13 Must-Have Features in Dance Studio Software [+Top 5 Tools]
The dance studio industry grew slowly in the years immediately following the pandemic, but now with a growth rate of 7.6%, the trajectory is strong.
To meet demand, dance studio owners can cater to local children and adults with a variety of programs—like intensive classical training, just-for-fun fitness, and summer day camps.
But the more offerings you add, the more complex your studio operations become.
In this guide, we showcase the must-have features in dance studio software to help you run and grow your business. And, we offer a list of the top platforms to try.
What’s in this guide:
13 top features to look for in dance software
Before you make a final decision, vet your dance software for these key features.
1. Client management system
First and foremost, you need a system for keeping track of your clients. You should be able to store all essential information in one place: names, contact information, membership status, purchase history, etc. All of these details should be kept up to date automatically.
2. Parent-child connection
For dance studios in particular, it’s important that your software be able to track parent-child relationships. So, within the client management system, you should be able to tie children to their parents so you can reach out to the right folks with updates and reminders.
3. Online student registration
No one wants to come into your studio to fill out paperwork, so make sure you can offer online student registration. Per your preferences, you might make this form readily available on your website or send it to new members manually via email.
4. Staff and instructor management
You’ll also want the ability to manage your dance instructors and other staff. We’re talking schedules, availability, rates, payroll, contact information, and tasks.
Ideally, the platform would offer a mobile app where your staff can clock-in when on site, check their schedules, view their upcoming tasks, and more.
5. Class and membership sales
Your platform should make it easy to customize your offers depending on your business model. You might sell individual dance classes, monthly memberships, or class passes. Maybe you’ll sell these straight from your website, or maybe you’ll only share payment links after a studio tour or interview. It’s up to you.
6. Product inventory management
Every dance studio can benefit from selling physical products like branded t-shirts, sweatshirts, and bags as well as items that match the style of classes offered (like flamenco fans, ballet slippers, leotards, or other gear). Your platform should offer inventory management that synchs with your site so you can sell products online.
7. Online and in-person payments
The platform should offer online payment processing for one-time fees, monthly recurring payments, and products. The company should also have POS hardware so you can accept in-person payments for products and services.
8. Events management
Dance studio owners can boost revenue through a variety of events. Think paid workshops, weekend intensives, summer camps, and free events to spread awareness of your studio, serve local needs, and provide advanced training to your most loyal students. Be sure to choose a platform that lets you create paid and free events, market them to your database, and take registrations.
9. Segmented marketing
To send successful emails and SMS messages, you need to segment your audience. Your platform should allow you to segment campaigns based on client groups (such as all parents of students in a specific class) as well as activity (like membership status, purchase behavior, or attendance data). Make sure the platform also supports automation so you can remind people of upcoming classes or pending renewals.
10. Custom branded mobile app for clients
Mobile apps are a great way to boost engagement, loyalty, and retention. Look for a platform that makes it easy to launch a custom branded mobile app for clients (without any coding required). Clients should be able to check their class schedule, engage with your loyalty program, book new classes, and purchase products, all in one place.
11. Website widgets and builder
At the very least, the platform you choose should offer website widgets so you can embed your online offers and forms into your existing website. But, if the platform comes with a full website builder as well, that’s even better. This way you can lower your monthly expenses, create a fully integrated client experience, and get help with your site from the software’s support team.
12. Virtual content and classes
If you’re looking to grow our revenue through virtual offers, check for the ability to create video courses and livestreams. Make sure you can charge separately for your virtual offers or include them in a monthly membership to allow you full flexibility.
13. Review requests
Lastly, select a platform that offers automated review management. Online reviews are essential for getting potential clients to trust your business. Reviews also have a big impact on your rankings in Google Search, Google Maps, and other platforms. Your software should automatically request reviews from clients—while preventing bad reviews from going public with a two-step rating process.
5 platforms to consider for dance studio management
Here are some of the top solutions to explore.
1. WellnessLiving
With WellnessLiving, you get all of the features you need to manage students and grow your business. We offer segmented marketing campaigns, automation, client contact groups, email and SMS, and push notifications so you connect with the right dancers and parents at the right times.
WellnessLiving offers the best features in our core plans. You can get a custom branded mobile app and website with our BusinessMax plan without having to pay for add-ons. But if you’re just looking for the basics, our Business plan is perfect.
2. Vagaro
Vagaro offers an all-in-one solution for dance studio management software. If you only need the base features of class sales and online bookings, you could save compared to other platforms. But if you want to build a website and mobile app and utilize their marketing features, you’ll need to purchase expensive monthly add-ons.
3. ZenPlanner
With ZenPlanner, you can manage a variety of administrative tasks, from updating schedules to planning special workshops and messaging client groups. But the platform doesn’t offer reviews management and their support isn’t available 24/7. The pricing is based on the number of studio members you have, which could add up quickly.
4. Mariana Tek
Mariana Tek is a good solution for dance studios and barre fitness studios. It offers online registration, payments, and bookings. You can improve the client experience with a branded mobile app. But keep in mind that their base pricing is the highest on our list.
5. Momence
With Momence, you’ll get all the essential features you need like class booking and client data management. However, the platform lacks a staff mobile app, website builder, and ClassPass integration.
Momence offers lower monthly pricing compared to the other options on our list, but their credit card processing fees are nearly twice as high. So, be sure to do some calculations based on your monthly revenue before moving forward with Momence.
Interested in managing your studio with the platform that helps you grow? Book a demo of WellnessLiving.
