How-to guide
How to accept direct class bookings in Clovo
Let clients pay for individual classes without first buying a membership or credit pack, ideal for casual visits, workshops and low-friction trials.
Memberships and packs aren't the only way a client should be able to start. A direct booking lets someone pay for a single class without committing to a larger product first — perfect for a casual drop-in, a special event, a workshop, or a prospect who just wants one easy booking before deciding what to buy next.
This guide covers when to switch direct purchase on, how to price it so it supports your memberships rather than undercutting them, and the one rule about penalties that catches studios out.
Before you start
- Stripe is connected — direct purchase takes payment at the point of booking, so payments need to be live first.
- Know your existing prices. Have your membership and credit pack rates handy so a single-class price sits sensibly alongside them.
- Decide which classes this is for. Direct booking suits one-off access, not every class on your timetable.
Set it up, step by step
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Connect Stripe first
Direct purchase requires Stripe. Once it's connected, a client can pay for an individual booking and reserve their spot without first holding a membership or pack. If you haven't done this yet, follow start accepting Stripe payments.
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Decide which classes suit direct purchase
Use it where one-off access genuinely fits — casual group classes, public events, popups, workshops and first-visit pathways. Reserve it for the classes a newcomer or a casual is most likely to want, rather than turning it on everywhere.
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Enable direct purchase on the class
Configure the class or opening so clients can buy access directly, rather than only being able to book against a membership or pack they already hold.
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Set the price
Set a single-class price and check it against the rest of your pricing. A direct booking should feel like a convenient way in, not a better deal than committing — so keep it aligned with your pack and membership strategy.
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Set clear booking terms
Spell out your refund and cancellation expectations in the booking terms before you go live. This matters more than usual here, because the automatic penalties you may rely on elsewhere don't apply to direct purchases (see below).
How penalties behave on direct bookings
This is the part studios most often miss. Cancellation and no-show penalties do not apply to direct-purchase bookings. If a client buys a single class and then cancels late or doesn't turn up, your usual late-cancellation and no-show penalties won't kick in.
Important
Because automatic penalties don't apply, your written booking terms are doing the work. State your refund and cancellation policy plainly so casual clients know where they stand before they pay.
Use direct booking as a conversion step
A direct booking is rarely the end of the story — it's a low-friction first visit you can build on. Once a client has experienced the studio, that single booking becomes the natural opening for a membership conversation.
- Use welcome-email copy and after-booking messages to point first-timers toward the right next product.
- Brief your front desk to follow up in person — a casual who just had a great class is your warmest lead.
- Have an obvious next step ready, whether that's an intro offer, a credit pack or a membership.
Common questions
Does a client need a membership or pack to make a direct booking?
No. That's the point of direct purchase — once Stripe is connected, a client can pay for one class and reserve their spot without holding a membership or pack first.
Should I make every class available for direct purchase?
Not necessarily. It works best for one-off access — casual group classes, events, popups, workshops and first visits. Leave it off where you'd rather clients commit to a membership or pack.
What happens if a direct-purchase client cancels late or doesn't show?
Your automatic late-cancellation and no-show penalties don't apply to direct-purchase bookings, so handle these through the refund and cancellation expectations you set in the booking terms.
What to remember
- Direct booking lets a client pay for a single class without first buying a membership or pack — it needs Stripe connected.
- Price it to support your memberships and packs, not to undercut them, and use it as a first step toward a longer commitment.
- Cancellation and no-show penalties don't apply to direct purchases, so set your refund and cancellation terms clearly.
Ready to try it in your studio?
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