Did you know that you can open your own yoga studio? Whether you rent a space for classes or run it out of your home, you do have options. This is an ideal option for anyone who enjoys yoga and wants to share the activity with others. So how can you start a private yoga business?
To start a private yoga business in five steps: 1) Become a certified instructor. 2) Decide on the classes you want to teach. 3) Create your brand (logo, website, social media, etc. 4)Put together a business plan. And 5) Find your yoga location.
Follow these five steps and you can begin your private yoga studio. Every step will be broken down and easy to understand making it an easy guide to follow.
Become A Certified Instructor
The first thing someone should look into before trying to open their studio is getting their accreditation. While it is not required to be a teacher, the certification will help you out. Especially when it comes to gaining clients and building authority in the yoga community.
Anyone can teach a class if they choose to, yet those who are serious about the position will put in the time and effort to get certified. To be more specific they typically require about two-hundred hours from a registered school and a fifty-dollar application fee. Then you are required to pay sixty-five dollars a year to maintain your registration.
If you want to become registered for a specialty type of yoga, you can also pay an extra fifty dollars when registering to have that designation. It may seem unnecessary to some but the more niche you are the better off your business will likely be. As many say the riches are in the niches. No small business can do it all, especially when they first open their doors.
However, later down the line once the business is booming changes can be made to the schedule. Depends on your timeline and if you plan to have employees or not.
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- Decide On Your Offerings
One way to draw in long-term clients who will be more likely to enjoy your class is by offering specific ones. While a studio offering every type of class may see higher enrollment numbers that do not mean that every class will be filled. Or that you will enjoy teaching all of the different classes.
While you could stick to beginner, intermediate, and advanced class offerings, those may be too vague for some. There are numerous types of yoga such as vinyasa yoga which encourages you to flow from pose to pose. It is known to help build endurance.
Or hatha yoga, which encompasses many poses and styles. This type is distinguished by the duration in which the poses are held. Allowing core strength to increase and balance to improve.
Yoga like many other activities is not a one size fits all exercise. So finding the types that you enjoy will allow you to connect better with your clients and enjoy your work.
- Create Your Brand Identity
Now is the time when you need to begin the business proceedings involving the studio. This includes items such as creating your logo, coming up with a business name, registering your studio, and creating a social presence.
Your social presence is key to building a brand and creating a name for yourself. Items that fall under this category include a website, social media accounts (such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook), and a Google Business Profile. These platforms are how you will build your studio’s voice, identity, and credibility.
Failing to create and at least be active on these platforms can hurt your studio’s chances of gaining clientele. While the majority of your clients will likely be loyal, tourism-based areas are known to have tourists take a class or two while visiting. Being active and known in the community will allow people to easily find you when searching your location for things to do.
There is a common misconception that social media is only for product-based businesses, however, that is untrue. It is known to be just as important and impactful for service-based companies as well. It all comes down to how you portray your service and how enticing your classes are.
The website will allow you to build and display your credentials, classes, and pricing all in one place. While your social media will show more behind the scenes, day-to-day life, a peek into your classes, and more. You could also create a blog about yoga to share your knowledge, build rapport with people, and rank higher on Google searches.
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- Create A Business Plan
While it may seem unnecessary to some, a business plan is a must-have for any business. This will outline several key items regarding your studio. These include the intended location, number of employees needed, your mission statement, full detail of the services offered, and other important information.
This is the document you will likely show to any bank if you are trying to get a business or personal loan. You will also show it to any potential investors to show them the plan, the details, and where their money would be going. It acts as an action plan that you will follow once the business is up and running.
No investor or bank is likely to help fund your studio unless you have one present and ready for them when you meet. These can be tricky to write if you are new to being an entrepreneur. However, you can hire people to help you create it and ensure that every aspect needed is included. Or if you want to write it yourself you can hire a consultant to review and provide feedback on it.
- Finding Your Studios Location
Before you can finalize anything or have any signs made, you need to decide on your studio’s location. This will decide on the area in which you market yourself the most. Where you will need to get your permits and licenses if needed.
Different areas require different sizes and designs for signs, business cards will require an address, business mail will need to be delivered somewhere, and so on. The location will give you the business address where everything will be delivered as you set up the studio.
This is why the location is the final step in the process of starting your studio, beyond actually opening up your classes for registration. Once you begin building a clientele and have regulars, you can decide what to do moving forward. These are the five basic steps needed to start a private yoga business.
Do remember though that some aspects may change or differ depending upon the regulations of your area. Beyond that, you can begin teaching and enjoying your new endeavor.
These are the five steps in which you can start a private toga business. From becoming a certified instructor (if you choose to) to deciding on your class offerings, creating your brand and name, putting together a business plan, and finalizing your studio’s location. Once these are done you should be able to open your door and roll out your mats.
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Frequently Asked Questions
While it is not required to teach, it can not hurt to become certified. Especially if you are branding yourself as an experienced yoga instructor who is knowledgeable about the exercise. It can be hard to build your credibility and the trust of your customers if you do not have one. Plus, you can typically charge more for your classes if you are certified or offer more niche options. People will not find just anyone worth a high price.
The requirements regarding licenses and permits can differ depending on each circumstance. You will need to look up your state and perhaps counties specific needs. Items will vary depending upon the type of insurance you choose, the space’s capacity, inspection requirements, and so on. They change depending on a wide range of variables which can make it hard for us to tell you exactly what you need. It would be best to contact your local small business center to learn more.
While each option has its pros and cons, the decision depends on your situation. If you have enough space in your home to offer a decently sized class while following space guidelines then it can be a nice option. It also works best if you have a smaller budget when starting since you will save on overhead costs and could potentially write off the space in your home on your taxes. However, if you feel as though a dedicated space is necessary and you have the funds for it then that is likely the way to go. Each case is different depending on your offerings.
To learn more about starting your own Yoga Business check out my startup documents here.
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Yoga Fan
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online yoga business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a yoga business owner in public at a studio or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Yoga Business Boss: I want to help future yoga business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.