Set Up an Acuity Waitlist for Group Classes: 5 Steps
Learn how to set up an automated Acuity waitlist for group classes in 2026 using Aculio. Collect SMS consent and fill canceled spots instantly.
To set up an Acuity waitlist for group classes, studio owners create a dedicated waitlist intake service in Acuity Scheduling and integrate Aculio for automated SMS notifications. This setup captures participant class selections, collects mobile consent, and immediately alerts waitlisted clients when a seat opens. You can implement this system in 5 simple steps without writing custom code.
How Does an Acuity Waitlist for Group Classes Work?
An Acuity waitlist for group classes functions by using a dedicated intake appointment type in Acuity Scheduling combined with webhooks managed by Aculio. When a participant joins the waitlist, Aculio stores their preferences. When a registered client cancels, Aculio automatically sends an SMS text alert to waitlisted clients to claim the open seat.
| Waitlist Feature | Native Acuity Scheduling | Aculio Waitlist Integration |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Group Class Waitlist | No | Yes |
| Instant SMS Seat Alerts | No | Yes |
| TCPA-Compliant Consent Capture | Manual | Automated |
| Real-Time Cancellation Filling | No | Yes |
How to Set Up an Acuity Waitlist for Group Classes in 5 Steps?
Setting up an automated waitlist allows yoga instructors, fitness coaches, and boutique studio owners to recover lost revenue from late cancellations. Follow these 5 procedural steps to configure your automated group class waitlist in 2026.
Step 1: Create a Dedicated Waitlist Intake Service in Acuity
Log into your Acuity Scheduling account and navigate to Appointment Types. Click Add New Appointment Type and title it Group Class Waitlist. Set the price to $0 and the duration to 0 minutes. Hide this service from your general booking page if you only want to display it alongside fully booked class sessions.
Step 2: Build Intake Forms for Class Selection and SMS Consent
Navigate to Client Intake Forms inside Acuity Scheduling and create a new form associated with your Waitlist service. Add a required drop-down field containing your upcoming group class dates and times. Next, add a required checkbox field asking for explicit text messaging consent. Capturing clean SMS consent is required for automated compliance. Using Aculio SMS automation guarantees that your text alerts meet current regulatory guidelines.
Step 3: Connect Acuity Scheduling to Aculio
Create an account on Aculio and authorize the connection to your Acuity Scheduling account. Navigate to the Aculio onboarding portal to pair your calendar webhooks. Aculio monitors your group class roster limits in real time. When a class reaches maximum capacity, the Aculio group class waitlist engine prepares to track standby clients.
Step 4: Configure Automated Open-Seat SMS Alerts
Inside the Aculio dashboard, define your notification dispatch rules. Choose whether open seat alerts send to the first person on the waitlist or broadcast to all waitlisted participants simultaneously. Set a claim window duration, such as 15 minutes, before the system contacts the next person on the list. Aculio automatically inserts a direct reservation link inside the SMS body.
Step 5: Test Your Group Class Waitlist Automation
Conduct a live test to verify your workflow. Create a test group class with a capacity of 1 participant and book the spot. Use a secondary phone number to fill out your Acuity waitlist form. Next, cancel the original booking in Acuity Scheduling. Verify that Aculio detects the open seat and delivers an SMS alert to your test phone within 30 seconds.
Why Should Yoga Instructors and Fitness Coaches Use SMS Waitlists?
Automated SMS waitlists solve the problem of empty studio spots caused by last-minute client cancellations. Text messages maintain a 98% open rate, whereas email alerts often go unread until after the class starts. By automating seat notifications, studio owners eliminate manual administration tasks and protect weekly class revenue in 2026.
Ready to automate your studio schedule and fill empty class spots automatically? Explore our flexible Aculio pricing options and start your free trial today.