Mindbody Integrations

Are you prepared for transitional pain? 

Whenever you switch to something new (e.g., Mindbody), there’s always a period of transitional pain as you move from the old to the new. During this transition, the pain that your new software is supposed to eliminate actually gets worse. 

The pain you experience as you move from old to new is an inevitable part of the process.

That’s the problem. 

Why Software Integrations Can Make or Break Your Gym

The better your “new” software, the less transitional pain your team experiences. What’s a key metric we can use to assess transitional pain? 

Integrations.  

Integrating the new and the old (software you’re already using) is a simple way to decrease the transitional pain your team will experience. If your team can connect Mindbody to the tools they’re already using, you can minimize the transitional pain they experience. 

The better the new software is at integrating with old software (tools you’re already using), the more your staff will use it. 

Today, we’ll take a brief look at the integrations Mindbody provides, and we’ll use that to measure the transitional pain you may experience. 

• Does Mindbody integrate with Stripe? 
• Does Mindbody integrate with QuickBooks?
• Does Mindbody integrate with Xero?
• Does Mindbody integrate with Squarespace?
• Does Mindbody integrate with email marketing tools?
• Does Mindbody integrate with fitness trackers?

Let’s dive in! 

Does Mindbody Integrate with Stripe? 

Kind of? 

Their knowledge base article says:

“Mindbody Payments, powered by Stripe, is a modern processing platform for businesses that accept integrated payments. All monitoring, maintenance, and support for your payment account is accessed directly from your site.”

Okay. That’s good news. If Stripe is integrated with Mindbody Payments, that means you can use your Stripe account to process payments directly in Mindbody, right?

Nope. 

Mindbody uses Stripe to power their payment processing solution. 

It’s not yours. 

“While Mindbody partners with Stripe to provide integrated payments in your site, most account changes can be made in your Payments Portal, and all other questions can be directed to Mindbody Customer Support. Stripe does not support Mindbody customers.”

What does this mean?

They’re not forcing you to use Mindbody Payments, but it’s really inconvenient if you choose to use a third-party payment processor.

“These steps are for clients without integrated processing or clients with a merchant service provider in addition to integrated Mindbody Processing. Also known as “No Auth” or “Point of Sale (POS)” terminals…No-Auth payment buttons do NOT charge the client’s card; this only logs that the card payment was accepted through your POS terminal or non-integrated merchant account.”

If you want to use “integrated processing,” you’re stuck with Mindbody Payments. If you’re going to use your own payment processor, you’ll have to record each sale or payment manually. 

Not a great plan.

How Gymdesk Handles Payment Processing

With Gymdesk, you can integrate with Stripe, Square, or Authorize.net and take full control of your payments with our on-demand, scheduled, and recurring payment features.

Avoid losing revenue to payment failures – our billing system automatically resolves billing issues with re-billing and Sends Email notifications to your members.

Take a look at the billing demo in Gymdesk. 

You maintain control over your payment processing and billing. 

There’s no double-dipping and no worrying about Gymdesk trying to syphon revenue from your hard work. You’ll be able to take care of your payments in a single, centralized location. 

Does Mindbody Integrate with QuickBooks?

Intuit’s fact sheet states that QuickBooks has 8 to 10 million customers. 

Business Dasher mentions that:

• QuickBooks has “66.58% market share, a significantly higher number than Sage 50 (10.30%), and Xero (8.90%).”
• There are 29 million businesses using QuickBooks in the US
• The majority of QuickBooks customers (62%) are small businesses with less than 50 employees; Midsized companies are next (31%), followed by large companies (7%).  

That’s a significant number of customers who depend on QuickBooks. So that means Mindbody integrates with QuickBooks as well? 

Nope. 

According to their help docs:

“Mindbody does not integrate directly with QuickBooks and other accounting programs, but you can use Mindbody reports to collect your sales information and then import it into your accounting software. Our third-party partners, Quote Stock Sell, FlexBooks, and SyncApps, also offer integrated accounting solutions.”

Does Mindbody integrate with Xero? 

Nope. If you’d like to connect your QuickBooks and Mindbody accounts, you’ll need to pay for a tool like Bookkeep.com to transfer data from your Mindbody account to QuickBooks. 

This isn’t really a bad thing. 

These days, tools like Zapier or Bookkeep make integration simple and easy. With Gymdesk, you can use Zapier to integrate with QuickBooks.

So what’s the difference? 

Remember the hidden Mindbody fees I mentioned in my previous post? This is kind of like that. If you’re going to use a third-party connector like Bookkeep, you’ll be forced to upgrade your plan as your revenue grows. 

Here’s another problem. 

Mindbody reports are pay-to-play. If you want to export more data to your accounting software, you’ll need to upgrade your membership plan.

Which reports are included? 

You’ll want to read through this detailed breakdown to identify the reports included in your plan.

Remember, Mindbody’s Ultimate plan starts at $399 per mo./location.

If you want a specific report, you’ll need to pay for it or upgrade to access it. That’s not ideal if you’re looking for the standard financial data you need to run your business. 

What makes Gymdesk + Zapier different?

Zapier’s free plan comes with 100 tasks and unlimited Zaps. Their Pro plan comes with 750 tasks and unlimited premium Zaps. If you’re using Gymdesk, this means you have more than enough in Zapier’s free plan to import and sync your sales and financial data with the accounting software of your choice. 

©Gymdesk 

With Gymdesk, all features are included from day one. 

