Running a class-based business? Whether it’s yoga, fitness, tutoring, or any other type of class, we all know managing schedules and keeping track of appointments can get chaotic. But guess what? There’s a super easy fix for that! With the right online booking system, you can say goodbye to double bookings, missed payments, and endless back-and-forth emails. Instead, you can sit back and let the system do the heavy lifting for you.
In 2024, businesses are going digital at warp speed, and if you’re still juggling manual schedules, you might be missing out on a much smoother way to run your classes. From yoga studios to personal coaching sessions, a reliable online booking system can change the way you handle bookings, payments, and invoicing—leaving you with more time to focus on what you love: teaching!
So, which booking systems should you consider? Well, we’ve done the homework for you! Let’s dive into the top five online booking systems for classes in 2024. Whether you need something simple, customisable, or packed with features, there’s something here for every type of business.
Acuity Scheduling: Best for Customisation
One well-known online booking system that does a great job of customisation is Acuity Scheduling. Acuity lets you change the planning process to fit your needs, whether you’re in charge of workshops, group classes, or one-on-one teaching. With custom booking pages, businesses can make the user experience more unique, which can help them stand out.
Key Features:
- Booking pages that are fully customisable and match your business’s style, colours, and branding.
- Automatic follow-ups and notes for clients and teachers help cut down on people who don’t show up.
- Syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCloud, among others, so you can be sure of real-time changes.
Acuity has a lot of ways to customise it, and it also has powerful data tools. These are very helpful for businesses that need to keep track of things like attendance, customer interests, and sales.
Why It Stands Out:
Businesses that need more than just a basic booking system will love Acuity’s adaptability and ability to integrate with other systems in a deep way. Acuity makes it easy to schedule classes that happen over and over, take last-minute plans, and deal with different time zones.
Calendly: Simple Yet Powerful
Calendly is an excellent choice for an easy-to-use online booking system that works well with your current tools and processes. Its clean look and simple layout make Calendly a business favourite. People who want an easy way to keep track of their meetings and class times should use it.
Key Features:
- The interface is straightforward, so even first-time users can quickly make reservations.
- Works with well-known programs like Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar, Zoom, and more.
- Sends confirmations, notes, and follow-up emails automatically, which helps people remember their meetings.
Some other systems may have more customisation choices than Calendly, but the fact that it is simple is often what makes it so appealing. Calendly is an excellent choice for small businesses that just need an easy way to set up appointments.
Why It Stands Out:
Calendly’s best feature is its simplicity. If a business owner doesn’t need a lot of extra features but still wants an excellent online booking system, this is the best choice. And because it works with other tools, it fits with the rest of your tech stack.
Mindbody: Best for Fitness and Wellness Businesses
Businesses that offer health and exercise services use Mindbody as their primary online booking system. It has various tools for spas, gyms, yoga classes, and exercise centres. Mindbody helps businesses keep track of plans with all of its features. It also helps build stronger ties with customers thanks to marketing and client management tools that come with it.
Key Features:
- Businesses can offer more personalised services when they connect to health and wellness tracking software.
- That makes it easy for clients and business owners to book and handle classes while on the go.
- Built-in marketing tools for managing gift cards, running discounts, and building reward programs.
Because Mindbody focuses on the exercise and wellness industries, it is the only company that can truly meet the needs of those sectors. It works with class plans, client preferences, and even exercise-tracking apps. It lets you give people a more tailored experience.
Why It Stands Out:
Business owners who care about their customers’ health and want to give them a personalised experience can use Mindbody. This online booking system is one of the best ones you can find if you run an exercise class or health centre. It can do great things because it has many client management features and tools.
SimplyBook.me: Best for Small Businesses
SimplyBook.me is an excellent option for small to medium-sized businesses that need an online booking system that is cheap and full of valuable features. It has many tools that can help you handle everything. You can use one tool to do everything, from planning classes and collecting payments to getting customer feedback and running ads.
Key Features:
- Customisable booking forms that accept several payment methods, such as PayPal and credit cards.
- Sending SMS and email notes automatically to clients and teachers reduces the chance of missing meetings.
- Easy connection to social media sites like Google, Facebook, and Instagram, so customers can book lessons right from those sites.
You can also use SimplyBook.me’s tools to keep track of sales, deals, and customer reviews. These help companies get new customers and keep the ones they already have.
Why It Stands Out:
SimplyBook.me is excellent for small businesses that need a booking system that is both cheap and complete. For companies that want to grow their online profile, being able to connect directly to social media sites is a big plus.
Bookeo: Best for Flexibility and Scalability
Bookeo is an online booking system that does everything and gives businesses much freedom. Bookeo is flexible enough to meet the needs of many types of businesses, whether you’re in charge of one-on-one classes, group lessons, trips, or events. It is great for businesses that want to grow and need a system that can adapt to their needs.
Key Features:
- Allows bookings for both individuals and groups. Businesses that give various lessons or events can use it in several ways.
- Payment methods built in. It lets businesses take payments with credit cards right on their booking pages.
- Reporting and tracking tools with lots of information about customers, bookings, and sales. It helps companies make wise choices.
One thing that makes Bookeo stand out is that it can handle complicated bookings, like classes with multiple sessions or meetings that happen over and over again. You can change it in many ways, which makes it perfect for companies that provide many services.
Why It Stands Out:
Businesses that need a robust, all-in-one online booking system should choose Bookeo because it is flexible and can grow as needed. It can grow with your business because it can handle complicated bookings and many services.
Also Read: Everything You Need to Know about Billing Software
Conclusion
The goals of your business will determine which online booking system is best for you. Acuity Scheduling lets you make changes, Calendly makes things easy, Mindbody is excellent for health businesses, SimplyBook.me is for small businesses, and Bookeo is adaptable and scalable. Each method has good and bad points, but they all make running your business easy.
Connecting your ticket system to CaptainBiz‘s GST billing software will make it easier to do things like invoice and payment and stay in compliance. Make 2024 the year you improve your business processes and expand it exponentially.
FAQs
Can I use an online booking system for classes that happen more than once?
Yes, many online booking systems, like Bookeo and Acuity, let you set up regular schedules for classes that happen once a week or once a month. This makes it easier to plan for classes that happen more than once.
Can you pay for things through online booking systems?
Most online booking systems, like SimplyBook.me and Bookeo, have built-in payment methods, like PayPal and credit cards. These let people pay for their classes right away.
Is it possible to add a booking system to my website?
Of course! Most systems come with an easy-to-use app or widget that you can use to add the booking interface to your website. This makes the process smooth for users.