Donation-based classes

Arketa's sliding scale pricing lets you offer a class at a "pay what you can" rate — with a minimum price and a suggested price. It's great for community classes, charity events, or making your offerings more accessible.

Set up a donation-based class

Add or edit a class

Go to Classes → Full Schedule → Add New (or edit an existing class). How to add a class →

Go to Pricing Settings

In step 3 (Pricing Settings), find the Select Payment Type field.

Select Sliding Scale

Choose Sliding Scale, then set:

Minimum price — the lowest amount a client can pay
Recommended price — the suggested amount shown at checkout

[IMAGE TODO] Take a screenshot showing the Pricing Settings step with "Sliding Scale" selected as the payment type, and the Minimum price and Recommended price fields visible with example values filled in.

Save

Click Save Class.

What clients see

At checkout, clients see the suggested price with the option to adjust it. They can enter any amount at or above your minimum.

[IMAGE TODO] Take a screenshot showing the client-facing checkout view for a sliding scale class, where the suggested price is displayed and the client can adjust the amount.

Can clients also use a package or subscription?

Yes. If a client has a valid package or membership that covers this class, they can choose to use it instead of paying the sliding scale price. Both options will appear at checkout.

Tips for donation classes

Set your minimum at a price that covers your costs, not at zero — completely free sliding scale classes can attract a lot of no-shows
Mention the recommended price and what it supports in your class description
Consider pairing sliding scale pricing with a clear message about who the pricing is meant to help