Once upon a time, I was a professional writer. Ad copy, news writing, articles for a health and fitness magazine, business proposals and technical writing paid the bills for nearly 15 years. The journey from there to studio ownership is the foundation of what I’m writing about.
Becoming a service-based business owner has been challenging and rewarding in all the ways you’d expect, and I want to share my experience for those of you who, like me, who are doing it without an MBA, business program or mentor to guide you through it. This goes for personal trainers, physical therapists, acupuncturists and concierge physicians. If your business runs on your hours, this is for you.
I write about the operational and financial problems that show up in businesses like ours. The problems we didn’t train for or know to expect.
I opened my Pilates and Gyrotonic studio in Austin in 2009, and I’m still running it today. So my musings and advice come from someone who is still on the floor teaching clients, leading a team of instructors, buying the toilet paper and keeping the lights on.
I also coach other studio owners. Time is short and my roster is small, but it’s a gift to help others who are embracing their entrepreneurial dreams. Most of these studio owners come to me when things are just okay. Their schedules are full and clients are happy. But money is tight. Their team isn’t bought in, and it’s starting to show. Somewhere between a busy studio, the break room and the bank account, something’s off.
It is almost always one of three things:
a cash flow model that depends on clients showing up at the rate they committed to,
a team that gets the job done so long as it’s on their terms, or
a payroll ratio that has quietly climbed past the point where the numbers work.
Often it’s a bit of all three.
None of these are motivation problems. They are structural. And structural problems have specific causes and specific fixes. Mindset may matter, but that’s after the leaks are fixed.
That is what I am writing about. I aim to be here every week. And if you have a specific problem that needs addressing, just send me a message. Let’s support one another.
Amanda