Sports Club: How to Generate More Revenue?

In most cases, simply renting spaces cannot guarantee the profitability of a sports club. Here are our 5 tips to increase the revenue of your sports complex!

I. RETAIN THE CUSTOMERS OF YOUR SPORTS CLUB

Attracting customers is good, getting them to come back is even better! To achieve this, there are several loyalty methods to implement. Tools that your sports club management software should be able to handle.

Offer Subscriptions

This model is used by fitness rooms. It involves a monthly recurrence for your clients that grants access to specific services. It is translatable to any activity. For example, a Padel club can create a subscription limited to off-peak hours.

Advantage : A recurring income every month and maximum customer retention

Disadvantage : Be careful with how you structure your offers. Unlimited subscriptions, for example, can greatly affect your profitability 

Create Credit Packs

Credit packs or session cards are a powerful and flexible loyalty lever. The principle is simple : sell prepaid cards that grant access to specific services. For example, an indoor soccer facility allows clients to buy 10 games in advance for the price of 9.

Advantages :

• You generate cash flow in advance

• You engage the client for 10 services. They will be more inclined to organize their activities in your club rather than at your competitor's.

Disadvantage : It can sometimes be complicated to keep track. However, management software for sports complexes like Doinsport can help you manage these aspects.

The virtual wallet

The virtual wallet represents a sum of dematerialized money available from your clients' member accounts. This amount is consumable at any time and for any type of purchase in your sports center. Thus, by recharging their virtual wallet, a client can pay for their sports activities as well as snacks, drinks, or a product purchased in your pro-shop. To encourage recharging, you could imagine a recharge model where 30 euros deposited = 35 euros credited to the wallet.

Advantage :

• Extreme loyalty

• More cash for kids/teens

• Managed VAT differences

Disadvantage : Underdeveloped. In France, Doinsport is the only management software to offer this option to sports clubs.

How does Doinsport software help me retain my clients ?

II. CAPITALIZE ON THE CLIENT BASE OF YOUR SPORTS CLUB

Your existing clients are a goldmine. By implementing a few techniques, you can easily increase your revenue.

Develop your add-on sales 

Too often, add-on sales are neglected by complexes. Yet, they can represent a significant financial opportunity.

The Bar/Food Area, a must-have for the sports club

A sports club is a place for life and entertainment. Playing soccer, padel, tennis, or any other activity provides your clients with the opportunity to share a friendly moment. Rooted in the tradition of French sports centers, the clubhouse has become indispensable. This activity can represent up to 25% of a complex's revenue.

Increase your average basket size with +1 Sales

When making an online reservation, offer your clients the chance to rent a racket or pre-order their round. With these cross-sales, you will increase the average spending in your center.

 Proshop

 You don't need to become Amazon to start making money from selling merchandise. Don’t underestimate the image that customers have of you. Often, your members see you as an expert in the sport they practice. Thus, you can easily market rackets, shoes, balls, or any other merchandise in your center.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CLIENTS

Leverage the data you have. By making a reservation with you, prospects enter your database. Use the information provided to follow up with them. Often, if they no longer come to your complex, it’s not because they’re ignoring you, but simply because they don’t think of you. A regular reminder with targeted offers can give you a booking recurrence rate of around 70% compared to 48% without communication.

What communication tools does Doinsport provide?

• Email

• SMS

• Push Notifications (Application)

III. REDUCE CANCELLATIONS IN YOUR SPORTS CLUB

The number one enemy of your sports club is clients who do not honor their reservation. It is difficult to re-rent the activity just a few minutes before the scheduled time.

What solutions can be implemented to limit the impact of cancellations on your revenue ? 

PAYMENT METHODS 

Online booking and the associated payment methods are an extremely effective solution against losses due to cancellations.

By requiring full payment, whether your client cancels or shows up, they will have paid the amount corresponding to their reservation. However, this lack of flexibility can frustrate the booker given the significant monetary advance made.

Nevertheless, another solution is available to you. The implementation of a deposit has the primary advantage of representing a lower financial effort than full payment. All while engaging the booker. However, if they do not show up, you will only recover the deposit amount.

So, opt for flexibility ! The credit card imprint is a guarantee requested from the client without the amount being debited. In case of no-show, you can charge the full or part of the amount due. It is also possible to play the merchant side and not charge your regular customer !

CONNECTING PARTICIPANTS

Often, the withdrawal of one participant is the cause of a cancellation. Doinsport is the only software on the market to offer an application allowing player connections.

In practice, if there is a missing person to participate in the activity, your clients can create a match to find partners. Once the match is created, all members with the application and similar game preferences (Level, Geolocation) are alerted via a notification. Thus, they can complete the match and avoid cancellation. 

IV. OFFER AN UNMATCHED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

At relatively equal prices, would you prefer a hotel with or without a pool ? The answer seems obvious. This reveals one thing : the services you offer will differentiate you from the competition.

How to offer more services to your clients?

3 GATEWAYS TO BOOK AT YOUR SPORTS CLUB

Today, your clients want to book easily and online. Teens, young adults, or executives, all profiles have adapted to the dematerialization of booking. However, not everyone has the same habits. That’s why we have developed 3 distinct booking channels.

The must-have: your sports complex website

The older ones will willingly prefer the web. A dedicated booking section should appear on your site and the process must be simple. No lengthy account creation and easy to use. We have opted for registration via phone number and account validation by SMS code. 6 seconds are needed to create an account with Doinsport. As a result : an online booking rate of over 75%.

 The most connected: your club's Facebook page

It is possible to integrate the booking gateway on your Facebook page. The goal is simple : your “millennial” clients use messenger to organize their matches. They are constantly connected to Facebook. Therefore, it is easier for them to stay in this channel to make their reservation.

The future: the app in your center’s colors

Finally, the younger ones cannot do without their smartphone. That’s why we suggest providing an app for your clients. A real point of contact with your sports club, they will find all the services of your complex in their pocket. 

V. CREATE OFFERS FOR PROFESSIONALS

Offer dedicated packages to CSEs

The sports clubs have a significant pool of prospects with CSEs. Indeed, France has more than 40,000 of them. These works councils are constantly looking for activities to offer to employees. Moreover, they organize seminars and team-building events. All the events you can offer as a service.

Market the spaces around your activity zones!

A sports club is a place where one stays for at least 45 minutes to two hours. Few places exist where individuals spend that much time. A boon for businesses wishing to communicate and advertise. At 500€ excluding VAT for the location, renting advertising spaces around your activity zones can provide a significant financial boost for your complex.

Like a professional sports club, opt for naming rights

You may know the Orange Vélodrome, the Ethiad Stadium, or the Matmut Atlantique. Naming rights have become common for professional football clubs. Why not offer a company in your region the chance to sponsor one of your activity zones?