almost crippled my business,” recalls Schramayr. “On paper we were rocking financially and having our best year ever, but because the software’s bill- ing function didn’t work properly we had no money coming in. I had to let my admin person go, and there were weeks when I couldn’t afford to pay myself all because of the faulty billing system.” If you’re in the market for club


management software, you’ve likely already started researching and com- paring items like cost, features and company track records and reputa- tions. Here are four additional areas to consider before you buy:


1. Is it Internet-based or downloadable software? Schramayr loves that his manage-


ment system is web-based and not software that he’s installed himself on his club computer. When he was recently holidaying in Florida at a ho- tel with Internet access, he was able to do his club’s billing from his room or from a lounge chair by the pool. “I also like knowing that if our comput- er is stolen or crashes, we won’t lose any data since it’s all stored offsite,” he adds. Alternatively, downloadable soft-


ware isn’t affected if you have Internet connection issues at your location, and it can be less expensive because there’s just one upfront cost without month- ly fees.


2. Is it truly user-friendly? If your front desk staff can’t im-


mediately respond to simple mem- ber requests like, “When are my pre- authorized payments debited,” or “How many times did I work out last year?” your system is too complex, says Aaron Bergland owner and man- ager of Odyssey Victoria Health and Fitness in Victoria, B.C. His club has tried five different software systems over the past five years and just re- cently found one that meets all of their needs. “Look for a program with pages that are laid out clearly and are easy to navigate,” says Bergland. “And cre- ating any kind of report and sending reports to your bank should be simple not complicated.” Be sure that the software that you


choose handles your business transac- tions in as few mouse clicks as possible since the number of clicks to complete all your daily activities can quickly


» March/April 2011 Fitness Business Canada 25


VOLO Volo, an online integrated sales, scheduling and business management soſtware, allows you to collect and organize all of your vital business information in one place. Employee and member information, appointment schedules, invoices and payroll, email marketing, newsletters and customer surveys are connected to- gether in an easy to use, secure system. Whether you’re a trainer, studio or club, Volo cuts the clutter, ends errors and gives you a clear picture of your business. To learn more, call 1-866-303-1038 or visit www.myvolo.com.


CSI SOFTWARE CSI Soſtware provides fully integrated, single source enterprise solutions to health and fitness clubs and other membership-based facilities. Our Spectrum NG application is a proven, field-tested club management system, and more companies in the Top 100 use CSI Soſtware than any other soſtware vendor in the world. For more information, call 1-800-247-3431 or visit www.csisoſtwareusa.com.


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