Run classes: spots, waitlist, check-in and refunds

Classes are included from the day ServiceSprig opens, and you turn them on for your business under Classes. This article is here so it's ready on day one.

A class is a session with a time, an instructor, a place, a price and a number of spots. Clients book a spot on your website without an account. One booking is one spot. A class can't take more bookings than it has spots. ServiceSprig itself stops it, even when many people book at the same moment.

1. Turn Classes on

1. Open your ServiceSprig dashboard and go to Classes.
2. At the top it says Classes are off. Tap Turn on.
3. Your website now has a Classes page, and the page shows the link to share. You can tap Turn off at any time to hide it again.

2. Create a class

1. On the Classes page, open New class.
2. Fill in the name, a short description, the length, the price and the number of spots.
3. Choose the instructor and the place, for example "Studio B" or "Riverside Park".
4. Choose when. Pick one date and time, or repeat it every week. Weekly classes are created up to 12 weeks ahead, and more are added as time goes on.
5. Save. The class shows on your website and on your calendar.

Good to know:

• The instructor's calendar is blocked. While a class runs, that instructor can't be booked one-to-one.
• Each class can have its own cancellation window. Clients see it before they book.
• Deposits and prepay are optional. They work like deposits on a service: off until you turn them on, then a fixed amount, a percentage or the full price per spot. Clients pay through your own Stripe account when they book, and you need to have connected Stripe first. ServiceSprig adds no fee. You pay Stripe's standard card fees. There are no tips on class spots.
• Packages and memberships you record by hand can cover classes. Tick the class on the package or membership, and checking someone in uses up a visit.

3. What clients see

Clients open your website's Classes page, pick a class and enter their name and contact details. There is no account and no password. They get a confirmation email with a link to cancel. They can't move a spot to another class: they cancel and book the other one.

4. The waitlist

When a class is full, the button changes to Join the waitlist. When a spot opens up, because someone cancels or you add spots:

• Free classes: the next person on the waitlist gets the spot automatically, and is emailed.
• Paid classes: the next 3 people on the waitlist are emailed. The first to claim the spot and pay gets it. The others stay on the list.

You can see who is waiting on the class page.

5. Check clients in

• Kiosk: clients check in on the front-desk tablet with their phone number, as they do for other appointments.
• Front desk: open the class and tap Check in next to a name. Tap Undo check-in if you tapped the wrong one.
• Instructors see the roster for their own classes only.

6. Cancel a class and refund everyone

1. Open the class and find Cancel this class.
2. Everyone booked gets a cancellation email, and anyone on the waitlist is told.
3. Leave Refund everyone in full ticked to refund every paid spot in one step. ServiceSprig asks Stripe to refund each paid spot, and banks can take a few days to show it. Untick it if you don't want to refund.
4. Tap Cancel class.

If a client cancels their own spot, they are told your cancellation window before they confirm. Outside the window you can refund the deposit from the booking, the same as for a service. Inside it, the deposit is kept.

What classes don't do at launch

• Clients can't buy class packs or memberships on your site, and there's no automatic billing. You record those by hand.
• A multi-week course can't be sold as one booking. Make one class per day or week.
• A client can't book several spots at once. A friend books their own spot.
• Classes are in person only. There are no online or video classes.
• Reminders go by email. Text-message reminders are planned.
• There are no no-show fees. A deposit follows your cancellation window.

Need help? Email hello@servicesprig.com.

Next guide: Plans and billing