You love what you do, but can you make it pay off? The answer is Yes.....with help from this article. Whether you looking for an idea that will build booming profits, or earn you a little extra cash, I've got the business ideas, hot tips and testimonials form other successful fitness entrepreneurs to get you moving forward for 2007.
There is a financial ceiling on teaching fitness classes in clubs and leisure centres, you may be working for exactly the same rate that you started teaching on, even though you've furthered your education by taking courses and attended regular workshops and conventions but that makes none or very little difference to our rate of pay in this industry. It's one rate and one rate only and that very rarely goes up!
Establish how much money you want to make per hour
First things first, let's establish how much money you want to make per class per hour. Before you take on another classes or venture you must work out your costs and profit. How much does it cost you in petrol to get to and from a venue, include any parking charges and then work out how much time you spend getting to and from the class.
Consider how much you spend on cd's, insurance, and memberships so before you even walk in the studio door you are aware of the cost you've incurred. Next divide the class rate you currently receive into how many hours you have used travelling to and from the venue.
Example Pay per class £25 Takes 20 minutes to get to and from the club. 20minutes set up time and questions. Time away from home is 2hours 10 minutes dived by £25 gives you an hourly rate of £12.50 minus petrol/parking/insurance/music.
Next, Decide how much you want to earn per hour and write it down
By writing it down and seeing the figure in black makes it REAL and ATTAINABLE so lets work on getting your desired rate.
Teaching Ideas
Classes in hired venues - Move out of the health clubs and leisure centres and hire your own space, seek out every venue that can fit a minimum of 40 people exercising in. Think big; if you hire a small room you are limiting the amount of people who can attend immediately. Ideally then venue would be within a 10mile radius of your house to cut out unnecessary travelling time. Below is a list of venues you must find and check out. Look in yellow pages under Halls for Hire, Churches, and Sports Clubs or try http://www.yell.com and scour local papers for information on rooms for hire.
Church Halls - The best rooms to hire are church halls, they are always cheap, they don't close for school holidays and they are community based. Many have been modernised, have central heating, toilets, parking and many have a stage and a sprung floor.
"I pay £7.50 for one of my church a halls that is located in the centre of town with parking for 100 cars next to it and it has a big stage, my dearest church hall costs £11 for 2 hours" Caroline Yates, Wilmslow, Manchester
School Halls - Usually more expensive and many close for school holidays or charge you more for the caretaker to open and lock up. The benefits of being based in a school hall or gym are the many parents who will be interested in attending your classes. Ask your contact at the school if flyers can be handed out to children and staff. Every School Hall class I have ever taught has been packed with mums and teachers as well as local residents.
Check out if the school remains open during holidays and if it is check the extra caretaker fees. Lots of community schools also have a minimum hire of 2 hours so you 2 complimentary classes taught back to back. School halls generally cost between £18 - £30 per hour.
Function Rooms - Read the local papers and find out which Pubs have large function rooms. Ring round and find out costs. Many function rooms are empty in the week and any landlord would welcome the prospect of 40 - 50 extra people stopping at the end of your class for a drink.
Barter your services and ask for a low room rent if clients stop for a drink. Busy pubs are a great way of advertising your classes and getting the locals attending, stick posters on the back of toilet doors and get the bar staff talking about your new class to the regulars.
Vikki Scovell in Bristol runs "Yoga in the Pub" and "Pilates in The Pub" all held in a large function room. She get s the room free as most people will stay and have a drink afterwards so the landlord is more than happy
So you've found a suitable venue?
Decide which evening and which times slot you will go for. Monday, to Thursday being the best evenings, with Friday evening being unpredictable. Ask for availability at weekends, Saturday and Sunday morning can be extremely busy if it's the right kind of class.
Next, work out what type of class to teach. It has to be a class that people of all ages and abilities can do it won't work if its too hard, too fast or too complicated. Consider any type of Body Conditioning. Weight Management, Mind/Body, Yoga, Pilates, Dance classes such as salsa, Ceroc, street dance, Stretch, Abdominal Classes, or come up with something new.
1 Have professional posters made and designed include a photo and class details, include what to wear, what to bring. Laminate posters and put up every 2 weeks in
Hairdressers, Nurseries, Playgroups, Schools, Chiropractors, Nail bars,
Beauticians, Chiropodists, Sports Massage therapists, Physiotherapists, Doctors, Dentists, supermarkets, post offices, library, shops, offices,
2. Design A5 Flyers and put contact newsagents to get a fee for your flyer to be delivered with newspapers
3. Send press releases and a photo of bi monthly to all local papers
4. Write 5 short interesting fitness articles and send to all local papers and enquire about writing for FREE a weekly/monthly fitness article in exchange for free advertising for you.
5. Make or have professionally made sandwich board advertising your class and put it outside your venue when you are teaching, invite new people to come and have a look at the class before they join.
6. Advertise your class regularly in the leisure guide or what's on section of your local paper.
7. Organise a Bring a Friend For Free week.
8. Sell blocks of classes and give a class for free e.g. buy 10 classes and get the 11th free.
9. Run a loyalty scheme. Have cards printed or make your own and sign each time the client comes to class, offer a prize or free class when the clients attends 10x, 20, 50x, 100x
10. Always carry business cards, timetables, flyers and posters where ever you go. Always give out at the end of class and pass on complimentary cards to friends.
11. Ensure clients rely on your for them fitness information. Photocopy fitness articles and information or write your own and give out at the end of class.
12. Align yourselves with other Health related professionals in your area. Keep a stock of business cards for your favourite beautician, nail technician, phsio, Osteopath etc and give out their cards at the end of the session in return for them endorsing your classes.
13. Give posters out to your class members to put up at their place of work, play group, nursery etc
14. Give out comment cards and get regular feedback from classes.
15. Invest in professional sound and mic equipment.
16. Hire a school Hall to teach in and ensure all the children take a flyer home to parents, if you hire a Secondary school offer discount to the older children 15 - 16year old girls.
17 Encourage mothers to bring along their teenage daughters by allowing the teens to come for ½ price...
18. Take everyone who attends you class, name, address, telephone number and email address and when clients stop attending or drop of from your class send them an email, a postcard explaining that they are missed and invite them back into your class.
Find the USP of the class and of you - what makes your class special, what's different about your class. Write down all the Unique Selling People of your class.
Your class should be Entertaining, Educational, Escapist and Aesthetic, create a memorable experience.
Maximise your class participation by keeping the class fresh and exciting.
Brand loyalty - You need to build loyalty to YOU and YOUR CLASS
Never waste an opportunity to promote you and your class.
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