Switching from another booking system to Zenamu can be smooth if you prepare a few things in advance. This article walks you through the entire process step by step.
1. Export your clients from the old system
Most booking systems allow you to export your client database in CSV or Excel format. This is exactly the format Zenamu accepts for import.
For a detailed guide, see the article How to import clients from another booking system into Zenamu.
2. Create your account and fill in the basics
Register at zenamu.com — you can choose between a Studio account or an Individual (freelancer) account.
Fill in your basic details in Settings > Public Schedule (name, logo, contact, description).
Add your venues in Settings > Locations.
If you have multiple instructors, add them in Settings > Employees.
Tip: If you accidentally created the wrong account type (studio instead of freelancer or vice versa), contact support — we'll delete the account and you can start fresh with the correct type.
3. Set up payment methods
Decide how you want to accept payments and activate the relevant methods in Settings > Payments > Payment Methods:
Card payment (Stripe) — for online card payments, Apple Pay and Google Pay
PayPal — for payments via PayPal account
Bank transfer — manual or with automatic matching (Ultimate plan)
On-site payment — for cash or in-person payments
If you want to offer passes (credits or entries) or memberships, set them up in Settings > Passes and Memberships.
4. Prepare class templates
Templates save you time when creating new sessions. Set up templates for different class types in Settings > Class Templates — you can pre-fill the name, description, prices, and payment methods so you don't have to enter them again each time.
5. Create your schedule
Create new sessions by clicking Create new session in the calendar. You can create:
Recurring classes — with a weekly or other interval (daily, monthly, custom)
Courses — a series of sessions with a single registration and payment
Events/Workshops — one-time events
6. Test the booking process
Take advantage of the 14-day free trial with full features. Create a test booking, try a payment and a cancellation. Make sure everything works the way you need it to.
7. Redirect your clients to the new system
Embed the booking plugin on your website (instructions in Settings > Public Schedule > Embed schedule on your website).
Share the link to your public schedule with your clients.
Send a bulk email with a link to the new schedule.
Important: Historical data (orders, payments, statistics) from your old system cannot be imported into Zenamu. The import only covers client contact details.