Best Software for Small Academic & Hobby Classes
Chess clubs, coding classes, art workshops, after-school programs—once you have more than a few dozen students, manual admin drags you down. Here’s how to choose software that keeps enrollment, payments, and attendance in one place.
Why small programs upgrade from spreadsheets
- Enrollment accuracy: overbooking or missing payment details is easy when juggling forms and sheets.
- Parent expectations: they want online sign-up, payment receipts, and attendance visibility.
- Progress proof: certificates or reports help parents see the value of weekly sessions.
- Lean teams: one person often handles teaching and admin—software must be simple.
Must-have features for clubs and classes
Enrollment & payments
Online sign-up with caps/waitlists, automatic invoicing, and clear family balances.
- Online registration
- Waitlists
- Auto billing
- Receipts
Attendance & make-ups
Quick check-in via kiosk or instructor mobile to track commitment and eligibility.
- Kiosk mode
- Mobile check-in
- Make-up tracking
- Exports
Progress & certificates
Track milestones (e.g., chess levels, coding modules, art projects) and issue certificates or progress emails.
- Milestone tracking
- Certificate templates
- Parent updates
- Reports
Top software options for small academic & hobby classes
NNERB
Combines enrollment, billing, attendance, progress tracking, and certificates. Free tier to get started, plus multi-currency for international and Caribbean programs.
- Strengths: easy setup, kiosk/mobile check-in, automated billing, progress reports, and family accounts.
- Why it fits: replaces Google Forms + spreadsheets + messaging with one platform.
Google Forms + spreadsheets
Works at the very beginning, but quickly creates duplicate data entry and payment tracking headaches.
- Pros: free to start.
- Watch for: missed payments, manual attendance, and no parent portal or certificates.
Jackrabbit / Mindbody
Powerful platforms known in dance/fitness; base plans often start around $49–$129/month.
- Pros: robust scheduling and billing.
- Watch for: heavier setup and pricing than most tiny clubs need.
Why NNERB suits tiny clubs
- Enrollment to payment in one flow: families sign up, pay, and appear on rosters automatically.
- Attendance that sticks: kiosk or instructor check-in keeps records clean for make-ups and reports.
- Certificates & milestones: send recognitions for finishing a level, project, or tournament cycle.
- Communication built-in: message the right group (parents, students) without juggling chat apps.
- Affordable start: start free; upgrade only when you truly need more.
Quick setup checklist for academic & hobby programs
- Publish classes with caps and waitlists; tag by level (beginner/intermediate/advanced).
- Set billing (term or monthly) plus optional event fees (tournaments, showcases).
- Enable kiosk or instructor attendance; test from a phone/tablet.
- Create certificate templates for course completions or competition awards.
- Draft onboarding and reminder messages; save audiences for parents vs. students.
