ClearCourse
ClearCourse is a London-based, Aquiline Capital Partners-backed vertical SaaS roll-up that has acquired 40+ software businesses across field services, healthcare, hospitality, retail, sports & leisure and public sector, serving 20,000+ SME customers with embedded payments (ClearAccept).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What ClearCourse does
ClearCourse is a London-headquartered, Aquiline Capital Partners-backed vertical SaaS and embedded payments group founded in October 2018 by Gerry Gualtieri and now led by CEO Christina Hamilton. The company operates a buy-and-build model, having acquired more than 40 software and payments businesses since inception, and serves over 20,000 customers across six industry verticals: Field Services, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Sports & Leisure, and Public Sector & Not-for-Profit. Acquired brands are retained and operate under their existing identities (e.g., GOb2b, Harbour Assist, CSY Retail Systems, ThinkSmart Software, Motasoft, Davidson Richards/OpSuite, Computers for Flooring/Carman, Rezcontrol, Fetchify, Circdata Fusion, Silverbear, intelligentgolf, Blue Zinc, Pursuit Software).
The group's technology architecture pairs purpose-built vertical SaaS products (covering EPOS, job management, scheduling, marina management, healthcare practice management, B2B eCommerce, address validation, and event technology) with a proprietary embedded payments layer branded ClearAccept, plus Clear Direct Debit for subscription-based organizations. Each subsidiary delivers sector-specific workflows such as supplier and stock management (Carman), class scheduling and automated invoicing (ThinkSmart), cloud-based marina operations (Harbour Assist), and Microsoft Dynamics 365-based CRM for membership organizations (Silverbear). Integration breadth spans ERP, CRM, POS, accounting, warehousing and eCommerce platforms via subsidiary APIs, with Fetchify extending address validation coverage across 240+ countries.
ClearCourse's revenue model combines recurring subscription licensing for its software products with transaction-based embedded payment processing and ancillary professional services for implementation, customization and training. Pricing is quote-based and varies by vertical and subsidiary. Distribution occurs through direct sales via retained subsidiary sales teams, supported by centralized shared services (HR, finance, payroll, cybersecurity, legal and compliance) provided to acquired entities. The group is privately held, backed by Aquiline Capital Partners, with Simon Black (former CEO of SagePay and PPRO) serving as Chair of the Board since September 2025.
ClearCourse firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ClearCourse
- Legal name
- ClearCourse Partnership Holdings Limited
- Website
- https://clearcourse.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- ClearCourse is a London-based, Aquiline Capital Partners-backed vertical SaaS roll-up that has acquired 40+ software businesses across field services, healthcare, hospitality, retail, sports & leisure and public sector, serving 20,000+ SME customers with embedded payments (ClearAccept).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ClearCourse industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vertical SaaS Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Open Banking, Account Aggregation & Payment Initiation APIs (BPAMAFAJ)
Keywords
Where ClearCourse is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
ClearCourse business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Subscription-based Software Licensing: ClearCourse generates revenue through subscription licensing of its industry-specific software solutions. Customers pay recurring fees for access to sector-specific management software including EPOS, job management, scheduling, CRM, and other vertical SaaS products.
- Embedded Payment Processing: Revenue generated from integrated payment solutions embedded within ClearCourse's software products. The company provides payment processing capabilities to its software customers, generating transaction-based revenue.
- Professional Services and Implementation: Revenue from implementation, customization, training, and consultancy services supporting software deployments across acquired subsidiaries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Custom enterprise pricing based on sector and business size |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
ClearCourse product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ClearCourse is a London-based holding group that acquires, operates, and integrates vertical-specific software businesses serving SMEs and targeted enterprises across six sectors: Field Services, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Sports & Leisure, and Public Sector & Not-for-Profit. Across its portfolio of 40+ acquired brands, it sells subscription-based industry software (EPOS, CRM, scheduling, job management, marina, golf, event, and B2B eCommerce platforms) and layers a proprietary embedded payments offering (ClearAccept, Clear Direct Debit) directly into those software products.
