EFC vs. Zen Planner

The Complete Growth System vs. Feature-Rich CRM
Zen Planner offers comprehensive CRM software with extensive features and advanced analytics. EFC delivers a complete growth ecosystem: conversion-optimized websites, powerful CRM, automated billing, and a community of successful school owners—all included at a predictable price.
Feature
EFC
Zen Planner
Website Included
Website Included
Conversion-optimized site
Website Included
Available as add-on
CRM & Lead Pipeline
CRM & Lead Pipeline
Full pipeline management
CRM & Lead Pipeline
Full pipeline management
Automated Billing
Automated Billing
Recurring billing & recovery
Automated Billing
Recurring billing & recovery
Class Scheduling
Class Scheduling
Advanced scheduling
Class Scheduling
Advanced scheduling
Member Mobile App
Member Mobile App
Native app included
Member Mobile App
Available as add-on
SMS & Email Marketing
SMS & Email Marketing
Advanced tools included
SMS & Email Marketing
Basic included, advanced as add-on
Community Access
Community Access
EFC Circle Community
Community Access
Not available
Live Events & Masterminds
Live Events & Masterminds
Included with membership
Live Events & Masterminds
Not available
Ongoing Training
Ongoing Training
Monthly masterclasses
Ongoing Training
Onboarding only
Advanced Analytics
Advanced Analytics
Comprehensive reporting
Advanced Analytics
Industry-leading analytics
Multi-Location Tools
Multi-Location Tools
Advanced roll-up reporting
Multi-Location Tools
Advanced support
Industry Experience
Industry Experience
58 years in martial arts
Industry Experience
Founded by martial artist
Pricing Model
Pricing Model
All-inclusive system
Pricing Model
Base price + add-ons

What Makes EFC Different From Zen Planner?

EFC
Zen Planner
Why it matters
Everything Included—No Add-Ons Required
EFC
Website, CRM, mobile app, advanced marketing tools, community access, and ongoing training all included in one price.
Zen Planner
Core CRM provided; websites, branded apps, and advanced marketing require paid add-ons.
Why It Matters
Transparent pricing eliminates surprise costs and complex feature decisions.
Conversion-Optimized Websites Included
EFC
Conversion-focused website with integrated chatbots, tracking, and martial arts-proven layouts included at no cost.
Zen Planner
Website services available only as a separate add-on purchase.
Why It Matters
Website and CRM work together from day one—no extra vendors or integration headaches.
Community & Ongoing Training Included
EFC
Ongoing access to EFC Circle, live events, and masterminds with school owners actively growing successful academies.
Zen Planner
Initial onboarding coaching only; no ongoing education or peer community.
Why It Matters
When enrollment or retention drops, peer strategies matter more than setup support.
58-Year Track Record of Success
EFC
Nearly six decades of proven systems built specifically for martial arts school growth.
Zen Planner
Founded by a martial artist with strong analytics and feature depth.
Why It Matters
Workflows and automations exist because thousands of schools needed them before you.
One Complete Growth System
EFC
Website, CRM, billing, mobile app, marketing, community, and training fully integrated from day one.
Zen Planner
Highly customizable platform where schools choose and configure add-ons.
Why It Matters
No guesswork—get the same complete system successful schools already use.

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.
Zen Planner delivers powerful CRM features and industry-leading analytics. EFC delivers the complete picture at a predictable price.
See the Complete System in Action
Leads
Trial & Enrollment
Retention
Black Belt

Who Should Choose EFC Over Zen Planner?

EFC
Choose EFC if you want:
A conversion-optimized website included (or seamless integration with your existing site)
Native mobile app and advanced marketing tools included
Access to community, live events, and masterminds with successful school owners
Everything working together in one complete system
Predictable pricing with no add-on decisions
A partner with 58 years of proven martial arts industry success
Zen Planner
Choose Zen Planner if you:
Need industry-leading advanced analytics and highly customizable reporting
Want to choose which features and add-ons work best for your operation
Don't need ongoing training or community access beyond initial onboarding
Prefer extremely detailed data analysis capabilities
Already have a website and don't need EFC's included option

Common Questions About EFC vs. Zen Planner

Do I lose features when switching from Zen Planner?

You gain access to included features that are add-ons with Zen Planner—like a conversion-optimized website, native mobile app, and community access. Core CRM, billing, and scheduling features are comparable between both platforms.

What about Zen Planner’s advanced analytics?

Zen Planner is known for powerful reporting and analytics. EFC offers comprehensive reporting that meets most schools’ needs for tracking leads, revenue, attendance, and performance. If you require extremely advanced, highly customizable analytics beyond standard business metrics, that may be an area where Zen Planner excels.

How long does it take to switch from Zen Planner 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.

Will switching from Zen Planner 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.

Can I import all my data from Zen Planner?

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

How is EFC’s pricing structured compared to Zen Planner?

EFC includes everything in one price: website, CRM, billing, mobile app, marketing tools, community, and training. Zen Planner uses a base price plus add-ons model, so your total cost depends on which features you need.

See EFC in Action

Schedule a personalized demo and see how EFC's complete growth system works for a school like yours.
Schedule A Demo