The problem
Puppy courses fill by word of mouth, then an owner drops out the week before it starts and the place goes empty while others had asked to join. If a trainer starts 3 courses a month and loses 1 place on each at $160£120€143A$230C$226 that's $479£360€428A$691C$677 a month unsold, on top of evenings spent matching bank transfers to puppies.
What the AI does
Bookwhen is a booking system for classes, courses and events: owners book and pay on your booking page and you manage attendees. Its pricing page lists a waiting list, reminder emails and attendance tracking on the Standard plan and above. Put each 6-week course on as a course with its capacity and price, take payment at booking and turn on the waiting list. Ask the questions you need at booking, such as the puppy's age and vaccination status. The page doesn't say how waiting list places are offered, so test it before you rely on it.
A worked example
A trainer in Milton Keynes starts 3 puppy courses a month in a village hall, 8 puppies each, at $160£120€143A$230C$226 for 6 weeks. About 1 place per course goes empty after a late dropout.
Before
3 empty places a month at $160£120€143A$230C$226: $479£360€428A$691C$677 a month unsold
After
If the waiting list refills 2 of the 3: $319£240€286A$461C$451 a month of extra course fees
What it's worth
About $255£192€228A$369C$361 a month in profit, at an assumed 80% margin on $319£240€286A$461C$451 of refilled places, since the course runs anyway and the extra cost is mainly handouts and a share of the hall. Standard is €19 (about $21£16€19A$31C$30) a month excluding VAT, and 24 bookings a month is well within its 800.
How to set it up
- Check Bookwhen's pricing page for the price in pounds plus VAT, and start on Standard, since the waiting list isn't on Free or Lite.
- Set up each course with its dates, venue, 8 places and the full price, taken at booking.
- Add booking questions for the puppy's name, age, breed and vaccination status.
- Turn on the waiting list and reminder emails, then book a test place to see what an owner receives.
- Put your refund and transfer terms on the booking page in plain words.
What goes wrong
- If owners can't tell how the waiting list offers a place, they get confused. Test it and explain it on the page.
- Standard allows 800 bookings a month and 5 team members; a larger school needs Plus at €39 (about $45£34€40A$65C$64) a month.
- Card payment fees are separate from the plan price.
- Bookwhen shows prices in your local currency plus VAT; check the price in pounds before you budget.