Business Overview:

If you’re looking for an exciting business that lets you meet interesting people and provide a fun service, consider opening a tanning salon. Tanning salons typically have tanning beds that provide customers a summer tan all year long. If you’re unsure of how to start a tanning salon business, it’s a good idea to visit a few salons around town and see how they operate. You may need to travel out of town to get good information from salon owners as they will not be in direct competition with your new business. Make note of what types of equipment they have, how much they charge, what other services they offer, etc. Next it’s important that you draft a business plan to help answer all the questions you have about how to open a tanning salon. This document will help you determine whether or not you want to invest in a franchise or start out on your own. A franchise will likely come with equipment, branding and marketing but it will be more expensive and it will not provide as much freedom in operation as you’ll find if you start a business from the ground up. Research the different tanning options as tanning beds are not the only choice. These days many people are concerned with possible skin damage caused by the bulbs in these beds. Spray-on tans are gaining in popularity because they are quick, easy and much safer than tanning beds. But it’s important you offer as many options as you can afford so you can attract a variety of clientele. When looking for a location, be sure it’s large enough to have a few private rooms, a back office and a reception area up front. You can start with just one bed and as business picks up, you can add more. If you’re not ready to rent storefront space just yet, see if you can put a tanning bed or two in local fitness centers or weight loss centers. In addition to tanning beds and spray-tan equipment, you’ll also need to have towels, goggles, chairs and cleaning spray available in each room. Other accessories like sunscreen, sunglasses and t-shirts can be for sale up front. You’ll find with this business idea that the start-up investment can be high but after you purchase your equipment, your overhead will be relatively low and your profits will be high. You will need to perform regular maintenance on your machines including replacing bulbs, but those costs can be built into your tanning prices. When determining pricing, you should offer one-time prices as well as membership prices. For example, a customer can tan one time for $10 USD or they can tan 4 times a month for $20 USD. You can also offer unlimited tanning options. Pricing should be different for tanning beds and spray-on machines – higher for the spray-on tan because you’ll need to replace the spray periodically. Running a tanning salon business is a fun and easy way to own your own business and provide a service that many people will pay top dollar for.

A Day in the Life of a Tanning Salon Business Owner:

You will arrive before your salon opens and make sure each room is clean and tidy and, if you have a spray machine, it is stocked and ready to go. You will spend your day greeting customers and keeping your salon neat. If you have a staff to handle the administrative duties, you can focus on marketing your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for a clean and friendly place to get a tan.

What You Need to Start:

• Tanning salon business plan
• Storefront
• Insurance
• Tanning bed(s)
• Spray-on tanning machine(s)
• Towels
• Goggles
• Other items for sale (sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.)
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• A tanning salon is a fun atmosphere.
• After your initial investment, the overhead is low.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can start out working with fitness centers.
• You don’t need any experience to start this business.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• Competition is high; you will need to set your business apart to attract customers.

Resources:

• Association of Responsible Tanning Salons
• Indoor Tanning Association
• Tanning Salon and Indoor Tanning Bed News Organization
• Wikipedia on Tanning Beds

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Business Overview:

If you are tech savvy and looking for a way to put your skills to use by offering a much needed service, find out how to start a cell phone repair business. These days everyone has a cell phone from middle-schoolers to senior citizens. And with the advent of the smart phone, these devices do not just make and receive phone calls. They are literally tiny computers capable of doing everything a full-sized computer can do. This makes them very popular; it also makes them very expensive. And the more expensive an item is to buy, the more expensive it typically is to fix when something breaks. Having to deal with cell phone companies can be a nightmare. They are usually unable or unwilling to repair your phone, or if they can repair it, it will cost you and it will take weeks to get it back. This is why a cell phone repair business is one of the best business ideas out there today. More and more of these independent shops (not affiliated with a cell phone provider) are popping up but there is plenty of room in this market for a technically inclined entrepreneur to start a repair business. But before you get going, you need to decide the scale of your business. There are franchises available that will help you get started but the start-up investment will be upwards of $25,000 USD so it’s important that you have financing lined up if you decide to go this route. Franchises are a good option because of all the support they come with. Some offer in-store technical support personnel for a certain period of time when you open your store and then they offer live tech support on an ongoing basis. They can also offer repair certification and management recommendations, help you establish relationships with parts distributors, and offer marketing assistance. However, it’s possible to set up your store out of your own home office if you’re looking to start your business with just a few thousand dollars (USD). If you decide on this option, it’s important that your home is zoned for business and your home “storefront” is easy to get to through an outside door. You don’t want customers traipsing through your kitchen to get to your office in the back of the house. A third option is to add on repair services to your existing cell phone or computer repair business. You can add value to your home business by offering repairs “while you wait” or even delivery services. Your customers will not want to be without their phones for very long so keep in mind, the faster your repairs, the higher you can charge. Once your shop is set up, advertise your new business with flyers in coffee shops, on college campuses, in parks and anywhere that gets a lot of foot traffic.

