EFC vs. Gymdesk

The Complete Growth System vs. Budget CRM Software

Gymdesk offers affordable CRM and billing tools for martial arts schools. EFC delivers a complete growth ecosystem: high-converting websites, powerful CRM, automated billing, and a community of successful school owners—all working together in one platform.

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See How It Works

Feature

EFC

Gymdesk

Website Included

Conversion-optimized site

Website Included

Basic template only

CRM & Lead Pipeline

Full pipeline management

CRM & Lead Pipeline

Pipeline management

Automated Billing

Recurring billing & recovery

Automated Billing

Recurring billing

Class Scheduling

Advanced scheduling

Class Scheduling

Basic scheduling

Member Mobile App

Native iOS & Android app

Member Mobile App

Mobile web only

SMS & Email Marketing

Unified communications

SMS & Email Marketing

Marketing automation

Community Access

EFC Circle Community

Community Access

Not available

Live Events & Masterminds

Included with membership

Live Events & Masterminds

Not available

Multi-Location Tools

Advanced roll-up reporting

Multi-Location Tools

Basic support

Payment Processing

EFC handles directly

Payment Processing

Choose your own processor

Industry Experience

58 years in martial arts

Industry Experience

Modern platform

System Type

Complete growth ecosystem

System Type

Budget software only

What Makes EFC Different From Gymdesk

EFC

Gymdesk

Why it matters

Websites Built to Convert, Not Just Display

EFC

Custom, conversion-optimized sites with integrated chatbots and tracking—designed to turn visitors into students.

Gymdesk

Basic templates for displaying info. Lacks lead-gen optimization or proven martial arts layouts.

Why It Matters

Conversion-focused sites can 5x your inquiries compared to passive information displays.

Community & Ongoing Training Included

EFC

Access to EFC Circle, live events, and masterminds with successful owners. Real strategies, not just software.

Gymdesk

Budget-focused software with no community platform or ongoing professional training.

Why It Matters

Software runs operations; community grows schools. Get answers from peers, not just support tickets.

58 Years of Martial Arts School Expertise

EFC

Nearly 6 decades of proven success helping thousands of schools navigate evolving markets and industry shifts.

Gymdesk

Modern platform built for budget-conscious gyms with significantly less industry-specific experience.

Why It Matters

You get a system refined by 58 years of real-world martial arts data, not generic gym software.

One Partner for Software and Payment Processing

EFC

One point of contact for everything. We handle billing and processing directly for seamless integration.

Gymdesk

You must manage 3rd-party processors (Stripe/Square), leading to multiple vendors and support points.

Why It Matters

When a payment fails, you make one call, not two. Simplifies accounting and one-vendor relationships.

Advanced Multi-Location Management

EFC

Organization-wide reporting with location-specific dashboards and seamless switching between schools.

Gymdesk

Basic multi-location support without the depth needed for franchise or large-scale operators.

Why It Matters

Scales with you. Track total performance or drill down without switching platforms as you grow.

How EFC's Complete System Works Together

This is what "complete growth system" means: Every piece connects. No manual data entry between platforms. No leads lost in transition. No logging into multiple tools to run your school.

Gymdesk delivers affordable CRM and billing tools. EFC delivers the complete picture from the moment someone finds your school online to the day they earn their black belt.

See the Complete System in Action

Leads

Trial & Enrollment

Retention

Black Belt

Who Should Choose EFC Over Gymdesk?

EFC

Choose EFC if you want:

A conversion-optimized website included (or seamless integration with your existing site)

Access to community, live events, and masterminds with successful school owners

Advanced multi-location management and reporting

One vendor for software and payment processing

A complete growth system, not just operations software

A partner with 58 years of proven martial arts industry success

Gymdesk

Choose Gymdesk if you:

Need only basic CRM and billing at the lowest price point

Are comfortable customizing your own basic website template

Don't want community access or ongoing training

Prefer to manage your own payment processor relationships

Want self-service setup without sales calls

Common Questions About
EFC vs. Gymdesk

Can I import all my data from Gymdesk?

Yes. Our onboarding team handles the complete migration of your student data, billing information, membership details, and class schedules from Gymdesk to EFC. Nothing gets lost in the transition.

How long does it take to switch from Gymdesk to EFC?

Most schools are fully transitioned within 2–4 weeks, depending on your student base size and the complexity of your setup. We work around your schedule to minimize any disruption.

What happens to my payment processor if I switch from Gymdesk?

With EFC, we handle payment processing directly, so you’ll transition to EFC’s integrated system. This simplifies your vendor relationships from two partners down to one.

Do I get the same automation features as Gymdesk?

Yes. EFC includes automated follow-ups, SMS and email marketing, birthday messages, payment reminders, and custom automation rules. You won’t lose functionality when switching.

Will switching from Gymdesk disrupt my billing cycles?

No. We carefully time the transition so your members experience zero disruption in billing or membership access. Payments continue processing without interruption.

Will I save money by staying with Gymdesk’s lower pricing?

While Gymdesk’s software subscription is lower, you’ll pay separate payment processing fees and won’t get a conversion-optimized website, community access, or ongoing training. Compare total cost of ownership—not just the monthly software fee.

Who owns my student data?

You do. Your student records, contact information, and business data belong to you. If you ever leave EFC, you can export your data and take it with you.

Does EFC integrate with other tools?

EFC is a complete, all-in-one system designed so you don't need multiple tools. For specific integration needs, contact your account team to discuss what's possible.