The Business of Boutique Fitness

Welcome to part 2 of our 3-part series where we try to get comfortable with the uncomfortable (and inevitable) discussions of a studio owner.    In Episode 675: The Most Uncomfortable Conversations You're Avoiding (That Are Costing You Thousands), Coach Matt Hanton and I hit the topic of talks with your team.    Hone your tone: always treat people relationally, not transactionally Tell it like it is: be direct and candid; don’t sugarcoat or complicate Try SBI: use the non-personal Situation, Behavior, Impact approach  Crunch the numbers: share benchmarks and expenses for compensation convos Normalize feedback: provide informal reviews and regular performance evals    Ultimately, it’s all about respect, honesty and a mutual mission to support the business. Grab our practical recos in Episode 675.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

To be successful, every studio owner needs to manage uncomfortable conversations. So let’s dive into the common anxiety-triggering topics of price increases and rent negotiations.     Join Coach Matt Hanton and me as we kick off this 3-part series with Episode 674: The Most Uncomfortable Conversations You're Avoiding (That Are Costing You Thousands).   Plan on price jumps: expect them as a natural part of every business Learn your numbers: know current utilization rate, expenses and break-even  Be transparent: communicate clearly and use graphics to specify costs Present a compelling case: negotiate with data and industry benchmarks Prioritize relationships: simplify negotiations and emphasize loyalty and trust   Save time, money and stress by preparing for and tackling uncomfortable conversations with confidence. Master talks about money matters in Episode 674.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Although some studio owners feel like “sales” is a dirty word, the reality is that it’s the lifeblood of your business. Establishing a natural rhythm can help integrate this critical responsibility.   In Episode 673: The Sales Rhythm that Grows Fitness Studios, Coach Caroline Plambeck outlines how you can develop an organized, cyclical sales process.    Paint the panorama: identify annual goals, then break into quarterly targets Get granular: reverse-engineer monthly, weekly and daily goals from annual numbers Appoint ownership: delegate sales responsibilities to all team members Aim broadly: address intro offers, reactivations, winbacks and current members Touch base: use shift reports, check-ins and data for real-time status   Winning at sales doesn’t mean you need a new offer every week – or the lowest prices. Sales isn’t just hustle – it’s about rhythm and routine. Create your cadence with Episode 673.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

A question I get all the time is, “What are the highest performing studios in the world actually doing?” Sustainable profitability and a growth trajectory are key, but how do they get there?   To find out, join me for Episode 672: What the Top Studios Are Doing Right Now. I’m sharing what I consistently observe in thousands of studios we work with around the world.   Relentless dedication: live your priorities and be committed to excellence  Thoughtful growth: adopt an M&A model, establish pace of openings  First impressions: maximize presale to open profitably or rebrand powerfully Marketing mastery: create comprehensive omnichannel growth strategies Team care: craft selection process, offer benefits, share growth opportunities   Plus, the top studio owners are laser-focused on building a wildly successful business in preparation for an ultimate sale. That drives everything they do. Check it out in Episode 672.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Your fierce commitment as a studio owner can lead to the disastrous trap of micromanaging. This lose-lose approach usually ends up with you burning out and your staff leaving.   Join Coaches Matt Hanton and Caroline Plambeck for practical suggestions on how to escape this common mistake in Episode 671: Stop Micromanaging: How to Empower Your Staff.   Let it go: accept that it’s OK if the job is done at 80% of how you’d do it  Delegate and educate: introduce autonomy gradually and share clear SOPs Paint the big picture: teach your team the “why” behind the work Empower and align: allow freedom within the framework to reach KPIs/outcomes Help, not hover: check in, invite questions and ask for feedback    Y’all, micromanaging is like helicopter parenting. No bueno. Break away so that your fear or need for control doesn't frustrate your team or stifle your business. Learn how in Episode 671.   Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Face it: 80% of boutique fitness studio owners are stuck in the operator role, wearing all the hats, all the time. Not a bad thing, but it will never get you to become a 7-figure CEO.    If you’re ready to grow, get the expert roadmap from Lise Kuecker and Coach Matt Hanton in Episode 670: How to Lead Successfully, Strategically and Like a 7-Figure CEO.   Back off: release some control and delegate so your business can grow Add on: hire a sales manager, set goals, and train and empower them  Dig in: monitor data daily and make decisions based on the numbers Build out: develop smart systems and processes that can run without you Level up: Shift your mindset to strategizing and planning vs. executing   Y’all, the journey to 7-figure boutique fitness studio CEO is absolutely possible if you’re willing to put in the work, embrace new challenges and take a leap of faith. Start with Episode 670.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

