Managing extracurricular activities is complex enough without the added stress of chasing payments. Let's be real - transitioning from arrears to upfront payments isn't just about shuffling money around. It's about transforming your entire school's workflow in the best way possible. Whether you're juggling student commitments or keeping those finances in check
Here's how upfront payments can be your secret weapon saving you time and money.
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For those who manage the billing (eg. Business Administrators)
1. Eliminate Bad Debts
2. Reconciliation That Practically Runs Itself
3. A Simple Transition to Upfront Payments with Stripe
For those who create and manage the selection of extracurricular activities (eg. Head of Sport or Music)
4. Save Hours on Administrative Tasks
5. Boost Attendance and Reduce Dropouts
Business Administrators Can Stay on Top of School Finances
1. Eliminate Bad Debts
Late or unpaid fees disrupt cash flow and add unnecessary strain to school budgets. By collecting upfront payments, schools can say goodbye to unpaid accounts and focus on allocating resources where they matter most. Take it from Knox Grammar:
"Parents now have the convenience of instantly booking, paying, and receiving confirmations for activities, eliminating the need for additional charges to school accounts."
Late or unpaid fees disrupt cash flow and add unnecessary strain to school budgets. By collecting upfront payments, schools can say goodbye to unpaid accounts and focus on allocating resources where they matter most.
2. Reconciliation That Practically Runs Itself
Reconciling payments can feel like an endless task, but it doesn’t have to be. Clipboard integrates seamlessly with Stripe, and they have reported that some schools have cut reconciliation time by up to 80%!
Take a look at this case study with Stripe and Presbyterian Ladies' College - they're thrilled about the massive efficiency boost after streamlining their processes. Imagine what your team could accomplish when they're not buried in spreadsheets!
3. A Simple Transition to Upfront Payments with Stripe
Worried about making the switch? Don't be! Clipboard's Stripe integration makes this transition smoother than a freshly waxed gym floor. Getting connected is a breeze, and the intuitive design means you'll be processing payments like a pro from day one.
We've got your back every step of the way - from setup to staff training. The result? A rollout so smooth, you'll wonder why you didn't do this sooner.
Heads of Departments Can Increase Enrolments and Create a Better Parent Experience
4. Save Hours on Administrative Tasks
Let's talk about admin fatigue - it's real, and it's draining. Processing payments in arrears creates a mountain of paperwork that nobody has time for. But flip the switch to upfront payments, and watch that mountain of work vanish. Lindsey Sampson, School Systems Lead at Knox Grammar School discovered that Clipboard's integrated Activity Selection module and Payments module saved them hours of work:
"This streamlining of payments saves valuable time; we will never revert to the old process.”
5. Boost Attendance and Reduce Dropouts
Here's a fun fact: when parents pay upfront, magic happens. That financial commitment creates a ripple effect of accountability that leads to higher attendance rates and fewer last-minute "sorry, can't make it" messages (or worse yet, no message at all), which they'll later request credit for in the next term. Karen Brown from St Andrew's Cathedral School saw it firsthand:
"We are thrilled with the new payment functionality for Activity Selection. We love it! we found a side benefit of having activities paid in advance - it helped with less movement between activities and our attendance has increased due to the up front financial commitment"
For all you department heads out there, this means more reliable program numbers and students who stick around to see the amazing benefits of participating in extracurricular activities.
Transform Your School's Payment Processes with Clipboard
Whether you’re looking to improve financial clarity or create better experiences for parents and staff, switching to upfront payments is the way forward. Clipboard’s all-in-one Extracurricular Management System makes the transition simple, with tools to automate payments, streamline reconciliation, and improve engagement across the board.
Ready to see how Clipboard can revolutionise your school's approach? Book a demo today and take the first step toward smarter extracurricular management.
Not quite ready to dive into a demo?
That's totally fine! Why not share this article with your team first? It's the perfect conversation starter for exploring how upfront payments could transform your school's programs. When you're ready to take that next step, we'll be right here waiting to help!