A Day in the Life of a Cell Phone Repair Business Owner:

If you operate your business from your home office, you will need to have your shop neat and tidy and open your store at the appointed time. You will spend your day greeting customers and making repairs. If you operate a storefront business, you will likely have a small staff that handles some of the workload, be it administrative or repair work. As the business owner, you will spend your day ensuring excellent customer service and looking for ways to further market your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals in need of fast, high-quality cell phone repairs.

What You Need to Start:

• Training in cell phone repair or a franchise business
• Storefront or home office
• Repair tools
• Cell phone parts
• Staff (optional)
• Website
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Running this business from a home office requires a relatively low start-up investment.
• Franchises are available to help you get started if you’re looking for a full-scale storefront business.
• You can hire experienced cell phone repair technicians to work for you.
• If you offer fast, high-quality repairs, you can charge top dollar as long as it’s less than the phone company would charge for the same repair.
• You are likely to see referral business from satisfied customers.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment if purchasing a franchise is high.
• It can take some time to get your first few customers.

Resources:

• The Wireless Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Maintenance and Repair Workers
• Wikipedia on Smartphones

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Business Overview:

Learn how to start a cruise travel planning business if you’re looking for a way to provide a valuable service to travelers wanting a fun and relaxing vacation. Perhaps the best aspect of running a cruise travel business is that you can operate it from home. You can do all your work by email, phone and by performing internet research. This type of online business idea requires a certain amount of dedicated time each day.  A cruise travel planning business is a great part-time business that you can devote as much or as little time to as you want. And if you need some help getting your business going, there are franchises available. Franchises usually take more start-up capital but they come with a proven business model as well as marketing assistance and ongoing support. If you’re not looking to buy a franchise but you already own an online travel agency or tour guide business, adding cruises to the vacation packages you offer will bring in customers looking for an all-inclusive option. Cruises are more popular now than ever since they give travelers so many alternatives from 3-day cruises to 2-week cruises to cruises around the world. Travelers can leave from a port near their hometown, which cuts down on airfare costs making cruising a more affordable option for many people. You’ll find that business ideas like this one that offer many different pricing options will widen your customer base and earn you more profit.

A Day in the Life of a Cruise Travel Planning Business Owner:

Your day will begin by checking email and voicemail messages inquiring about your services. You will spend your day talking with customers and potential customers and arranging cruise travel for them. You will also spend some time exploring new ways to market your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for excellent cruise planning services.

What You Need to Start:

• Marketing plan
• Franchise or experience in the travel industry
• Website
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Cruises are a very popular travel option.
• You can easily run this business part-time and from home.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• Franchises in this industry are relatively inexpensive.
• You can scale up your business as needed by hiring other travel planners to work from their homes.

The Bad:

• Competition is high; you’ll need to set yourself apart to earn a good profit.
• You must have some experience in the travel business (or be able to invest in a franchise).

