How PassM8 Used the Pinch API to Deliver Embedded Payments for Class Management

Industry

Technology

Problem Summary

PassM8 required a flexible, reliable payments solution that could support recurring billing, direct debits, card payments, and dynamic platform fees for a SaaS marketplace. They needed a provider that enabled independent merchant accounts for each studio, automated billing, and offered responsive, local support. Existing mainstream solutions lacked the necessary features and adaptability, hindering PassM8's ability to deliver an enterprise-grade payments experience for their clients.

The Results

With Pinch, PassM8 seamlessly integrated a robust, API-driven payments engine that enabled rapid onboarding of studios, automated digital payments, independent merchant management, and dynamic fee structures. The API's clean design and strong webhook capabilities streamlined development, while Pinch's local team ensured rapid, high-quality support. PassM8 launched with enterprise-grade billing, onboarding 100+ studios in under two weeks and achieving 100% digital, automated payments.

Key Products Used

Glassbox Merchant Hub, Webhook Events, Pinch Payments API, Managed Merchants, Plans and Subscriptions

docs.getpinch.com.au/

18%

Revenue Growth Increase P/M

2 Wks

Implementation Timeline

1400+

Payers Created

900+

Tokenisations

“Pinch helped PassM8 deliver enterprise-grade billing capability from day one, something that would have been impossible without a true integration partner.”

Philip Johns

Founder @ Passm8

What is Passm8?

PassM8 is an Australian-built SaaS management platform serving dance studios, yoga studios, martial arts gyms, fitness centres, and other class-based businesses. It enables these businesses to operate and manage classes, customers, and payments end-to-end.

Running a studio or gym should not feel like a nightmare.

The Problem Statment

PassM8, serving dance studios, yoga studios, martial arts gyms, and fitness centres, set out to offer a comprehensive SaaS platform that managed classes, customers, and payments end-to-end. However, enabling automated billing and embedded payments for each independent studio proved complex. PassM8 needed a flexible payments provider capable of supporting recurring billing, direct debits, card payments, and dynamic platform fees, while also allowing each studio to maintain its own merchant account. Mainstream solutions lacked the granular control and local support PassM8 required to deliver a seamless, automated payment experience for their clients.

The Technical Solution

While evaluating solutions, PassM8's team sought an API-first payments platform that supported marketplace requirements, including independent merchant onboarding and dynamic fee allocation. After reviewing options, they found that mainstream providers could not fully support their needs. As the PassM8 founder shared: "At the time, it felt like the solution I needed didn’t exist, until I discovered Pinch.

" Pinch's API enabled PassM8 to automate onboarding for each studio, process both recurring and single payments, manage dynamic platform fees, and leverage webhook-driven automation for real-time updates. The API was clean, reliable and fast to implement — and the support was world-class."

The PassM8 team was able to follow our crafted Managed Merchants flow, which helped to ensure theimplementation ofmanaged merchants was aligned with the best-practises.

Guide on Managed merchants flow: https://docs.getpinch.com.au/docs/managed-merchants-payments-guide

Endpoints Used:

https://docs.getpinch.com.au/reference/create-managed-merchant - Create merchant
https://docs.getpinch.com.au/reference/upload-document - Upload docs for compliance
https://docs.getpinch.com.au/reference/save-payer - Create Payer and Source
https://docs.getpinch.com.au/reference/realtime-payment - Execute realtime payment
https://docs.getpinch.com.au/reference/save-payment - Update or schedule payment

The Key Outcomes

PassM8 successfully onboarded over 100 studios, with integration completed in under two weeks. The platform achieved 100% digital, automated payments, eliminating manual billing processes for their clients. Metrics highlight the success: over 100 studios onboarded, integration in less than two weeks, and automated payments from day one. The founder noted: "Pinch helped PassM8 deliver enterprise-grade billing capability from day one — something that would have been impossible without a true integration partner." With support response times consistently under one hour, PassM8 benefited from a genuine partnership:

"As a startup, it was refreshing to work with a provider who believed in what we were building and supported us through it."