We won’t nickel and dime you with extra fees, and we won’t hold your data hostage until you pay for an expensive upgrade you don’t need. All of your reports are immediately accessible to you because that’s exactly what you need to run your gym profitably.

Does Mindbody Integrate with Squarespace?

Not directly. 

They do offer a workaround, though. They call it “Branded Web Widgets.” 

Here’s how it works.

“Branded web tools work with any website builder or host. You don’t need advanced HTML skills to use them, but it may be helpful to consult with your web developer when updating your website.

Embedding a widget on your website is a three-step process:

1. Create your widget using branded web tools.
2. Copy a small snippet of code that’s generated.
3. Paste that code into a page on your website.

Steps one and two are always the same, but step three depends on the website platform you use. Each builder—like Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress—has a different process for adding code to a page.

Since this takes place outside of Mindbody, and our team isn’t trained in web design, we are unable to offer assistance with placing the code on your website. If you need help with this step, we recommend checking your website builder’s help resources on how best to add your widget code, reaching out to your web developer, or testing the code on a public site.” 

Here are the basic steps involved with setting this up.

1. Head over to the Branded Web Manager in your Mindbody Account. 
2. Create and customize the widgets you need in the Branded Web Manager (e.g., use it to create class schedules, appointments, and purchase options. 
3. Generate the embed code for your website widget. 
4. Head over to your Squarespace site and log in. 
5. Add a code block. 
6. Paste the code and save your changes. 

It’s pretty simple, right?

Here’s the caveat to all of this. If you run into any trouble, you’re on your own; Squarespace won’t help you with your Mindbody widget, and Mindbody won’t help you with your Squarespace integration. 

How Gymdesk is different

With Gymdesk, all plans include a fully responsive website. You’re able to create, customize, and launch your own website. Take a look at this demo. 

Here’s a breakdown showing you how to edit your website settings in Gymdesk.

The best part about all of this?

Gymdesk integrates with other website platforms, too.

1. Here’s a detailed walkthrough showing you how to embed widgets on your Squarespace site. 
2. Here’s a walkthrough for Wix.
3. Here’s a Gymdesk + WordPress Automation in Zapier
4. Here’s a Gymdesk + Webflow Automation in Zapier

There are so many options you can choose from. It’s incredibly easy to get started. Not sure where to begin? Reach out to customer support, and we’ll point you in the right direction. 

Does Mindbody integrate with email marketing tools? 

This is an area where Mindbody shines.

Their platform has native integrations with:

• Emma Email Marketing
• Gleantap Marketing Automation
• Constant Contact Email Marketing
• Active Campaign Marketing Automation
• Attentive Email and SMS
• Reach.ai
• Klaviyo Email and SMS Marketing 

If you have an account with these tools, you’re in luck. These email accounts and marketing automation tools cost extra (on top of what you’re spending with Mindbody), but they have options for you to choose from.

How Gymdesk Handles Email Marketing

With Gymdesk, email marketing and marketing automation are built into our platform. Send broadcast messages or set up automations to build relationships with your members. 

• Send bulk or targeted messages to your members or leads via email, text, and push notifications.
• Segment gym members by status, membership type, or program before sending a message to tailor your gym communications.
• Set up automatic notifications for members about bookings, payments, and membership status.

Here, take a look at this demo. 

What about automations?

Gymdesk can handle that too. Here’s how we handle the heavy lifting with automations. 

Okay, what about fitness trackers like FitBit? 

Does Mindbody offer integrations with fitness trackers?

As it turns out, they do.

This is a huge value add for data-driven members.  

“The Integrations screen in the Mindbody app is used to sync the Mindbody app with various health platforms, such as the iOS Health app, Android Google Fit, Fitbit, and Strava. Syncing with these platforms allows you to access data from your classes and appointments directly in the Mindbody app on the Activity tab of the Profile screen. In addition, you can also view statistics for classes completed after syncing by tapping the corresponding class in the Previous section of the Schedule tab on the Profile screen.”

If you’re a Mindbody customer, your members have quite a few well-known apps they can choose from. That’s great news!

Not so fast. 

Mindbody doesn’t list a fixed price for their custom/branded app. It’s part of their Ultimate Plus plan (which starts at $599 per mo./location). It’s also available as an add-on for an additional fee. If you want to get this app, you’re going to have to pay extra for it. 

Use Integrations to Reduce Transitional Pain

Switching from the old to the new (e.g., Mindbody) always comes with transitional pain. During your transition, the pain that your new software is supposed to eliminate actually gets worse. 

If your staff can connect Mindbody to the tools they’re already using, you can minimize the transitional pain they experience. The better your new software is at integrating with the tools you’re already using, the less pain you’ll experience.

As we’ve seen, that’s difficult.

Mindbody is a pay-to-play platform. The majority of the extras we’ve seen today require add-ons and upgrades. If you’re looking for a legacy platform with history in the industry, Mindbody may be right for you. Their integrations aren’t where they should be; look for ways to minimize the transitional pain.

If you’re running a small to medium-sized gym— a fitness studio, martial arts school, strength facility, or personal training studio, Gymdesk may be a better fit. Our platform comes with native and third-party integrations, providing instant access to all the tools you’re already using.

If you’re looking to get up and running quickly with minimal transitional pain, it’s a slam dunk.

Creating a Gymdesk account is completely free, with no contract or credit card required. Take our platform for a spin. Try it free for 30 days and see why so many Mindbody customers have switched to Gymdesk.

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