You have the ideal business idea, and now you want to actualize it. There is more to opening a business than just registering it with the relevant organizations. In this blog, we have put together all the most important things you need to consider when opening a Pilates studio.
When it comes to opening a pilates studio, making proper decisions regarding the staff, location and programming can be quite tricky. Fortunately, you don’t need to worry because we have got your back. Keep on reading this guide to get the steps you need to follow when opening a Pilates studio.
Think of the Required Certifications
The most important thing you need to know when starting a pilates studio is the required qualifications. Do you have the qualifications of a pilates instructor? Have you ever been into a pilates class previously? Well, below are a couple of things you need to keep in mind when opening a Pilates studio:
Assess whether there are certifications, programs or even classes worth registering for in order to take your interest and expertise to the next level. Notably, your business will seem credible to potential clients if the instructor is more than qualified.
So, consider trying several classes to get a feel and look of the classes that interest you and those that customers might like. After evaluating the favourites, you can downsize on your area.
Work on Your Business Plan
It is quite tricky to start any type of business without a business plan, and the pilates studio is not an exception. Like any type of business, beginning with a plan is vital for your company’s success. So, begin by asking yourself your company’s objectives and where you want to see it in a couple of years to come.
Please remember to assess the financial topic too. Do you have the finances or are you going to apply for a loan? Should you plan to expand your business, do you have readily available funds?
It is also essential to undertake some common decisions, such as your studio’s name, the required staff, your class offerings, and your business’s daily operations. By evaluating your objectives, a business plan will certainly keep you on track.
Create a Business Structure
After drafting your business plan, the next step involves getting started with the business structure. So, establish a legal entity, such as LLC. Also, you need to sign up for taxes based on your location to ensure you are doing everything correctly from the word go.
It is advisable to open a business account to simplify your tax filing and have a crystal-clear picture of your business’s financial performance. Here, keep a comprehensive record of all source of income and expenses. What’s more, get insurance for your business to avoid potential complications.
Choose Ideal Location
You have to search for the ideal location and space for your pilates studio. If you have a specific area in mind, there are a couple of questions you can ask yourself prior to making the ultimate decisions:
- How many private sessions and classes do you plan to host per day?
- Do you plan to run several sessions concurrently?
- What is the maximum number of users in every training session?
- Which equipment do you intend to use?
Your preferred equipment comes in handy in determining the space to choose for your studio. Will you incorporate Reformers or will you only run the Mat Pilates classes? Keep in mind that the Reformers are fairly costly and may not be a part of your budget at first.
If you are starting small, you can begin with one or two Reformers for private classes. Think about how your clients will get to your pilates studio. Yes, you might have the best and most thrilling space in your area, but clients may fail to come if there is no parking or it’s hard getting there. Accessing a pilates studio needs to be seamless.
Start an Interesting Program
Here is where your target market comes in handy. Basically, ensure you are well-informed of the demographics in order to offer a solution that suits the customers best. The pilates workouts are adaptable and you can adjust them to meet the demands of any group.
You can emphasize what you want to offer. Do you prefer fitness, rehabilitation exercises or like working with the old population? Pilates is popular amongst pregnant women, those who have recently given birth and athletes.
You can decide to offer speciality classes, such as pilates for runners, men’s classes, kids pilates and pilates for sport-specific pilates (e.g., rugby players). The best thing is that with the advancement of technology and internet, you can use a Pilates booking system to manage these groups of clients. With this system, you can efficiently manage their schedule, bookings, personal records and payments.
Building a Brand
The next step entails building your brand. What does branding involve? Your brand contains beliefs and ideas your business stands for and the clients’ perception of the company. What does your business believe in? How do you want the customers to feel when they come to your premises?
Basically, the brand is typically identical to perception. How your clients see your business is fundamentally what your brand becomes. Therefore, the first impression to your clients is vital. Do you have a logo? Do you have specific business colours? Do you plan to give merchandise to your customers?
At the end of the day, your pilates studio branding is what will make it stand out in your region. Thus, when opening this business, be true to the business and the brand will take you to the next level.
Lastly, it is essential to get assistance from the experts. While you have decided to venture into the entrepreneurship world and established a pilates studio, you may not be a business expert. Yes, perhaps you don’t have accounting experience. Also, you may not have any experience in payrolls. Therefore, if you lack substantial experience in operating a business, consider consulting the specialists.
