist and Post-Event Follow-Up Scripts.
On-demand webinar
Member Retention Strategies: Webinar Recap & Key Takeaways
Why most facilities lose 40–50% of new members in 30 days — and the proven checklist to fix it.
On-demand webinar
How to Get More Martial Arts Students Without Ads
Matthew Brenner's proven school program strategy that generates $42K+ from a single day of outreach.
On-demand webinar
How to Fill Your Martial Arts School (Without Spending All Day on Marketing)
Tristan Stier of Veuze Media shares simple, repeatable systems to bring in committed students without consuming your calendar.
Stop Losing Revenue to Failed Payments
Our team recovers the revenue that billing software misses. Find out how much you're leaving on the table.
