Online payments for your studio, paid before class

Avana is studio software where members pay upfront, online or at the desk, and every payment automatically gets an invoice. Most studios start with a payment request in a group chat, cash at the end of class or a bank transfer at the start of the month. That works with a handful of members. After that, evenings disappear into checking who has paid and making invoices for whoever asks. Taking payment at the moment of booking fixes both.

Which payment methods do members expect?

Almost everyone carries a contactless card or a phone with Apple Pay or Google Pay. A wallet payment takes a couple of seconds on a phone, which matters when someone is booking a class on the bus. If paying feels slow or unfamiliar, some people give up halfway.

In Avana members pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card, on your studio page or in the Avana app, in the same step as booking. For regulars, a membership is charged to their card every month. Read how that works on the page about studio memberships.

Why paying upfront works better

People who have paid show up. A class that's already paid for is harder to skip than one you still have to settle afterwards. For you, it means the money is in before you open up for the day, and nobody needs a reminder about what they owe.

In a Pilates studio or reformer studio with small groups this matters even more, because an empty spot is lost income. For a bootcamp or outdoor session, paying upfront tells you who is really coming when the weather turns. And a dance studio saves itself a round of phone calls at the start of every term.

Paying at the desk, in cash or by card

Not every member wants to pay online, and not every studio wants to insist on it. A neighborhood studio with long-standing regulars, a martial arts school with a front desk or a clinic running group classes often prefers members to pay in person. The important thing is keeping track: who booked, who has paid and what's still open.

In Avana you decide: online only, online and at the studio, or at the studio only. When a member chooses the studio, the purchase shows as still to pay. Once they've paid, you mark it with one button, cash or card. That works for a class pack or a membership as well. The member pays no booking fee, and the invoice follows just the same.

Invoices without the paperwork

An invoice carries your business details, a running number, the date and what was bought. Making those by hand for every member who asks takes time, and numbering mistakes are easy to make.

Avana creates an invoice after every payment, including payments taken at the desk. The booking fee never appears on it, because it isn't your studio's income. If you refund something, a credit note is added. On Studio Max, an employer paying for their staff receives one invoice a month.

When a payment fails

With memberships, a monthly charge occasionally fails: a card has expired, been replaced or hit its limit. The worst part is chasing it. The longer it takes, the more awkward the conversation becomes.

When a payment fails, Avana emails the member a button to pay again. You get one email with what happened and what Avana has already done. Under Failed on Payments you see what's still open, and if the payment goes through later it disappears by itself. Until then, the member can't book new classes with that membership.

What to check when you choose a system

Look closely at what taking payments costs you. Some systems keep a percentage of every class, others charge a fixed monthly fee. Over a year the difference adds up. Also check where the money goes: straight to your own account, or to the software company first.

With Avana you pay one fixed monthly price, from $22.99, and no commission on your classes. Payments go through Stripe straight to your own account, and one button exports your revenue to Excel for your accountant. Read more about reports and insights, or see the prices on this page.