A thoughtful onboarding process is worth your investment of time and effort. Although you’re temporarily doing more work while also increasing your payroll, it’s ultimately a long-term gain.    Get the essential ingredients with Coaches Caroline Plambeck and Matt Hanton in Episode 669: The First 90 Days: How to Set Up Every New Hire for Success.   Stoke anticipation: generate good vibes with a personal note or small gift before day 1 Lay the foundation: review job description, KPIs, goals, mission, vision and values Cultivate connection: do meet & greets, assign a buddy and arrange teamwork Facilitate integration: train on SOPs and systems; encourage proactivity  Continue the conversation: check in often, ask for feedback and celebrate successes    Beyond simply teaching policies and procedures, smart onboarding incorporates communication, community and the culture of your studio. Episode 669 is your recipe.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Your people can make or break your studio. Building a standout team is critical to protect your business. And that doesn’t just happen automatically, y’all.    Make sure you’re firing on all cylinders in Episode 668: The Secrets to a High-Performing Team with Coaches Caroline Plambeck and Matt Hanton.    Prioritize prep: draft an org chart and job descriptions with specific KPIs  Recruit selectively: hire for culture and train for skill – you can’t force fit Train to retain: templatize a comprehensive onboarding process Touch base: create agendas for 1:1s and team meetings; invite feedback  Hand out shout-outs: celebrate wins, share successes and give rewards    It takes a thoughtful commitment and ongoing efforts to nurture a stellar team. If it feels overwhelming, start with one step, then add on. Get all the insider tips in Episode 668.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Y’all,   the noise about tariffs in recent months has stirred questions and anxiety among the fitness industry (and many industries, frankly) about the effects on their business.    Crediting Liz Clark’s and Mike Goscinski’s talk at the Health & Fitness Association’s Fly-In & Advocacy Summit, let’s dive into Episode 667: How Tariffs & Trade Can Impact Your Studio.     Universal uncertainty: legislative, studio and consumer unknowns  Lucky strike: service-based industries have an advantage Building up: construction costs jump due to steel and aluminum tariffs On the rise: price bumps on equipment and retail products made overseas  Good news: consumers prioritize fitness/wellness during economic challenges   Notify your local senators and congresspeople that higher costs on building and consumer goods will decrease jobs, tax revenue and economic growth. Learn the basics in Episode 667.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Y'all, Two industry powerhouses I'm absolutely fascinated by – Garrett Marshall and Debra Strougo! Garrett's been shaping our space for 22 years and just launched something that could change everything, while Debra brings her incredible insight from years of working with operators. Together they're solving the biggest challenge in fitness: how do we maintain our position of influence when 90% of our members are on their smartphones buying wellness products we don't offer? Tune in to our conversation with these two industry legends: Episode 666: The Big Picture with Garrett Marshall & Debra Strougo. ● The industry veteran: Started at Lifetime Fitness during their first IPO, learned how each department (personal training, spa, kids care, restaurants) runs on separate P&Ls - real respect for what's possible when you run fitness departments professionally ● WellBeats to Exponential: Co-founded WellBeats (originally Fitness Request) in 2007, then started competitor Fitness on Demand as CEO for 8 years under Lyft Brands, then 5 years as president at Exponential Fitness through another IPO ● The precision health platform: Launched 30 days ago after 18 months of development - designed to bridge fitness and healthcare without the operational nightmare most providers face ● The $5 billion opportunity: Companies like Everly Well, Thorne, HIMS are capturing the post-COVID wellness boom while fitness providers lose influence - consumers have a much broader definition of wellness now ● The practical solution: Curated partnerships (not a marketplace) with leading wellness providers - telehealth, peptides, GLP-1s, hormone replacement, at-home lab tests, precision supplements ● Three value propositions: Data integration to improve programming, product offerings for clients wanting more than fitness, recurring revenue that continues beyond membership length ● Smart partnerships: Hand-selected experts who wake up thinking about peptide therapy and hormone optimization - avoiding the trap of spending 40-50% of resources for 10-20% revenue growth ● The data advantage: Fitness providers get all the wellness data back to personalize programming - understanding that exercise is just one component of their members' broader wellness picture ● What's coming: Mental health telehealth and sleep/recovery services on the fast-follow list - expanding the five non-fitness wellness market segments ● Pre-validated expertise: Cutting through the chase to go directly to specialists who understand microdosing, metabolic health, and cutting-edge therapies your conventional doctor gives you blank stares about The signals are everywhere - walk your gym floor and see the evidence. The question isn't whether wellness and fitness will merge, it's whether our industry will step up to maintain our position of trust and influence. Garrett's built the bridge. Catch you there, Lise PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/