Top 7 Tips for Opening Your Own Pilates Studio

We know you can’t wait to have your own space for your pilates studio, filled with equipment and clients flowing in.

While it is super exciting to start working on something which you are passionate about, it can also pose a few challenges on the way which is why we have compiled a list of top 10 tips that will help you a smooth opening of your studio.

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Let’s dive in!

Top tips on how to open a pilates studio

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1. Chalk about your basics

We have compiled a basic checklist of what you must know to create a strategy. If this is not formulated at the beginning, your pilates studio will not fetch results as per your expectations.

Decide upon your target audience

• Age
• Location
• Gender
• Professional status
• Availability
• Income status

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Competitors

• Where are they located?
• What works for them
• What content they distribute (subscribe to their newsletters)

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Compute initial costs (be sure to include a buffer)

• Buildout/ fitout /construction costs or lease charges or rent
• Utility bonds and costs for connecting utilities to the premises
• Signage
• Pilates Equipment
• Computers
• Legal costs
• Insurance costs
• Accounting costs
• Loan establishment costs (if taking out a loan)
• Office supplies
• Printing costs for promotional material for the launch of the business
• Branding and graphic design
• Website development
• Photography costs
• Staff recruitment costs
• Staff training costs and wages
• Uniforms
• Pre-launch marketing costs
• Wages for pre-launch marketing
• Working capital for wages and other expenses for the first few months of trade

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Decide  a budget

Next, decide on a budget and optimize the above costs accordingly.

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Compute your breakeven timeline

Once you know how much you need to pump into your pilates studio, the next step is for you to work out the breakeven duration.

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A name for your studio

An original name that sticks! Also, this name should reflect your values and what you have to offer.

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Set goals

Set up some realistic goals for your studio. For example: how many clients are you targeting in the next couple of months, broken down by month and week.

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2. Get your structures in place

Once you have a rock-solid plan, the next thing for you to do is start putting your business structures in place.

• Begin by registering your business as a legal entity.

• Next, find out about the taxes you need to register for depending on your location and make sure you get that registration in place.

• Filing taxes is easier when you have a business account, so that should be the next thing on your list.

• Depending on your location, make a list of all the permissions and licences you need to operate your pilates studio. Then, apply for all of them, so that you have all your paperwork in place.

• Safety always comes first, and that’s why you will need to buy business insurance for your pilates studio.

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3. Hire quality trainers

While choosing trainers, be sure to look for resources who know how to handle group sessions as well as individual training sessions.

It is also important to keep your trainers motivated to upskill themselves periodically, ensuring they bring the latest pilates techniques and new exercises to the studio floor.

Keep in mind though that pilates is limited in terms of variety as compared to other forms of physical fitness. This means the trainers you hire will have to be engaging enough to retain customers in the long run.

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4. Create a brand

Creating your brand's identity involves multiple touchpoints. Here’s a quick look at the most important ones.

Colors

• 2 primary colors
• 1 complementary color

It helps to know a little about color psychology before doing so because different colors denote different human emotions.

The following chart by Ignyte Brands will help you understand this better.

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Logo

Choose two logos for all your brand communications, one of which you will use for all headers, and the other for the body.

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Website

Build a website with the same branding as the rest of your marketing collateral. Your website should be:

• Simple to use
• Intuitive
• Easy to navigate
• Has checkout functionality
• Displays the schedule and pricing clearly
• Discounts and offers can be added
• Retail functionality (if you plan to sell products)
• Anything else that is specific to your business

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5. Find a financial advisor

As the owner of a new pilates studio, and (we’re assuming) a pilates instructor, you’re going to have your hands full handling administrative tasks, marketing your studio, and being on the front line handling students. Plus, not all of us have the necessary know-how to be able to handle finances effectively.

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This makes it important for you to have a financial specialist in your corner to tell you what you’re doing right and to reign you in when you’re overspending. We understand you may not be able to hire a full-time accountant or a finance manager, but even an expert on a part-time contract will definitely help you turn profits faster.

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6. Do online and offline marketing

To get clients, you have to market your pilates studio. Here are some top ways that have worked for studios in the last one year.

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• Referral marketing

Check out how referral marketing helps increase sign ups for your studio!

• Register your business on Google My Business to increase the chances of your website being one of the top searches whenever anyone looks for pilates studios in your area.
• Discounts and intro offers are another effective way to bring in new customers to your studio.
• Participating in events with other yoga and pilates studios, conducting events yourself, and being a part of community events have a lot of potential for you to connect with prospective customers.
• Be sure to collect the email addresses of everyone who interacts with your pilates studio, and start with email campaigns. It is cost-effective, and the reach of email marketing campaigns is still surprisingly efficient.

• Social media marketing: Use Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are great platforms to promote your pilates studio.

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PRO TIP: Keep in mind that video content is 12 times more engaging than pictures or text. Leverage the reach of reels and short videos on Instagram and Facebook.

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7. Work on a smart pricing strategy

One of the positives of running a pilates studio is that in most cases, batches are smaller and students get more personalized attention compared to most other physical workouts. This allows pilates studios to charge their customers a premium.

However, there are several factors that you will need to consider before arriving at a pricing plan. Here are some of those factors.

• Where your studio is located, and the connectivity it has to public transport will play a role in how much you can charge.

• Where your competition is located, as well as what similar studios in similar neighborhoods charge, will also affect how much you can charge.

• Your customers will find your pricing attractive if you offer them bundles of more classes at a reduced per-class rate.

• Keep in mind that if you have too many pricing options, you could potentially deter prospective customers from registering at all.

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Why your pilates studio needs Bookee

Running your pilates studio without the right technology to automate administrative chores and assist with other managerial tasks can be overwhelming. And while there are plenty of tools on the market, Bookee is the most complete and user-friendly management software for fitness businesses on the market.

Here are some of the reasons why your pilates studio needs Bookee.

• We will build you a fully functional website and app, both branded with your studio’s branding, and replete with everything your customers need to have control over their relationship with your studio.

• All your scheduling needs, be it for your customers to schedule classes remotely, or for you to keep a tab on your staff’s shifts, will be taken care of.

• Want to build an e-store and sell merchandise? We’ve got you covered there as well.

• Our software will offer you the flexibility you need to be able to offer discounts and special bundles to your customers.

• Not only is our tool easy to use, but we’ll also make sure you speak to the same person every time you feel you need assistance.

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When you choose Bookee, you don’t just get management software; you get a partner who wants to see your pilates studio succeed. Find out more about our features and sign up for our free demo today.

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