About
NEST Management is an all-in-one business management platform designed specifically for martial arts club owners and instructors. With over 20 years of industry experience, NEST brings together every tool a martial arts school needs to operate efficiently and grow sustainably—eliminating the need to juggle multiple providers. At its core, NEST offers secure Direct Debit fee collection for reliable cash flow, a full club and student management CRM, and automated email and SMS communications to keep members engaged. Schools can launch professional websites with integrated ProShops to drive additional revenue, and leverage built-in marketing tools to attract and retain students. NEST also provides a dedicated Events and Grading system to plan, manage, and execute belt gradings and fundraising events with ease. Its mobile apps keep students and parents connected while reducing instructor admin. For franchises, centralised multi-location management and unified student tracking streamline operations at scale. Beyond software, NEST differentiates itself through expert business consultancy—offering step-by-step guidance for startups, sustainability strategies for established schools, and scalable operational support for franchises. Safeguarding training resources are also available for community-focused clubs. NEST is ideal for community clubs, growing schools (15–500 students), and multi-site franchise operations looking to professionalise their business, boost retention, and focus more time on teaching martial arts.
Key Features
- Secure Fee Collection: Automated Direct Debit processing ensures reliable, recurring cash flow with minimal manual admin for club owners.
- Club & Student CRM: Centralised management of student records, memberships, attendance, and progress tracking across all club types and sizes.
- Automated Communications: Built-in email and SMS automation keeps students and parents informed, reducing no-shows and improving retention.
- Events & Grading System: Create, manage, and execute belt gradings, tournaments, and fundraising events from a single, integrated tool.
- Website & ProShop Builder: Launch a professional martial arts school website with an integrated online store to sell merchandise and generate additional revenue.
Use Cases
- A new martial arts startup uses NEST to launch a lead-generating website, set up Direct Debit fee collection, and follow step-by-step business guidance to sign their first 50 students.
- An established karate school with 200 members automates belt grading event management, sends SMS reminders to reduce no-shows, and tracks individual student progress through the CRM.
- A martial arts franchise with 10 locations uses NEST's centralised dashboard to manage student records, enforce brand standards, and monitor financial performance across all branches.
- A community judo club uses NEST's email and SMS tools to stay connected with families, manage safeguarding compliance, and coordinate fundraising events.
- A growing taekwondo school integrates NEST's ProShop to sell uniforms and equipment online, adding a new revenue stream alongside membership fees.
Pros
- Purpose-built for martial arts: Unlike generic management tools, NEST is designed exclusively for martial arts schools, with features like belt grading events and dojo-specific workflows.
- All-in-one solution: Combines software, marketing, consultancy, and fee collection in one platform, eliminating the cost and complexity of managing multiple vendors.
- Scales from startups to franchises: Flexible enough for brand-new clubs and powerful enough to manage multi-location franchise operations with unified brand and student tracking.
- 20+ years of industry expertise: Backed by decades of experience supporting 1,000+ instructors and 150,000+ students, NEST brings proven business consultancy alongside its software.
Cons
- Niche platform: Exclusively built for martial arts clubs, making it unsuitable for other fitness or sports businesses that need a more general solution.
- Pricing not publicly listed: Costs are not transparent on the website; prospective customers must book a demo to get pricing, which adds friction to the evaluation process.
- Primarily UK-focused: Based in the UK with Direct Debit as the primary payment method, which may limit suitability for clubs operating in other regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is NEST Management designed for?
NEST is built specifically for martial arts club owners and instructors at any stage—from new startups to established schools and multi-location franchises.
Does NEST handle fee collection?
Yes. NEST offers secure Direct Debit fee collection to automate recurring membership payments and stabilise your club's cash flow.
Can NEST manage multiple club locations?
Yes. Franchise and multi-location clubs get centralised management tools, unified student tracking, and consistent brand controls across all branches.
Does NEST include a website builder?
Yes. NEST provides website design and a ProShop integration so clubs can attract new students online and sell merchandise directly from their site.
Is there a mobile app for students and parents?
Yes. NEST offers mobile apps that keep students and parents connected to their club, reducing admin burden for instructors.
