Aquaflex - lesson booking platform

Aquaflex - lesson booking platform

Background 

A swimming instructor (later in text- business owner) offering 1:1 lessons faced recurring revenue challenges. Although the schedule was consistently full, frequent cancellations led to lost income and unproductive gaps in the timetable. Because the model was “pay per completed lesson,” there was no revenue for canceled sessions—despite significant demand and a large pool of underserved clients. This inconsistent income flow left many customers without lessons and the business owner underpaid.

Background 

A swimming instructor (later in text- business owner) offering 1:1 lessons faced recurring revenue challenges. Although the schedule was consistently full, frequent cancellations led to lost income and unproductive gaps in the timetable. Because the model was “pay per completed lesson,” there was no revenue for canceled sessions—despite significant demand and a large pool of underserved clients. This inconsistent income flow left many customers without lessons and the business owner underpaid.

Background 

A swimming instructor (later in text- business owner) offering 1:1 lessons faced recurring revenue challenges. Although the schedule was consistently full, frequent cancellations led to lost income and unproductive gaps in the timetable. Because the model was “pay per completed lesson,” there was no revenue for canceled sessions—despite significant demand and a large pool of underserved clients. This inconsistent income flow left many customers without lessons and the business owner underpaid.

Challenge

The challenge lay in maintaining steady revenue while ensuring payments remained both consistent and fair. Requiring customers to pay a monthly retainer without guaranteeing lesson availability would be a tough sell for a premium, on-demand service. Moreover, any revenue-stabilizing measure needed to be automated, so as not to impose additional workload on the already time-constrained professional.

Actions

Once I understood the problem, I brainstormed and reevaluated potential solutions, then conducted interviews with the client’s customers. Based on these insights, I conceptualized, designed, and implemented an MVP system tailored to their needs.

Result

The final results were a great success. The business model was revamped to feature a credit-based booking and subscription platform, built on the low-code solution Bubble. This new system gave customers both security and flexibility when canceling lessons, making them more comfortable paying a monthly retainer. As a result, the instructor’s revenue stream stabilized and fluctuations were effectively eliminated.

Challenge

The challenge lay in maintaining steady revenue while ensuring payments remained both consistent and fair. Requiring customers to pay a monthly retainer without guaranteeing lesson availability would be a tough sell for a premium, on-demand service. Moreover, any revenue-stabilizing measure needed to be automated, so as not to impose additional workload on the already time-constrained professional.

Actions

Once I understood the problem, I brainstormed and reevaluated potential solutions, then conducted interviews with the client’s customers. Based on these insights, I conceptualized, designed, and implemented an MVP system tailored to their needs.

Result

The final results were a great success. The business model was revamped to feature a credit-based booking and subscription platform, built on the low-code solution Bubble. This new system gave customers both security and flexibility when canceling lessons, making them more comfortable paying a monthly retainer. As a result, the instructor’s revenue stream stabilized and fluctuations were effectively eliminated.

Challenge

The challenge lay in maintaining steady revenue while ensuring payments remained both consistent and fair. Requiring customers to pay a monthly retainer without guaranteeing lesson availability would be a tough sell for a premium, on-demand service. Moreover, any revenue-stabilizing measure needed to be automated, so as not to impose additional workload on the already time-constrained professional.

Actions

Once I understood the problem, I brainstormed and reevaluated potential solutions, then conducted interviews with the client’s customers. Based on these insights, I conceptualized, designed, and implemented an MVP system tailored to their needs.

Result

The final results were a great success. The business model was revamped to feature a credit-based booking and subscription platform, built on the low-code solution Bubble. This new system gave customers both security and flexibility when canceling lessons, making them more comfortable paying a monthly retainer. As a result, the instructor’s revenue stream stabilized and fluctuations were effectively eliminated.

4-5 hours weekly saved time

Reduce in organization time needed each week

30% more revenue on average

30% more leads for Client

Client has experienced raise in revenue compared to last monts

Minimized worked-related stress due to uncertianity

Stable revenue, reduced organization time and stable lesson plan reduced stress

STEPS

STEPS

STEPS

1. Understanding the Problem

FFirst, I needed to fully understand why clients hesitated to commit to monthly payments. Through interviews and analysis, I discovered that, although they greatly valued the service, they feared losing money if they couldn’t attend a scheduled lesson. The data revealed that cancellations were common, yet most clients wanted to reschedule rather than skip their lessons entirely. This insight led to the concept of a credit-based system, allowing clients to retain the value of canceled lessons while ensuring a stable income for the instructor.

2. Designing the Core System

The solution centered around a credit-based booking system. Each client would subscribe to a fixed weekly time slot, purchased in 3-month packages. When needing to cancel, instead of losing the lesson fee, they'd receive a credit. The key innovation was the automatic notification system - when someone cancelled, other clients with credits would be instantly notified of the available slot. This created a dynamic but stable booking environment.

3. Building the Platform

Using Bubble.io, I constructed the platform iteratively:

  • First built the core booking system with fixed weekly slots

  • Added the credit management system

  • Implemented the cancellation and notification features

  • Created an admin dashboard for the instructor

  • Integrated payment processing for subscriptions

Weekly feedback sessions with the instructor helped refine the interface and features to match real-world needs.

4. Implementation and Transition

The rollout was carefully managed to minimize disruption:

  • Started with a two-week pilot program with five regular clients

  • Gathered feedback and made necessary adjustments

  • Gradually transitioned existing clients to the new system

  • Created simple guides for both clients and the instructor

  • Provided direct support during the first month of full operation

This methodical approach helped ensure a smooth transition while maintaining client satisfaction and business continuity.

Conclusion

By converting one-on-one lessons into a subscription-based, credit-driven system, the swimming instructor not only secured a more predictable revenue stream but also boosted customer satisfaction through flexible scheduling. With a 30% increase in monthly earnings and a significant reduction in administrative overhead, this solution successfully balanced fairness to clients with the professional’s need for stable income—ultimately creating a more sustainable and scalable business model.