The Business of Boutique Fitness

Welcome to this bonus podcast episode! Clients who rave about you are marketing gold. When they bring in their friends or family members, they're already pre-sold and more likely to convert. Turn your members into your best sales team with Alina Cooper and Heather Garrick in Episode 690: Everybody's Talking About You: Harnessing the Power of Referrals. Simplify the ask: keep it easy, clear and one-step so referrals are no-brainers Reward everyone: make it a win-win so the referrer and the friend feel great Show it off: promote the referral program in studio, on socials and everywhere Time it right: ask members for referrals during that post-class buzz Always incentivize: track, thank and recognize members—fast and personally Pick a month, plan a campaign, brief your team and measure what happens. This may become your favorite marketing tool, with big potential. Capitalize on the opportunity with Episode 690. 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/

People aren't coming to your studio for your Reformers, your music or your plush towels. They're craving memorable experiences and genuine connection to keep them coming back. If your member experience is off, everything is off. Join Alina Cooper and me for Episode 689: How to Turn Your Studio Around -- Part 3 to ensure you're exceeding expectations. Adopt fresh eyes: inspect your studio, add new touches, make small changes Interact intentionally: make eye contact, use names, recall personal details Practice small acts of kindness: delight members with thoughtful, low-cost gestures Watch your words: regularly reassess and refine messaging to appeal to your ICA Sell strategically: start small, test, tweak, track and scale marketing that works The studios that fail are those that stop trying. Make sure you're bringing fresh energy, heart and clarity to your business so it remains alive and compelling. Explore how in Episode 689. 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/

Welcome to this bonus podcast episode! When it comes to KPIs, studio owners typically fall into extremes. They either track everything and get overwhelmed—or nothing at all and are unaware of the true health of their business. In Episode 688: The KPI Blueprint: What Boutique Fitness Owners Actually Need to Track, Alina Cooper and Heather Garrick identify exactly which metrics are critical to watch. Leverage leads: check how many, where they're from, conversion and time to purchase Check your pulse: study retention and churn rates as the heartbeat of your business Monitor the money: know your monthly recurring revenue, expenses and profit Know their worth: calculate your client's average lifetime value, which drives revenue Make it happen: schedule a weekly KPI hour to identify issues and monitor trends When you keep eyes on the right data as a studio owner, you get valuable insights to make informed decisions. Unlock power and peace of mind in Episode 688. 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/

Every studio owner encounters rough waters along their journey. So expect it. Then recognize the difference between sinking and sailing often comes down to what you do next. In Episode 687: How to Turn Your Studio Around -- Part 2, Alina Cooper and I continue navigating the practical steps, tough choices and mindset shifts that can get you to calmer seas. Invite input: regularly ask for—and gratefully receive—honest feedback Don't guess—assess: carefully analyze key metrics and every part of your business Stop the bleeding: stabilize cash flow by immediately pausing non-essential expenses Score quick wins: target lapsed clients, run winback campaigns, encourage referrals Get your team on board: be transparent, invite ideas and share results The vast majority of issues can be addressed to pivot within 90 days. Draft your turnaround plan, adopt a win-win attitude and take action with Episode 687. 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/

Welcome to this bonus podcast episode! What do you do when your studio is booked solid…but still unprofitable? When you're teaching constantly, running the front desk, managing marketing, all the things…but can't pay yourself? Find out how one yoga + Pilates studio owner finally quit working for free. Join Coach Rachel Prairie for this case study in Episode 686: Booked Solid But Still Not Profitable. Stop undercharging: monitor market rates and bump up your prices Limit promotions: decrease discounts and deals to increase profit margins Move to memberships: generate recurring revenue with tiered options Adjust instructor pay: consider a flat rate plus attendance/retention incentives Analyze your numbers: set and track weekly, monthly and quarterly KPIs Implementing these changes resulted in a 22% increase in monthly revenue in just six months! This inspired owner is now taking home more while working less. Hear her story in Episode 686. 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/

Fueled by a dream and deep passion, good-intentioned studio owners can become so consumed with the day-to-day of the business that they miss warning signs of critical problems. But caught early, you can turn these issues around. Learn what to look for and what to do in my discussion with Alina Cooper in Episode 685: How to Turn Your Studio Around -- Part 1. Embrace self-awareness: deliberately enhance your emotional intelligence Take accountability: own issues rather than ignoring them or blaming others Make the time: prioritize problems immediately before they get worse Know your numbers: constantly track trends—revenue, profit, attendance and churn Step back: get out of your studio and dive deep into the data to create an action plan For more practical recommendations, check out The Oz Principle by Craig Hickman and Roger Connors. Find out how to recognize red flags and get your studio back on track in Episode 685. 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/

Whether you recently launched your studio or you've been around a while, a new competitor opening nearby typically triggers full-on panic. But competition can be a good catalyst. Discover how to level up and proactively protect your business with Heather Garrick and Alina Cooper in Episode 684: A New Competitor Just Moved In: Now What? Be very curious: research competitors, document services, prices, USP, etc. Look in the mirror: solicit feedback, mystery shop your studio, analyze data Compel commitment: encourage more clients to buy long-term memberships Maximize momentum: try Bring-a-Friend week, guest trainers and challenges Get noticed: think more ads, flyers, sidewalk chalk and local partnerships As our industry grows, competitors are inevitable. Episode 684 offers the outline to implement ongoing monitoring and double down on what makes your business different. 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/

Studio owners often are so focused on their aesthetics or operations that they bypass a critical success factor: market research. Without it, their business decisions are simply guesses. Join Alina Cooper and Heather Garrick for an overview of how to do your homework in Episode 683: The Silent Studio Killer: What Happens When You Skip Market Research. Local landscape: examine your competitors' pricing, branding, schedules, etc. Audience analysis: study demographic details of your avatars Feedback forums: conduct surveys, focus groups and informal chats Deep data dive: leverage valuable analytics from your booking platform Call to action: regularly evaluate and act on insights to enhance your business Your perception isn't always reality, so use market research to inform your decisions—and save you critical problems, time, money and headaches. Cue Episode 683. 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 dream of owning a boutique fitness studio is the fuel, but the engine that gets you to opening your doors is funding. Knowledge and tenacity are your accelerator. Understand your money options with Alina Cooper, Director of Start Your Studio Profitably, and Coach Matt Hanton in Episode 682: How to Fund Your Studio Without Drowning in Debt. Go solo: bootstrap your business to maintain control and avoid bad debt Pursue tried & true: apply for an SBA (government-backed) loan as a solid source Nudge your network: enlist private investors to partner with you financially Appeal to the masses: try crowdfunding to supplement your own big investment Roll with the punches: expect the unexpected, delays and rejection along the way The bottom line? If you're not a numbers person, you really need to become one to run a thriving business. Start learning early in your journey with Episode 682. 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/

The paradox of a packed but unprofitable space is real for many boutique fitness studio owners. But you can turn things around by identifying and plugging common leaks in your system. Coach Caroline Plambeck recommends how you can build a financially sustainable business in Episode 681: Beyond the Waitlist: Fixing Profit Leaks in a Fully Booked Studio. Face the facts: calculate your break-even cost and per-class profit Price right: re-evaluate membership options and avoid excessive discounting Optimize your offerings: streamline your schedule, cut bloat and try class stacking Prioritize your people: invest in instructor training, feedback and development Tighten your belt: eliminate financial drag with quarterly expense audits Of course, the buzz of full classes is a reason to happy dance. But without profits, you're just treading water—and at risk of sinking. Episode 681 is your lifeline. 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/