The First Class Podcast

Go behind the scenes at First Class Software in this episode as we explore the features making the biggest impact for customers today—and what's coming next. We break down the tools helping businesses reduce admin, improve customer experience, and streamline operations, including self-service booking changes, portal cancellations, and branded mobile apps. We also share a preview of the product roa...

In this episode of the First Class Podcast, we explore the Theory of Constraints—a simple but powerful framework for identifying what's really holding your business back. Inspired by Eli Goldratt's book The Goal , we break down how to view your business as a system and pinpoint the one bottleneck limiting your growth. From lead generation to retention and capacity challenges, we walk through commo...

Discover how AI can transform your class-based business in this episode of the First Class Podcast. We explore practical ways to use AI—from improving onboarding and automating customer support to gaining data insights and making smarter business decisions. If you're looking to cut through the hype and start using AI effectively, this episode is a great place to start.

In this episode, we break down one of the most important decisions for any sports class business: choosing the right business model. Should you run term-based programs that align with school schedules, or move to a perpetual model with ongoing enrollments and monthly billing? We explore how each model works, along with the real-world pros and cons across admin workload, cash flow, customer experie...

In this episode, we break down why many businesses plateau when new customer acquisition is cancelled out by churn, and why improving retention can unlock more sustainable, long-term results. We share eight proven retention strategies specifically for lesson-based businesses like swim schools and sports coaching programs. From measuring attrition and improving communication with parents to boostin...

Episode 1 We explore the single biggest thing that is stopping class based business in the sporting industry from growing. Discover the 3 core drivers of business growth  Where business need to spend more time What is stopping business owners from focusing on actions that will grow their business

Episode Summary In this episode, we explore the seven most common bottlenecks slowing down sports businesses and draining valuable time from owners and managers. From make-up lessons becoming an admin trap, to enrolment models creating unnecessary friction, to outdated payment processes costing time and cash flow, we break down the areas that often create the biggest operational headaches. We also...