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