How to set up recurring payments for your fitness studio

February 5, 2025 —
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Running a successful fitness studio—whether a gym, yoga studio, Pilates centre or martial arts academy—isn’t just about keeping members engaged. In Australia, where cash transactions are fading and digital payments are the norm, automated recurring billing has become essential for fitness businesses.

By setting up recurring payments, you remove friction for both your studio and your members. No more chasing late payments, dealing with expired memberships or worrying about cash flow dips. Instead, you get predictable income, fewer cancellations and a seamless customer experience that keeps members coming back.

Why fitness studios should offer recurring payments

A thriving fitness studio isn’t built on one-time sign-ups—it’s built on long-term members. But keeping them enrolled isn’t just about offering great workouts; it’s about making payments effortless.

For many members, manually renewing a membership or remembering to pay is a hassle. Life gets busy, and before they know it, their membership lapses—not because they wanted to leave, but because they forgot. Recurring payments solve this by automating renewals, ensuring members stay on track without interruptions.

Beyond retention, predictable cash flow makes running a business much smoother. With automated billing, you eliminate the uncertainty of fluctuating income, making it easier to plan, invest and grow. Plus, you spend less time chasing payments and handling admin work—freeing you up to focus on what really matters: delivering an outstanding fitness experience.

Simply put, recurring payments aren’t just a convenience—they’re a game-changer for scaling your fitness business.

How to set up recurring payments for your fitness studio

1. Choose the right payment platform

Look for a tech-forward payment solution that integrates seamlessly with your studio’s booking or membership system. The best options let you automate invoices, send payment reminders and track transactions in real-time.

Key things to consider:

  • Compatibility with your gym management software
  • Support for multiple online payment methods
  • Low transaction fees and transparent pricing
  • Compliance with Australian payment regulations and security standards

A flexible platform like MuliPay makes it easy to accept recurring payments, helping fitness studios simplify billing and improve cash flow—all while keeping payments secure and hassle-free.

 

2. Set up flexible membership plans

One-size-fits-all memberships don’t work anymore. Today’s fitness consumers expect flexibility—some want unlimited access, while others prefer pay-as-you-go options. Offering a variety of membership tiers ensures you cater to different needs while maintaining steady revenue with automated recurring payments.

Gym membership tiers:
For traditional gyms and functional training centers, consider:

    • Casual drop-in – Perfect for one-time visitors or tourists.
    • Weekly or monthly memberships – Great for short-term commitments with easy renewals.
    • Annual memberships – Encourages long-term commitment with a discounted rate.
    • Premium or VIP pass – Includes perks like personal training sessions, sauna access or nutrition consultations.

Fitness studio & class-based membership tiers:
For yoga, Pilates, martial arts or boutique fitness studios, flexible options help attract different types of members:

    • Class packs (e.g., 5, 10 or 20 sessions) – A prepaid option for members who want flexibility.
    • Unlimited memberships – Ideal for dedicated clients who attend regularly.
    • Private or specialty sessions – One-on-one coaching or small group classes with personalised guidance.
    • Intro offers or trial passes – Encourages new members to try out your studio with a limited-time discounted rate.

By structuring your membership plans this way, you make it easy for customers to commit while ensuring a smooth and predictable payment flow for your business.

 

3. Automate payment processing & reduce admin work

Manual invoicing? That’s time you could be spending on growing your business. A smart recurring payment system does the heavy lifting for you:

  • Automatically charges members on their billing cycle
  • Sends reminders for upcoming payments
  • Retries failed transactions to prevent membership disruptions

This means fewer awkward conversations about overdue payments and more focus on delivering top-tier fitness experiences.

 

4. Stay compliant & secure

Payment security isn’t optional—it’s a necessity. If you’re storing customer payment details, your system must comply with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).

A reliable payment provider should:

  • Use encryption and tokenisation to protect transactions
  • Offer fraud detection tools to prevent chargebacks
  • Be fully compliant with Australian financial regulations

Trust is everything. When members know their payments are secure, they’re more likely to stay loyal to your studio.

 

5. Make sure your members know the benefits

Switching to recurring payments? Keep your members in the loop! Transparency builds trust, so communicate the change clearly:

  • Announce it via email, social media and in-studio signage
  • Highlight the benefits—no more re-entering payment details or worrying about lapsed memberships
  • Provide easy cancellation or plan-change options to give members control over their subscriptions

The more seamless the transition, the better the customer experience.

How MuliPay makes recurring payments effortless

Setting up automated payments doesn’t have to be complicated. MuliPay helps fitness studios streamline their billing process with:

  • Seamless integration with your existing booking system
  • Multiple payment options for customer convenience
  • Automated invoicing and reminders to reduce admin work
  • Secure transactions that meet Australian compliance standards

Whether you run a boutique yoga studio, a high-energy CrossFit gym or a martial arts academy, MuliPay simplifies your payments so you can focus on what matters—building a thriving fitness community.

 

Maximise recurring revenue with flexible billing Boost revenue by creating flexible, scalable pricing plans for recurring fees and subscriptions, all while streamlining invoice management.

 

Recurring payments aren’t just about convenience—they’re about business growth. With automated billing, you:

  • Reduce cancellations
  • Ensure steady cash flow
  • Give your members a seamless experience

The best part? It’s easier than ever to set up. Ready to future-proof your fitness studio’s payments? Explore MuliPay today and take your business to the next level.

Want to automate recurring payments for your business?
Talk to our team
MuliPay Pty Ltd ABN 54 670 681 213 holds Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) No. 552726. Any financial advice provided by MuliPay is general in nature and does not consider your personal circumstances and may not be suitable for you. Please refer to our Product Disclosure Statement to assess if our products or services are suitable for you.