Resources:

• Cruise Lines International Association
• U.S. Travel Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Travel Agents
• Wikipedia on Cruise Ships

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Business Overview:

Attention stylists: if you’re looking for a lucrative niche where you can apply your skills and be your own boss, learn how to open a men’s salon shop. There’s a huge market out there who wants and needs salon services but may be embarrassed to go to a women’s salon. Plenty of men get manicures and pedicures; some even get facial treatments and hair removal but they are self-conscious when they walk into a salon filled with women in rollers under dryers. These men have a great deal of expendable income and would gladly pay for specialized services that focus on men only. There are a number of details you’ll need to consider before opening your doors, so it’s a good idea to draft a business plan to help you focus. Explore the franchise options available. Franchises come with a proven business model and will help you with everything you need to get started including marketing. A slick website will help a great deal by giving your clients the opportunity to fully research your salon and your services (including pricing) before they call for a reservation. You will need to decide what types of services you will offer. Consider starting out with just haircuts, manicures and pedicures then, as business picks up, you can add services like facials and massages. Recruit licensed salon professionals to work for you. This will free you up to market your business and ensure your clients are satisfied. The theme of your salon can be a soothing spa-like atmosphere with soft music, candles and flowers or you can go the other direction and offer a salon with televisions featuring sporting events and “man” movies and louder music. Regardless of your atmosphere and what types of services you offer, just having a salon that caters to men will be a huge draw in your area. Often business ideas that only cater to one niche limit your profits but in this case, a men’s salon will see great profits as your clients spread the word about your wonderful business.

A Day in the Life of a Men’s Salon Business Owner:

If you are one of the stylists, you will spend your day greeting customers and performing haircuts, manicures or other salon services. If you have hired a full staff of stylists and massage therapists, you will spend your day making sure your business is running smoothly and your clients are happy. You will also spend some time marketing your business with online ads and in local magazines.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be men looking for some pampering by getting a pedicure, massage, haircut, etc. in an environment that is only for men.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan
• Storefront
• Salon equipment
• Salon products (to use and to sell)
• Staff
• Website
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Men will pay top dollar for an “exclusive” salon that caters just to them.
• It’s rewarding to see your clients enjoy themselves.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You are likely to see plenty of repeat and referral business.
• You can scale up your business by offering additional services as your business picks up.

The Bad:

• Start-up costs are high.
• It can take some time to get your first few clients.

Resources:

• Salon and Spa Association
• Professional Beauty Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Barbers, Cosmetologists and Other Personal Appearance Workers
• Wikipedia on Beauty Salons

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Business Overview:

Opening a sports bar is a great way to exercise your business skills while creating a fun environment where people can relax and enjoy themselves. There are, however, many details you need to nail down before getting too far along in this process. Writing a solid business plan is a good place to start. You may want to hire professionals to help you with this document since it is key to the success of your business. It’s also a good idea to visit with other owners to get a better feel for how to open a sports bar. You may have to travel outside your immediate area so that your new business won’t be in direct competition with the business owners you’re talking to. They will likely tell you that starting a sports bar will take a major financial investment so it’s important that your business plan is of high quality. This will help you secure the financing you need. Next you need to find a good location for your business. One with high traffic is best. Look for an area by a sporting complex, movie theater or other establishment where late-night clientele are prevalent. Once you have selected your location, you need to apply for a liquor license. Find out from your city government who handles these licenses and be prepared to offer information such as what types of liquor you wish to serve, what kind of bar you own and what times your bar will be open. After obtaining your license, you’ll need to purchase items like kegs, taps, bar stools, tables and chairs, televisions, etc. If you don’t want to be burdened with the decisions that come with opening a sports bar, you could purchase a franchise. This type of business will come with everything you need to get up and running including marketing assistance. You will need to hire your own staff but there is likely a training manual available to get them up to speed. You’ll find that owning a sports bar is one of the most fun business ideas you can find. It is a lot of hard work, but in the end it will pay off because you get to spend your days and nights in an exciting environment that makes people happy.

A Day in the Life of a Sports Bar Owner:

Your day will begin several hours before you are set to open as you will need to ensure your bar is clean, deliveries are received and new stock is put away. You could hire a bar manager to take care of these administrative duties in which case, you will spend as much or as little time at your bar as you wish. When at the bar, you will make sure customers are having a good time and are getting excellent service. At the close of each day you’ll need to attend to the finances, make your bank deposit, and ensure your staff cleans everything up so you’re ready to open the next day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals and groups looking for a fun place to hang out with friends and watch the big game.

