How Successful Clubs Use Flex Fees to Expand Member Benefits

Flex Fees fitness is a unique feature available exclusively to Club Automation, Daxko, and Zen Planner customers who process payments through their integrated systems. It allows clubs to add a customizable percentage fee to card and ACH transactions, helping offset operational and infrastructure expenses while preserving base membership dues. Unlike standard fees, Flex Fees can be applied across transaction types and are presented transparently to members at checkout.

Flex Fees are designed as a shared investment between the club and its members. Applied as a separate line item on receipts for both recurring and one-time payments, the fee helps clubs recover payment processing costs and reinvest in member-facing improvements. On bank statements, the fee appears within the total charge, creating a clean, all-in-one payment experience for members.

Clubs choose the fee percentage (capped at 3% or the cost of acceptance, whichever is lower) and whether to apply it to credit card payments, ACH payments, or both. This flexibility allows each club to design a gym pricing strategy tailored to its financial goals and member needs.

Flex Fees are optional. Clubs may opt in if they process payments through Daxko Payments. However, regulatory restrictions prevent usage in New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Maine, and Puerto Rico.

Flex Fees provide a direct method for clubs to pull payment processing expenses out of their fitness club revenue model. Instead of embedding these costs in every member’s dues, clubs can implement a small fee for credit-card transactions when permitted by state regulations. Clubs must clearly disclose when and why a Flex Fee applies. Explaining that this fee covers credit card merchant costs, protecting both trust and compliance.

Flex Fees support clubs in recovering some of the processing costs that typically erode operational margins. Instead of increasing base dues for all members, clubs can recapture these fees only when incurred — empowering them to maintain consistency in core pricing and member benefits.

Clubs like Corpus Christi Athletic Club have saved nearly $150,000 annually by applying Flex Fees to all credit card payments. College Park Athletic Club generated over $10,000 in monthly cost recovery, redirecting those funds into facility improvements and member programming.

Adopting Flex Fees contributes to a more robust fitness club revenue model by creating additional revenue streams and enhancing financial stability. This strategy supports financial health and allows for reinvestment into club improvements.

The predictability of income from Flex Fees aids in effective financial planning, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently to meet both operational needs and member expectations.

Flex Fees help clubs maintain healthier margins by ensuring payment-processing fees are reimbursed by users who select higher-cost payment options.

Rather than absorbing credit-card fees into general revenue, Flex Fees shift that expense back to the transacting member — supporting more accurate financial forecasting.

Rather than debating discounts or tiered access, Flex Fees work within a gym pricing flexibility framework focused on processing neutrality. By clearly stating that credit-card transactions include a small fee, clubs demonstrate price integrity.

By itemizing Flex Fees on receipts, clubs maintain transparency around payment-related expenses. Members are informed of exactly what they’re paying and why—reducing billing confusion and reinforcing fairness.

Flex Fees also offer member choice. Those who prefer to avoid the fee can select ACH, where available, as a no-fee option. This flexibility protects affordability while giving members more control over their own payment experience.

With the club’s core revenue shielded from processing costs, resources can remain dedicated to delivering fitness club member benefits like equipment upgrades, class quality, and community events. All members receive the same base benefits. The Flex Fee is purely administrative, ensuring that dues remain aligned across the board.

Implementing Flex Fees within your gym membership pricing strategy reinforces ethical pricing practices. It clarifies where a fee goes, ensures members understand their options, and avoids fee inflation spread across your entire membership base. Clubs must follow state-level rules governing card fees and consumer notifications. By aligning with legal guidelines, Flex Fees are both responsible and compliant.

Gym pricing flexibility through Flex Fees is essential for adapting to market changes and member expectations, ensuring the long-term success of your fitness club. Flex Fees allow clubs to adjust pricing in response to industry trends and economic shifts, maintaining relevance and competitiveness in the market.

Offering flexible pricing empowers members to make choices that suit their lifestyles, enhancing their overall experience and satisfaction with the club.

Flex Fees are not about maximizing revenue — they are about maintaining long-term financial sustainability without disrupting the experience members expect. Instead of spreading costs across the entire membership base, this targeted fee allows clubs to manage expenses responsibly and transparently.

By integrating Flex Fees into your gym membership pricing strategy, your club can offset operational expenses, preserve core offerings, and continue building a service model grounded in trust, clarity, and value.

Schedule a demo with Club Automation to see how Flex Fees can support your club’s financial health.