Finding the Right Ballet Studio Software: 7 Key Features
With approximately 500 years of history, ballet has played a prominent role in the world of dance.
From a business perspective, ballet holds around 50% of the $4-billion dance studio industry market in the US and an average annual revenue between $100,000 and $300,000 per studio. With a profitability margin between 10% and 30%, the software you use to manage your studio can have a major impact on your results.
If you’re looking to increase profitability, expand your clientele, and provide a superior experience, then you need the right ballet studio software to help you achieve your goals.
In this guide, we discuss what key features to look for when searching for the right platform for your ballet studio and list the top software solutions available.
What we cover:
The top ballet studio software
Ready to find the right ballet studio management software? Here’s a list of the top solutions.
1. WellnessLiving
WellnessLiving provides an all-in-one platform for ballet studios. Our comprehensive features include customizable branded websites and widgets, integrated booking and payments, easy staff management, great customer support, automated marketing, and recital planning to name a few. We even offer the hardware for POS and on-site check-ins. You can make the experience as smooth as possible for both your clients and employees, so they can focus on ballet.
An added bonus with WellnessLiving is that best features are already included in the core plans—unlike the expensive add-ons you will find with our competitors.
2. CompuDance
If your focus for an online ballet studio software is solely administrative, then CompuDance may be worth considering. With CompuDance, you get mobile attendance tracking, billing and account management, online registration and payments, email and text communications, parent and teacher apps, and class scheduling. They also offer an online store where you can upload the required class items for purchase.
While CompuDance is a solid choice for the administrative aspects, you’ll be missing out on branding opportunities, automated marketing, and easy recital planning features.
3. Jackrabbit Dance
Jackrabbit Dance is another option for your ballet studio management software. They offer many features including automated billing, enhanced parent engagement, costume management, integrated marketplace, and more.
Be aware that their fee-based system is dependent on student count. You have the option of directly passing on the cost of the software to your clients for the base plan, but is that really the way you want to go about it? Also, providing your customers with a branded app will cost extra.
4. Sawyer
Another cloud-based option is Sawyer. Sawyer is a management solution designed for camps and activities. With families in mind, they provide features like flexible class and payment types, automated billing ,and simple client communications. Their class booking UX is easy to use and embeds onto your site so you can maintain your brand.
Sawyer comes with a big price tag—you’re looking at double the price of WellnessLiving’s base plan with a lot less features. You’ll also be paying a hefty commission for any sales that come through their marketplace.
5. Acuity Scheduling
If you’re a small to medium size ballet studio, AcuityScheduling may be the right fit for you. With AcuityScheduling, you can affordably manage schedules, appointments, payments, and notifications.
While ballet class management is available, marketing or client management features are not. As you grow and want to expand your communications, marketing, and branding you’ll need to add other software or graduate to a more robust platform.
6. Mindbody
Mindbody is a popular solution for dance studio software. Similar to WellnessLiving, it offers an all-in-one solution with many of the same features—except a custom branded app that doesn’t include the nearby listing of your competitors.
What’s different about Mindbody is that you are going to be spending more for the same features, for credit card processing fees, and for service fees when your clients utilize Reserve with Google.
7. ClassJuggler
ClassJuggler is another option if you are only looking for administrative and business management solutions for your ballet studio. With ClassJuggler, your class management software includes automatic conflict checking, teacher schedule checks, student age verification, and attendance tracking. A staff app and a customer portal to your website are also available. ClassJuggler also allows you to create and manage skills through group levels that can be directly assigned to your dance students.
ClassJuggler’s pricing is straightforward and based on student count, but the software really stays in the lane of ballet class management and business administration. Features like marketing and communications will require the purchase of another platform.
Essential features to look for in ballet studio software
Choosing the right software can streamline those daily tasks and really improve the profitability of your ballet studio. Make sure the software you choose includes these key features.
Client management
Client management is a fundamental feature for any ballet studio. Make sure you are getting a comprehensive CRM with your software that includes all your clients’ data in one place: contact details, attendance tracking, transaction history, and progress tracking.
Client app
A client app is a definite must. A custom-branded client app is even better. The client app builder should require no coding and allow your clients to book classes, check-in to the ballet studio, make payments, provide automated reminders, and track attendance.
Staff app
A staff app is also an important feature to have. The staff app at a minimum should allow your team to manage their schedules, communicate with their students, and track attendance. Another feature to consider with the staff app is mobile point-of-sale (POS) capabilities which can really level up your business. Our Elevate Staff App has got you covered with all of this.
Automated marketing
An often-overlooked feature with ballet studio software is marketing. Automated marketing features promote engagement and attract new clients. There is no reason to purchase additional software to create your multi-channel marketing flows. With our email, SMS, and push marketing features, you can seamlessly create your automated marketing campaigns.
Customer support
Most business management software platforms have a lot of powerful features, making it a bit overwhelming to know where to start. Solid 24/7 customer support is the cornerstone of getting the most out of your software so you can get the help you need, when you need it.
Easy check-in
Easy streamlined check-ins improve the overall experience for your students. Make sure your check-in process is as easy as possible by offering online and kiosk options. This feature should also support automated attendance tracking and reports.
Recital Planning
Recitals are where your students and staff get to showcase their hard work and training. Make sure the software solution you choose has the ability to organize and promote your upcoming recitals. You want your students to perform for a full crowd. Our event scheduling feature is perfectly suited for this.
Ready to help your ballet studio thrive?
Finding the right software provider that is supportive and flexible towards meeting your business needs should not take away from what you love to do.
Book a demo with WellnessLiving and see what our solution can do for your ballet studio.