What You Need to Start:

• Sports bar business plan
• Liquor license
• Insurance
• Staff
• Restaurant/bar furniture (tables, chairs, bar stools, etc.)
• Bar-ware (glasses, shakers, etc.)
• Liquor and beer
• Relationship with liquor and beer distributors
• Other menu items (optional – bar snacks or a full menu)
• Televisions
• Contract with satellite or cable provider
• Cash register(s)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• A great sports bar will always make money.
• It’s a fun atmosphere; you will enjoy your working environment every day.
• You can hire a bar manager, bartenders and waitstaff to do most of the work for you.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You get to meet lots of interesting people.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• There are a lot of elements that go into a successful sports bar; it’s important to do your research and formulate a solid business plan.

Resources:

• International Association of Sports Bars and Pubs
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers
• Wikipedia on Bars

Technorati Tags: how to open a sports bar, opening a sports bar, sports bar business plan, starting a sports bar

Business Overview:

Attention bakers: if you’re looking to take your delicious baked goods to the masses and want to be your own boss, learn how to start a bakery. When you first start thinking about opening a bakery, you should draft a solid business plan to focus your efforts and answer questions like whether or not you’ll purchase a franchise. A bakery franchise will come with name recognition, furnishings, kitchen equipment and training but it may also come with a larger price tag than starting your own bakery from scratch. Find a good location that gets plenty of foot traffic and auto traffic. A bakery in an outdoor shopping center will get lots of passersby who will be lured in by the sights and smells of your treats. You need to decide what types of baked goods your store will serve. Cookies, cakes, bread and cupcakes are some of the items your store could specialize in. Offering numerous types of baked goods will attract a wider clientele. Starting a bakery is a business idea that will be more successful if you have a small staff to help you. If you are the primary baker, you will be at work in the kitchen well before the store opens. This means you will likely go home before the store closes if you have a small staff to handle customers after you leave. Doing all the baking and helping the customers all day is possible for one person but it would be hard to do day after day. If you’re still unsure of how to open a bakery, consider visiting bakeries in other nearby cities (not in direct competition with yours) and visit with the storeowners to get insider tips and advice. As your business grows, you can add more items, hire a larger staff and even hire pastry chefs to do all the baking for you.

A Day in the Life of a Bakery Business Owner:

If you are the baker for your business, you will get to your shop’s kitchen very early in order to have bread and other baked goods ready for sale when your store opens. You will spend your day helping customers and restocking items in your cases. If you have a baker working for you and a staff to handle the front-of-house duties, you can concentrate on customer service and marketing your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals who want delicious baked goods.

What You Need to Start:

• Bakery business plan
• Marketing plan
• Storefront
• Franchise (optional)
• Display cases
• Baking ingredients
• Baking supplies and equipment (mixers, bowls, cookie sheets, etc.)
• Furnishings (tables, chairs, etc.)
• Serve-ware (plates, napkins, utensils, cups)
• Other menu items (coffee, sodas, etc.)
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• A good bakery will always be popular.
• You get to spend your day doing what you love.
• It’s rewarding to please your customers.
• You can hire a staff to do most or all of the work for you.
• You are likely to see plenty of repeat business.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• The hours are long.

Resources:

• American Bakers Association
• Retail Bakers of America
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Food Manufacturing
• Wikipedia on Bakeries

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Business Overview:

