When you started your career in Pilates, you were probably driven by passion and had no idea of the amount of time you would need to spend on the actual business side of things. You may have been lucky enough to launch and score some clients. But after a while, you’ll probably notice your growth is sluggish or stagnated, prompting the need for ways to grow and increase your bottom line.

Growing a business is a challenging journey, and making your Pilates studio business plan a success will definitely require time. In addition to having patience and perseverance, insight to identify and leverage a range of resources can direct your Pilates business to more growth and profit. The best small business advice to Pilates studio owners is always to continue learning. Some of the resources that can aid in your learning and help you build a prosperous Pilates business include:

1. Invest In Continuing Education and Training Workshops 

A Pilates certification should not be the end of your learning journey. You must be able to keep up with changing trends in business and the Pilates industry in order to meet clients’ needs fully. Investing in continuing education, training, and workshop programs will supplement your existing training with practical skills that are responsive to your business needs. These resources are helpful in helping you establish a unique offering and a long-lasting, committed clientele.

In addition to workshops, you can learn a lot working with smaller coaches and marketing businesses like Brillity Digital. You will be able to develop skills to help you diversify and distinguish your brand and boost visibility to improve your business all while improving your marketing plan. Continuous learning and partnership helps you identify the gaps in your business model and how you can fill them. 

2. Capitalize on Tools and Technology

To improve the efficiency of your Pilates business, you need to consider leveraging technology solutions. Doing so will improve your efficiency by taking off the bulk associated with the day-to-day management of your studio so that you can focus better on other core functions. There are a number of technology tools and solutions that can take care of streamlining your processes and automating tasks to set you up for success.

For example, booking software solutions can upgrade the booking and scheduling process to include more precision and flexibility. This eliminates double bookings and provides clients with the freedom to choose a date and time they are most comfortable with. Examples of software you can use include the Mindbody and Walla all-in-one Pilates studio management software. 

 

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As you grow your business and reach out to more customers, it helps to have a system to keep track of them and your staff, too.

3. Build a Community

Fear of competition misleads many to think that they need to keep away from their competitors’ community completely. However, competition is a good thing and can actually help your business grow. It would help if you connected with other Pilates studios and professionals and opened pathways to mutually beneficial relationships. Networking and interacting with other Pilates professionals helps you build a community of like-minded people that exposes you to new ideas and ways of thinking. Tapping into the expertise and experiences of others will help you grow as you are able to learn from their challenges, mistakes, and wins.

Profitable Pilates is an example of an online community that brings together Pilates instructors and studio owners for business coaching and inspiration. One of the testimonials on the community’s website in response to what they loved about the community reads;

”The feeling of connection with a wider professional community but not so wide that I feel lost in the masses! Rather, I feel that there are sufficient individuals from different backgrounds and situations to receive useful feedback and ideas, but not so many that I feel “lost.”

The community Profitable Pilates by Lesley Logan offers both paid and free resources that include courses, workshops, tools, and tips on different topics surrounding Pilates.

4. Up Your Marketing Game

To attract new clients and retain existing ones, you need a well-thought-out marketing and branding strategy. This will help you differentiate yourself from competitors and establish the unique selling point of your Pilates studio business. But marketing today requires a multi-disciplinary approach to be effective. As a Pilates instructor or studio owner, you may not have comprehensive marketing skills to promote your business effectively. It is wise to look into resources that can help you adopt the right strategy to put you ahead of the competition.

The most accessible marketing resource you have is social media; platforms like FaceBook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok can be great avenues to draw more clients to your small Pilates business. The best thing about most social platforms is that they are easy to use and also offer support for marketing initiatives. They also provide a wide audience. For instance, it is estimated that YouTube receives more than 30 million visitors daily. You can also invest in marketing courses like Google’s Fundamentals of Digital Marketing and tools to help you strategize and manage your marketing campaigns.

5. Sharpen Your Entrepreneurial Skills

It is not enough to know about Pilates; to be a successful instructor or studio owner, you also need to have the right business sense. It is therefore critical to invest in resources that will help you develop critical business skills important for identifying opportunities, making strategic decisions, and overcoming challenges. Some essential business skills you need to have to grow your Pilates business include innovation, risk management, leadership, problem-solving, financial management, and strategic thinking.

The conscious adoption of technology and gradual transition to hybrid activities brought a paradigm shift to how business is conducted. The fitness landscape, including Pilates studios, is being forced to reinvent itself. The Amazon Small Business Academy provides free resources, interactive webinars, and access to a community of entrepreneurs to help take your business to the next level. Whether you want to start, grow, or scale your Pilates business online, this educational resource will be helpful.

LinkedIn is another valuable free resource that helps connect entrepreneurs globally. As a professional-focused social media platform, it allows you to showcase your Pilates business and build relationships with business customers and future employees. It is also a good place to highlight your expertise as a Pilates instructor or studio owner. What’s more, LinkedIn also has a small business Resource center with free useful content geared towards business owners at all levels. You can engage in their virtual events, free online courses, and livestreams to learn more about how to position your Pilates business for growth and success. 

Ready to get started?

There are limitless ways for you to grow your business. Access to the right resources can provide insight into how you can diversify revenue streams in your Pilates business for ultimate success in the ever-evolving and dynamic fitness world. You should not be afraid to take risks or adopt and integrate new ideas as long as they are feasible. And as always, we’re here to help you grow your business by building your own teacher training program. Learn more by contacting us here.

Apart from the insights in this blog, are there any other resources you have used or think you can use to grow a Pilates business?