Choosing a pricing option
Figure out which pricing structure works best for your business model.
Not sure which pricing type to use? Here's a quick breakdown to help you decide.
Paid vs. credit-based pricing
Every pricing option in Arketa falls into one of two categories:
Paid (monetary) — the client pays a dollar amount for a single booking. Drop-ins are the most common example. When a booking is cancelled or refunded, the money goes back to the client's credit card.
Package & subscription-only (credit-based) — the client purchases a pack of credits (a 1-pack, 5-pack, 10-pack, etc.) or receives credits through a membership. When a booking is cancelled, the credit is returned to the client's account balance — no money is refunded to their card.
This distinction matters most at cancellation time:
- Paid booking cancelled → dollar refund to the client's original payment method
- Credit-based booking cancelled → credit returned to the client's package or membership balance
If you want cancellations to refund dollars back to the client's card, use paid drop-in pricing. If you'd rather cancellations return credits to the client's account (so they can rebook), use package or subscription-only pricing.
Quick comparison
| Pricing type | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-in | Walk-ins, occasional clients, events | Single payment per class |
| Class package | Regular clients who prefer to pay upfront | Buy X credits, use them over time |
| Membership | Your core recurring revenue | Monthly/annual billing, auto-renews |
| Intro offer | Converting new clients | One-time discounted access |
| Bundle | Selling multiple service types together | Combined credits across different class types |
| Invoice | Custom billing, private clients | You set the amount and send it manually |
| Payment plan | High-ticket programs | Split the total into installments |
Common setups by business type
Solo instructor / small studio:
- Drop-in for casual clients
- 5 or 10-class pack for regulars
- Monthly membership for your best clients
Boutique studio:
- Drop-in + class packs as baseline
- Intro offer to convert first-timers
- Monthly unlimited or credit-based membership as the main product
Personal training / private sessions:
- Session packages (e.g., 5 or 10 sessions)
- Monthly memberships for ongoing clients
- Invoices for custom or one-off billing
Multi-service studio (classes + appointments):
- Separate class packs and appointment packs
- Bundles if you want to sell both together
- Unlimited membership for group classes + appointment credits
Tips
- Lead with memberships if you want predictable recurring revenue. Make the value proposition clear.
- Use intro offers aggressively for new client acquisition — lower the barrier to the first purchase.
- Class packs are good for clients who want flexibility without the subscription commitment.
- Invoices are great for one-off custom work without building out a full pricing option.