There are many ways that you can start your yoga business—it doesn’t matter whether you’re teaching from home, in a studio, or online, you have to follow many of the same steps to make sure you get to the point where you can start teaching. So how can you start your online yoga business?
To start an online yoga business, you should first choose your business name and determine how you want to operate. Then, sort out your staffing, create your mission statement, and determine your budget. Start considering how you’re going to make your money, whether it is through advertising or subscriptions, then consider your marketing before you create your website, social media, and video pages.
While many of the steps remain the same, there are a few things that are vastly different when compared to starting your own physical yoga studio. Read on to find out more about how you can make money off of your online business.
Some of the first steps of creating your online yoga business are the same steps you would take when creating a yoga studio. The first thing you need to consider is that this is not an extracurricular activity or a hobby—this is going to be your business and you need to take it seriously.
The first thing you need to do in creating your online business is to write your business plan. Yes, no matter what kind of business you’re creating, you need to have a plan written down and organized. What do you need to do to start that plan?
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- Choose a business name—something that can become your online handle. You’ll need to put together your own social media pages (where you’ll likely be teaching your classes), so make sure you pick a business name that’s catchy and unique, especially for the internet.
- Decide on how you’re going to operate. An online business may not have hours, but this is the point where you should start considering a posting schedule. This is different than your marketing schedule—this is when you’re going to post your class videos online.
- Figure out your staffing. This could be easy, depending on how large your business is, but make sure you have a plan for if you need to hire on individuals as your business grows.
- Write out your goals and your mission statement. Why are you doing this? What do you want to get out of your business, and what do you want others to get out of your business? Make sure you outline it here and formulate it into a mission statement that you can share on your social media and on your videos.
- Determine your budget. You may not have as much to consider in your budget as those starting their own yoga studio, but you will still need to make sure you are paid yourself and you have the proper equipment. You will also need to make sure you have the right recording equipment—lights, cameras, and a computer are required equipment for your online yoga business.
- Determine your income. While all those items are the same when it comes to starting an online business and a yoga studio, many of the details are different. That also affects the way you price your classes. Now, many of the most successful online yogis actually offer their classes for free. Many of them also offer paid subscriptions to more of their content. At this point, you need to consider how you want to make your money. There are many different ways you can make money online, including:
- Affiliate marketing. You can place links, coupons, promotions, etc. in your posts for other businesses. When people click, you can make some money.
- Display advertising. This is specifically when commercials or pop ups are placed in your videos.
- Sponsored posts. You see these all the time on social media—businesses pay influencers (which you could end up being!) to talk about and sponsor their products.
- Subscriptions. This is most likely what you will make your money off of when you really get started in your business. People will pay for your classes much like those coming to a yoga studio. It’s up to you to consider pricing or whether you’re going to charge for your videos—or if you plan on creating a part of your business that is only accessible to those who pay. Additional content is usually the main draw for those willing to pay a subscription.
No matter how you start your yoga business online, make sure you have a budget and a plan for revenue. You can’t create a business without that revenue stream, so planning for what to expect is the easiest way for you to truly anticipate your expenses and your income.
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- Plan your marketing. For both types of businesses, marketing is key, but with your online business, you can make or break your entire yoga video channel through good (or bad) marketing. Because you’re only online, it can be incredibly hard to snag more and more viewers to increase your popularity, so make sure you’re following some of these steps:
- Create a cohesive branding package. Especially online, you need to make sure you have a branding package that is cohesive and works well with what you’re doing. Logos, colors, fonts, etc. all should match or complement each other across platforms to create a professional look.
- Create new and exciting classes. People flock to channels with content they’ve never seen before.
- Use your social media to your advantage. Make sure you’re posting, and you’re posting consistently.
- Use email marketing. If people are subscribing to your channel, make sure you give them decent content. You can also remind them when you’re posting new videos.
- Create special events. Just because you don’t have a studio doesn’t mean you can’t hold special classes. Bring in a famous yoga teacher, work with a specific non-profit, or mix things up a bit with a different style. You arguably have more opportunities for special events by doing things online—anyone can come in via Zoom or another video call.
- Sell merchandise. If your students are a dedicated fan base, you can make additional money off of selling your own merchandise.
- Create your pages. The final step is making that leap to actually creating your page. Much like taking on a physical studio, this is how you make your mark and take all your planning to the next level. Create your website, create your social media pages, and start posting your videos on a YouTube channel or similar website. This should be considered your business opening—make sure you make a splash!
Whether you’re starting a physical yoga studio or posting your videos on YouTube, it doesn’t matter—you have to properly plan for anything that comes your way, and you can do so by creating that business plan. Starting your online business shouldn’t be any different than starting a physical business, and the sooner you realize that, the smoother the process will go. Your business is just as valid as any other storefront, and in our day and age, it could even be where certain businesses are going—online. Plan ahead, make sure you know where you’re getting your steady income, and devote as much time as you can to your business to really get your name on the top of those social media lists.
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Frequently Asked Questions
While licenses and permits are something you need for a physical studio, you don’t need this when putting together your online studio. Make sure wherever you’re recording, you’re set up with proper insurance, but that could easily just be your own home. You still may need your own accreditation through the Yoga Alliance, but this is not required for you to teach online—it’s not even technically required for yoga studios to hire register yoga teachers, but many will. You also don’t have a physical space when it comes to an online business, which means you can’t teach in person, which, depending on your business model, could be a benefit or a disadvantage.
Just like in a yoga studio, you should have a non-slip yoga mat, yoga blocks, yoga blankets, yoga bolsters, and possibly even a yoga wheel. That being said, you should also consider how your students may not have access to all the same equipment you do, so consider that when you’re creating your videos for your online yoga business.
The most successful online yoga teachers are Sarah Beth, Ashley Galvin, Faith Hunter, Adriene Mishler, Kassandra Reinhardt, Briohny Smyth, Erin Sampson, Jessamyn Stanley, Tara Stiles, and Koya Webb. When you start your own online yoga studio, consider looking at some of their most popular videos to determine what they’re doing to bring in viewers.
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.