What is Alma?
Alma is a European buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment solution, used by over 900 sport and fitness centres. It is now built directly into your bsport checkout as an additional payment method, alongside card, SEPA and digital wallets.
💡You don't need to sign a separate contract with Alma. Alma runs through bsport's existing payment integration, so you simply activate it in your settings.
How it works
At checkout, members see Alma next to the other payment methods for any one-off purchase of €300 or more.
The member is redirected to Alma's secure page and receives an instant decision in a few seconds. No account or app is needed.
The member pays the first instalment at checkout, then the remaining two over the next 2 months.
You receive the full amount upfront, paid out within 1 to 3 business days.
Alma collects the remaining instalments and takes on the risk of non-payment.
Alma is available on the standard checkout, Express checkout and One-click booking.
Benefits for you
Cash upfront: you are paid in full straight away, without waiting for the instalments.
No collection risk: if a member misses an instalment, Alma absorbs the loss. Your payment is not affected.
Nothing to manage: no reminders to send and no failed instalments to chase.
Everything in bsport: Alma payments appear in your invoices and payment reports like any other payment.
Benefits for your members
No fees, no interest and no late fees.
An instant decision, with no account to create or app to download.
They can pay in 3 with their card, Apple Pay or local payment methods.
Note: Alma handles all member questions about instalments, payment schedules or failed instalments. If a member contacts you about their Alma instalments, please direct them to Alma's customer support.
Eligibility and pricing
| Details |
Countries | France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg (EUR only) |
Plans | Available on all bsport plans |
Purchase amount | From €300 one-off purchases only |
Fee for you | 4.2% per Alma transaction, no fixed fee, no subscription |
Fee for your members | Free: no fees, no interest, no late fees |
Accepted payment methods | Visa, Mastercard or Amex issued by a bank in the European Economic Area (EEA), Apple Pay, Bancontact, Payconiq, iDEAL, Postepay, Revolut and N26 |
⚠️ Alma is not currently available in Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, the UK or outside the eurozone. If your studio is not in an eligible country, Alma will not appear in your payment settings.
How to activate Alma
Step 1: Access your payment settings
Go to Settings > Payment methods.
Step 2: Activate Alma
Click on Alma to activate it. A green icon means the method is active.
When you're done, click Save.
Step 3: Let your members know
Alma is now offered automatically to your members on every eligible one-off purchase of €300 or more.
💡To get the most out of Alma, mention it in your terms and conditions and add Alma logos or banners to your website and communications. This way, members know they can pay in 3 before they reach checkout.
You can deactivate Alma at any time from the same page.
Refunds and reports
Refund an Alma payment
Open the member's invoice.
Cancel it using Direct refund.
A credit note and a negative payment are created automatically. Alma handles the refund on the member's side.
Find Alma payments in your reports
Alma payments appear in bsport like any other payment, in your invoices and payment reports. The 4.2% fee is shown in your payment reports.
Fees can take a minute to appear in your reports. If a fee is still missing after that, please contact our Support team.
Important notes
Alma is designed for online, one-off purchases made by the member. The following are not currently possible:
Taking an Alma payment from the Back Office (Quick Sale, taking payment on an invoice, settling a balance or using a terminal).
Using Alma for subscriptions or recurring payments.
Saving Alma as a payment method on a member's profile.
Paying an existing unpaid invoice with Alma, from the app, the web or a payment link.
Combining Alma with bsport instalment payments on the same purchase.
Changing the €300 minimum purchase amount, which is the same for all studios.
Offering instalment options other than 3 (for example, pay in 2, 4, 10 or 12).
⚠️ Alma makes its own decision on each payment request and does not share the reason for a refusal. If a member's request is declined, they keep their cart and can pay by card or SEPA instead. Here are basic eligibility criteria that are resent in Alma's public page
Age: only adults (18+) can pay in installments with Alma.
Card validity: Alma refuses cards that expire before the end of the payment plan.
Card type: prepaid cards and virtual cards aren’t accepted.
Frequently asked questions
My members don't see Alma at checkout. Why?
Check that Alma is activated in Settings > Payment methods, that the basket is €300 or more, that your studio is in an eligible country, and that the purchase is a one-off payment rather than a subscription.
Alma disappeared when the member chose to pay in instalments. Is this normal?
Yes. Alma and bsport instalment payments can't be combined. If the member chooses Alma, Alma splits the payment for them.
Alma disappeared when the member ticked "Save my payment method". Is this normal?
Yes. Alma can't be saved as a payment method. It only applies to the current purchase.
A member's Alma payment was refused. What can they do?
The member keeps their cart and can pay by card or SEPA instead. Please also check that their card is issued by a bank in the EEA.
When do I get paid?
You receive the full amount (minus the 4.2% fee) within 1 to 3 business days. You don't wait for the instalments.
Who contacts the member if an instalment fails?
Alma. You have already been paid in full and are not affected. Alma charges no penalties and handles follow-up directly with the member.
Can my members use Alma in the app?
Yes, for one-off purchases of €300 or more through the checkout, Express checkout and One-click booking.
Does Alma replace bsport's instalment payments?
No, both options are available. They can't be combined on the same purchase. Alma is the right choice if you want to be paid upfront with no collection risk.
What happens if a member opens a dispute on an Alma payment?
Please contact our Support team, who will help you with next steps.