Product overview
ClearCourse is a provider of industry-specific software and embedded payment solutions for SMEs and targeted enterprises, established in London in 2018. The company operates a platform-plus-acquired-brands architecture, where ClearAccept/Clear Direct Debit serves as the embedded payments layer integrated across all products. The portfolio includes: GOb2b (B2B eCommerce), Harbour Assist (marina management), CSY Retail Systems (retail EPOS), ThinkSmart Software (club scheduling), Motasoft (garage management with planned AI), Kurve (self-service kiosks/pointOne EPOS), Davidson Richards' OpSuite (retail management), Computers for Flooring's Carman (flooring transactions), Rezcontrol (hospitality), Fetchify (address validation API), Circdata's Fusion (event technology), Silverbear (Dynamics 365 CRM for membership), intelligentgolf (golf club management), Club Systems International (sports management), Pursuit Software (jewellery POS), Blue Zinc (healthcare rehabilitation), The EPOS Bureau (farm shop EPOS), TISSL (hospitality EPOS), EKM (eCommerce), and Cymba (mobile marketing for charities). Industry verticals include Field Services, Healthcare, Retail & Hospitality, Sports & Leisure, and Public Sector & NFP.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ClearAccept
- Clear Direct Debit
- GOb2b B2B eCommerce Platform
- Harbour Assist
- CSY Retail Systems EPOS
- ThinkSmart Club Scheduling SaaS
- Motasoft Virtual Garage Manager
- Kurve Self-Service Kiosk
- OpSuite by Davidson Richards
- Carman by Computers for Flooring
- Rezcontrol by Avon Data Systems
- Fetchify Address Validation
- Circdata Fusion Event Technology
- Silverbear CRM
- intelligentgolf
- Club Systems International
- Pursuit Jewellery POS
- Blue Zinc Healthcare Software
- EKM eCommerce Platform
- The EPOS Bureau
- Eworks Manager Job Management
- Cymba Mobile Marketing
Quantifiable outcome
- Carman processes approximately 10% of all UK flooring transactions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ClearCourse
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles8 records
ClearCourse technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature5 records
ClearCourse partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ClearCourse competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lightspeed Commerce: Publicly-traded vertical SaaS for retail and hospitality with integrated payments. Overlaps with ClearCourse's hospitality and retail verticals and offers a market-tested benchmark for vertical-SaaS-plus-embedded-payments unit economics.
- Sage Group: UK-listed incumbent in accounting, payroll, and ERP software serving SMEs. Broader and more established, but its UK dominance and embedded-payments experimentation make it a relevant incumbent comparable for ClearCourse's SME vertical focus.
Direct peers
- Toast: US-listed vertical SaaS + embedded payments platform for restaurants. Most directly comparable business model archetype: vertical-specific software with integrated payment processing — directly illustrating the roadmap ClearCourse is pursuing with ClearAccept.
- The Access Group: UK-based vertical SaaS roll-up backed by Hg Capital that acquires and integrates industry-specific software products for SMEs and mid-market across HR, healthcare, legal, education, and membership — the closest analogue to ClearCourse's buy-and-build model and vertical scope.
- Jonas Software: Subsidiary of Constellation Software operating a global vertical SaaS roll-up across fitness, hospitality, retail, sports and membership verticals — directly comparable to ClearCourse's vertical coverage and indefinite-hold acquisition style.
- Total Specific Solutions: European vertical SaaS roll-up sponsored by Hg Capital that acquires market-leading vertical software businesses. Same roll-up playbook as ClearCourse, with comparable discipline around retaining acquired brand identity and operational autonomy.
- IRIS Software Group: UK vertical SaaS roll-up (Hg Capital then BC Partners) focused on accountancy, HR, payroll, and education verticals. Highly comparable in terms of PE sponsorship, UK footprint, and acquisition-led growth across regulated professional verticals.
- Volaris Group: Vertical SaaS roll-up within Constellation Software focused on mission-critical software for niche markets. Closely mirrors ClearCourse's strategy of acquiring established category-leading vertical brands and operating them autonomously.
Emerging players
- Phorest: Vertical SaaS for salon, spa, and clinic management with payments and CRM. Comparable in scope to ClearCourse's healthcare and sports & leisure divisions and an example of a focused vertical SaaS that has scaled internationally on a single niche.
- Mindbody: Vertical SaaS for fitness, wellness, and beauty businesses with payments embedded. Closely comparable to ClearCourse's ThinkSmart and Blue Zinc assets serving class-based and rehabilitation businesses.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ClearCourse social profiles
Digital presenceClearCourse financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ClearCourse leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
ClearCourse subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries20 records
ClearCourse funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ClearCourse M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A37 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ClearCourse
What does ClearCourse do?
ClearCourse is a London-based holding group that acquires, operates, and integrates vertical-specific software businesses serving SMEs and targeted enterprises across six sectors: Field Services, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Sports & Leisure, and Public Sector & Not-for-Profit. Across its portfolio of 40+ acquired brands, it sells subscription-based industry software (EPOS, CRM, scheduling, job management, marina, golf, event, and B2B eCommerce platforms) and layers a proprietary embedded payments offering (ClearAccept, Clear Direct Debit) directly into those software products.
Is ClearCourse a public or private company?
ClearCourse is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was ClearCourse founded?
ClearCourse was founded in 2018. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is ClearCourse based?
ClearCourse is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ClearCourse make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription-based Software Licensing is the primary driver. The others are embedded Payment Processing and professional Services and Implementation.
Who are ClearCourse's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lightspeed Commerce and Sage Group. Direct peers are Toast, The Access Group, Jonas Software, Total Specific Solutions, IRIS Software Group and Volaris Group. Emerging players are Phorest and Mindbody.
Does ClearCourse have an API?
Yes. CraftyClicks (now Fetchify) provides address validation API integration spanning over 240 countries and regions, offering full-service integration of its address validation service through its market-leading application programming interface (API). The API integrates with clients' websites, ERP, CRM and POS systems. Developer documentation is at Not specified.
What industry is ClearCourse in?
ClearCourse's product category is Vertical SaaS Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAFAJ, Open Banking, Account Aggregation & Payment Initiation APIs. Its NAICS code is 5132.