If you’re looking to start a business selling products that will always be in high demand, you should learn how to start a vacuum cleaner business. Anyone with carpeting must have a vacuum cleaner so starting a business that sells and services vacuums is one of the best business ideas available, especially if you’re able to purchase a franchise. A franchise will come with name recognition, marketing assistance and most importantly, an inventory of vacuum cleaners to sell or a deep discount so you can resell the vacuums at a high profit margin. There are a couple different options for selling vacuums, however, so you’ll need to closely examine your situation and determine what will work best with your business model. You can choose to open a storefront business and stock multiple models of vacuums as well as accessories. Offer extended warranties and repairs and you’ll add value to your business. Another option for your vacuum business is to sell door-to-door. In this case, you’d only need one vacuum (per salesperson) and you would order additional vacuums once they’ve been ordered by your customers. This is a more labor-intensive option but you can easily operate this type of business part-time. You can also hire salespersons to do the footwork for you so you can concentrate on marketing your business. Make your vacuums available through advertising as well. Create a website so potential customers can see all the models you carry as well as other important information such as pricing and warranty information. Contact professional cleaning and organizing businesses to see if you can supply their future vacuum needs. You’ll find that supplying high quality vacuum cleaners to satisfied customers is an extremely rewarding business.

A Day in the Life of a Vacuum Cleaner Business Owner:

If you operate a storefront, your day will begin by arriving at your store early and making sure your inventory is properly displayed. You will spend your day helping customers find a vacuum to meet their needs. You will also handle repairs (you could outsource repairs or send the items back to the manufacturer for repair). If you operate a door-to-door business, you or your staff of salespersons will canvas a particular area, showing homeowners the value and benefits your products offer. You will also spend some time marketing your business locally and online.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals or businesses who need high quality vacuum cleaners.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan
• Franchise (optional)
• Inventory of vacuums or relationship with distributor
• Knowledge of vacuum products
• Website (optional)
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• The demand for vacuum cleaners will always be high.
• You can operate this business from a storefront or door-to-door.
• This business can be part-time (if you don’t have a storefront).
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can charge top dollar for excellent vacuum cleaners.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment can be high.
• It might take some time to make your first few sales.

Resources:

• Vacuum and Sewing Dealers Trade Association
• Association of Vacuum Equipment Manufacturers
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors and Related Workers
• Wikipedia on Vacuum Cleaners

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Business Overview:

If you’re looking to start a business that will provide a valuable service to a variety of customers, you should learn how to start a trash removal business. Similar to a hauling business, trash removal deals with rubbish only. You will likely not be recycling anything; you will be removing trash and transporting it to your local landfill or other trash receiving location. If you’re not sure how to start a waste management business, consider purchasing a franchise to help you get started. A franchise will be the more costly option but it will come with a vehicle, branding and marketing assistance. Business ideas of this scale can flounder without a solid business plan to focus the efforts of the business owner. Outline in your business plan how many trucks you will start out with and predict when your profits will allow you to expand your fleet. Determine what types of customers you will serve. Although it’s not necessary to just focus on one niche, it may help you as you get started. If you live in an area where the city manages the regular trash removal, you might just schedule pick-ups with your customers by appointment or schedule a bulk trash pick-up once a month or so. If the city does not handle regular trash pick-up, you can work out a regular weekly pick-up schedule with your clients. Other than homeowners, you can handle trash removal services for realtors, contractors and commercial and residential property managers. It’s a good idea to form partnerships with groups like this. Offer them a discount on your services in exchange for them calling your business whenever they need trash removed. Other businesses that tend to generate a lot of waste materials are roofers, carpet installers and tree trimmers. Offering wood chipping services will add value to your business as will services like recycling. Adding a “green” element to your business might qualify it for government tax incentives so it’s worth looking into. Market your business in the phone book and consider a door-to-door flyer campaign to get the word out about your new business. With hard work and a qualified crew, your trash removal business will be a success in no time.

A Day in the Life of a Trash Removal Business Owner:

Your day will begin by checking your schedule for any scheduled trash removal appointments. You will dispatch your driver(s) to perform the pick-up(s) and you will take calls throughout the day and set more appointments. You will also spend some time marketing your business in your area.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals who need bulk trash items removed. They can be homeowners, contractors, property managers, realtors, etc.

What You Need to Start:

• Waste management business plan
• Marketing plan
• Trash truck(s)
• Staff (optional at first if you are making all the pick-ups)
• Franchise (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Trash removal will always be in high demand.
• People will gladly pay your business to haul away their rubbish.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• If you do not purchase a franchise, the start-up costs are essentially the cost of a trash truck.
• This business is easily scalable to add trucks and personnel as the demand grows.

