Stop Charging a Registration Fee! Do This Instead..

Let me ask you a question:

When was the last time you signed up for something… and got hit with a "registration fee" or "admin fee" that made you want to scream?

It happens all the time:

Joining a gym? $99 initiation fee. 

Buying a car? $199 document processing fee.

You sit there wondering, “Wait… am I seriously paying extra just for them to do their job?”

So should martial arts schools charge a registration fee?

Well… maybe.

I know plenty of schools that do it. And financially, it can work.

Let’s say you average 15 new students a month and charge a $150 registration fee. That’s $2,250/month in added revenue, not bad.

But here's the issue:

That extra $150 often feels like a money grab to the customer.

Even if they pay it, it leaves a bad taste in their mouth.

It feels like when you're buying a house and find out there’s a million hidden fees besides your mortgage. Just nickel-and-diming you until your enthusiasm dies out.

That kind of energy kills referrals. It creates friction before your relationship even begins.

So what do I recommend instead?

Simple: Sell an Equipment Pack

Instead of calling it a “registration fee,” bundle your revenue into something they see as valuable.

Think about it: When you sign your kid up for baseball, you don’t just pay a league fee. You need: cleats, gloves, helmet, mouthpiece, shin guards, those super long funny socks. 

Everyone expects to buy gear when they join a new sport. In fact, they usually get excited to get all the STUFF they need to play. 

So use the same model.

When someone enrolls at your martial arts school, they need: uniform , belt, gloves, training shirt, extra uniform so they don’t have to wash the same one in between each class, backpack to hold all their gear.. Etc. 

Create a clean, branded Equipment Pack that every new student receives. Make it look and feel professional.

It’s something parents can see, hold, and appreciate.

You still generate the same (or more) revenue… but instead of “ugh, a registration fee,” they feel like: “Wow, they really have their act together.”

Plus, it prevents students from buying low quality gear on their own from amazon. 

We make the equipment pack required, because it’s all the stuff you need to train. You wouldn’t dare show up to baseball practice without getting your child a baseball glove, you’d look like a schmuck. 

Why would martial arts be any different? 

Pro tip: If you're absolutely dead set on keeping a registration fee, blend it inside the equipment pack. 

No one blinks at that, because they see the value.

Bottom line: Don’t make people feel like they’re paying you to type their name on a keyboard. 

Make them feel like they’re stepping into something exciting, professional, and worth every 

penny.

That’s how you start the relationship off right, without having to justify some fee. 

I created a FREE 4 page guide on how to sell an equipment pack, including the EXACT script we use.

Reply “I really like this” and I’ll send it over to you.