Australian club management software provider ClubManager has partnered with Worldpay to power embedded payments for its UK expansion. ClubManager serves over 950 sports and fitness clubs with software for gyms, golf clubs, dance schools, and martial arts studios. The company has been working with Worldpay in Australia and New Zealand already and is now extending the relationship as it grows its UK footprint.
Direct debit is key for fitness
The integration focuses on what matters most for subscription-based fitness businesses: recurring payments. ClubManager's clients can now handle direct debit and recurring card payments directly within the software, without juggling multiple providers. For gyms and health clubs, reliable recurring billing is the backbone of the business model. Missed payments and failed direct debits directly impact retention and cash flow.
Worldpay bets on platforms
For Worldpay, this is part of a broader push into embedded payments for software platforms. The company launched Worldpay for Platforms in the UK earlier this year (Worldpay), targeting vertical software providers who want to monetize payments without building infrastructure themselves. ClubManager fits the profile: deep expertise in a specific vertical, strong customer relationships, and a natural fit for embedded financial services.
Vertical software and payments keep converging
ClubManager joins a growing list of vertical software providers embedding payments into their core products. A comparable example in Europe is Sport Alliance, the German fitness software company serving over 6,000 studios, including McFIT, John Reed, Gold's Gym, and clever fit. Sport Alliance built Magicline Payments using Adyen for Platforms, handling one-time payments, recurring memberships via SEPA direct debit and credit cards, and even a pay-by-link solution for debt collection (Adyen). Both ClubManager and Sport Alliance follow the same pattern: build critical business software that manages everything related to gym members, from sign-ups and contracts to check-ins and class bookings. Payments were always part of the product, but they are becoming a more strategic lever. For the software provider, embedded payments create a new revenue stream. For the gym, integrated billing means better dunning workflows, fewer failed payments, and less churn.
