Updated: February 4, 2025
As a sports facility owner or manager, your ultimate goal is to make money. In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever to be automated and understand your finances and revenue well. One way to do this is by allowing credit card payments at your facility.
At CourtReserve, we often hear that facilities want to make more money but avoid taking credit cards because of the fees. The truth is, by not accepting credit card payments, you’re missing out on revenue. Not only that, but you’re also adding more manual processes, which can lead to more errors and lost income.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at why your sports club should consider becoming a cashless facility.
The benefits of collecting payments via an online platform
Let’s kick things off by looking at the benefits of becoming a cashless sports facility.
1. Increased convenience for players
Players today want convenience and most expect the ability to pay for services online. By enabling digital payments, you make it easier for them to:
- Sign up for classes, lessons, and court reservations
- Purchase packages of lessons or classes (reducing your club’s per-transaction fees)
Consider implementing a monthly invoice where you charge a member’s card on file once per month for all of the previous month’s charges. Batch billing or invoicing allows your facility to pay a credit card transaction fee (typically $0.30 per transaction) once rather than multiple times for smaller purchases like a can of balls or a single class fee. If you’re still collecting checks and cash, you’re likely missing out on revenue.
2. Fewer manual errors and administrative tasks
Manual processes can create unnecessary complications and revenue loss. The honor system or paper tickets are a manual nightmare! Common issues include:
- Misplaced checks and cash
- Forgotten deposits sitting in your car or office
- Paper-based honor systems that are difficult to track
Switching to an online payment system eliminates these issues, keeping your revenue tracking accurate and up to date in real time.
A Real-Life Success Story
Not convinced yet? Let’s take a look at a case study.
A nine-court city municipality in Southern California previously relied on pen-and-paper transactions and an honor system box for membership dues and guest fees. Despite an increase in player participation, revenue continued to decline.
After transitioning to digital payments with CourtReserve, the facility saw remarkable financial improvements in just one year:
- Guest fee revenue increased by $10,000 in one year
- Membership dues rose by over $100,000 without raising prices
- Total operational revenue skyrocketed by 2,675%—from $6,140 in 2020 to $170,422 in 2022
These gains allowed the facility to invest in much-needed improvements, including new court lighting, windscreens, and other enhancements.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, if you want to drive revenue and save money, consider moving towards becoming a cashless sports facility with CourtReserve.
By allowing credit card payments, you’ll reduce the chances of manual errors and missed revenue opportunities, saving time for your staff and players.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you increase revenue and grow your sports facility.
