The questions founders of self-service private gyms ask us most. Anything else: contact us.
How it works
What is Sparekey?
A booking, payment and door access system for private gyms without staff. Customers book a slot, pay online and get a door code by text message that works only for their booking. See how it works.
How does a customer get in?
Right after paying, they get a text message with a door code and the time it is valid, and type the code on the keypad at the start of the slot. No app, no account, no key.
Is the code different for every booking?
Yes. Every booking has its own code, valid only for the booked time. Slots in a row booked together share one code.
What if the internet or the lock fails?
If a new code cannot be stored, the customer gets the backup code stored in your lock, so they still get in. This works with any lock. The recommended 2N unit is wired, with no batteries to run flat. A Nuki lock can be fitted with a cylinder you open with an ordinary key. See what can go wrong without staff.
Can customers cancel or move a booking?
Customers move a booking themselves, up to 24 hours before it starts. You cancel bookings in the admin and the money goes back through Stripe. Your booking terms set when you refund.
Can a customer book several hours in a row?
Yes, in one go, with one code for all of them.
Do customers need an account?
No. They book and pay on your booking page without registering.
Doors and locks
Which doors work?
Most do. The 2N keypad with a magnetic lock suits entrance doors, glass doors and gates. Several doors or a shared building entrance are solved during setup at no extra cost. Unsure? Send us a photo.
Which lock do you recommend?
A 2N keypad with a magnetic lock, fitted by a professional installer. It is the most reliable choice for a gym without staff. The simpler, cheaper alternative is a Nuki smart lock, but it is harder to protect against tampering. See door access, 2N keypad and maglock and Nuki.
Can I use a different lock?
Other locks with time-limited PIN codes: ask us.
Who installs the door hardware?
A professional door or access installer fits the 2N unit and magnetic lock. A Nuki lock you can fit yourself. You buy the hardware and pay the installer directly; we connect it.
Do you recommend Nuki in the UK?
No. In the UK we recommend only the 2N keypad with a magnetic lock. See door access in the UK.
Price and payments
How much does it cost?
€990 one-off for the setup and €26 a month for Operations. Text messages are charged at your country’s rate. See pricing.
Is there a fee per booking?
No. Sparekey takes no fee per booking and no share of your revenue.
What does the monthly fee cover?
Hosting, maintenance and your SMS sender name. Text messages are charged separately.
Is VAT added?
No. Sparekey is not VAT-registered. You pay by bank transfer.
Who holds the money?
You do. Customers pay into your own Stripe account and the money goes to your bank, never through Sparekey.
Which payment methods can customers use?
Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and the methods your customers use locally, such as iDEAL | Wero, Bancontact, TWINT or BLIK. We set up Stripe, GoPay or Mollie, whichever customers in your country use.
Does the door hardware cost extra?
Yes. You buy it from a supplier and pay your installer directly. Our price is the same for 2N and Nuki.
Is there a minimum contract term?
No. You cancel with one month’s notice, and we export your data for you if you ask.
Who issues invoices to my customers?
Sparekey or Stripe issues it automatically after each payment.
Can I host Sparekey on my own server?
Yes. Most gyms use our hosting, but self-hosting is possible; talk to us.
Setup
How long does setup take?
About a month from the first call to the first booking. The pace is set by Stripe’s approval and your installer’s diary; our own work takes days. See setup.
Do you work in my country?
Yes, across the EU, in the UK and in Switzerland. Pick your country in the selector at the top, or see the country pages.
What do I need to provide?
Company details for Stripe, your SMS sender name, the door hardware fitted, your opening hours and prices, and your house rules. The checklist is on the setup page.
Running the gym
Do I need staff on site?
No. Customers book, pay and let themselves in. They contact you, not us, so keep a phone answered during opening hours and tell your insurer the gym runs unstaffed. See insurance and liability and house rules template.
Can I block time for cleaning?
Yes. Blocked time in the admin is not offered for booking.
Do I need a camera?
Not for the system. If you install one, tell customers and set a reason and a time limit for recordings. See cameras in an unstaffed gym.
Is my customers’ data safe?
It is kept on our servers in the EU under the GDPR, and we sign a data processing agreement with you. See security and GDPR.
Who uses Sparekey?
Private gyms without staff, among them Chrám pohybu and Fithub.
Does it work for other spaces?
Yes, it also works for other bookable spaces.