Book now, pay after: charging after the session
How “book now, pay after” works for studios and coaches: save a card at booking, charge when the session ends, retry failed cards automatically.
What it is
The athlete books and saves a card. Nothing is charged yet. When the session ends, every booking that is still active (attended, no-show or late cancel) is charged in one batch. Bookings cancelled in time are never charged.
Why studios like it
Booking feels free, so more people book. No-shows and late cancels are still paid for. Refunds drop because you only charge for sessions that happened or were missed.
What happens when a card fails
AthleteHub retries automatically after 1 hour, 24 hours and 72 hours, alerts the athlete with a one-tap "Update card & pay" and shows the studio exactly which bookings are still owed. Staff don’t need to chase anyone.
Check-in is for attendance only
Checking someone in records that they came; it doesn’t change the charge. That keeps the front desk quick and avoids double charges.
Refunds stay simple
Every charged booking can be refunded in full or in part, with a reason and a confirm step, from the booking itself or straight from your reports.
When to take payment up front instead
Packages, memberships and workshops sold weeks in advance often suit up-front payment. Use charge-after-the-session for single classes and appointments.
Questions
Is the athlete charged when they book?
No. The card is saved at booking and charged after the session ends.
What if the athlete cancels in time?
Nothing is charged. The booking is simply removed.