The Bad:

• This business is not glamorous; you and your staff will be dealing with garbage all day long.
• It can take some time to build your client base.

Resources:

• Solid Waste Association of North America
• International Solid Waste Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
• Wikipedia on Waste Management

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Business Overview:

Consider learning how to run a storage shed business if you have an eye for design, love the outdoors and are looking to start a smart part-time business. Storage sheds, also called garden sheds, are typically single-level one-room structures used to store lawn and garden equipment. A back yard shed can also be used as a workshop or a place to work on a hobby like sewing or scrapbooking. There are so many options for storage sheds today that there is simply no excuse for any homeowner to have an unsightly shed in his or her backyard. Sheds can be custom-built or sold in kit form to be assembled and installed by the homeowner. However, assembly and installation is not always a simple task; many homeowners will gladly pay a professional to handle these tasks. Since you will be purchasing your sheds and shed kits directly from wholesalers and manufacturers, you will receive a large discount. You will then sell your sheds to your customers at a marked-up rate and also offer assembly and installation services for an additional charge. Business ideas like this one work best with a website showing all the models you sell so the customers have a good idea of what the finished product will look like. You could also offer a display area if you have the property to showcase the sheds. Offer sheds in different styles, sizes and price points to fit the needs of a wider range of customers. Some people may just need a small shed to keep their lawn mower and gardening equipment dry; others may need a larger, air-conditioned/heated space to use as an art studio. The more flexible you are with your inventory, the more clients you will attract. Market your business by distributing flyers at local home improvement stores, lawn and garden centers and lawn mower repair shops. You may also hand out flyers door-to-door in your area targeting neighborhoods with large back yards. Once business picks up, you’ll need to hire a staff to help keep up with demand and consider taking your business full-time.

A Day in the Life of a Storage Shed Business Owner:

You will start your day by reviewing your appointments. You or your staff will meet your customers at their houses with the pre-made shed or a shed kit they ordered and assemble it. You will spend a portion of your day reviewing new models, talking with distributors and placing orders. You will also look for new ways to market your business. If you have a display set up, you’ll want to have you or a staff member on site to help show the sheds to your customers.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will typically be homeowners who need a storage shed to house various items in their backyards.

What You Need to Start:

• Familiarity with storage shed kits, assembly and installation (or you can hire a staff to do all the work for you)
• Website
• Truck to transport sheds and equipment to job sites
• Staff (optional)
• Display area (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Sheds offer homeowners an inexpensive way to add storage space to their home so many people look to purchase them.
• Sheds come in all shapes and sizes and can be marketed as storage for a variety of items which makes your target market fairly large.
• You can charge top dollar for assembly and installation services.
• You can easily run this business part-time.
• You can start out running this business solo and add personnel as demand grows.

The Bad:

• This is likely a seasonal business if you live in a Northern climate as most people won’t buy storage sheds in the cold weather months.
• Storage shed assembly can be hard work.

Resources:

• National Gardening Association
• Professional Landcare Network
• Garage and Storage Shed Trends in the U.S. Report
• Wikipedia on Sheds

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Business Overview:

Starting a yoga studio is the perfect business opportunity for an experienced yogi looking to help others gain the physical and mental strength yoga teaches. Yoga is an age-old physical and mental discipline with origins in India that uses slow strength positions and meditative practices to boost power and mental acuity. When you start to research how to start a yoga studio, you’ll learn that to be successful, you need a yoga certification which can be obtained from a school or a respected teacher. Next you need to draft a business plan which will help you focus your efforts and have the greatest chance of profitability. Decide where your yoga studio will be and whether or not you need to purchase a franchise business. You can start out small, using space in local community centers and renting out studios at fitness centers until you build up your clientele enough to rent out your own studio. If you have the resources, a franchise will help you with all the decisions up front from what types of classes to offer, to how much to charge. A franchise will also come with impressive branding and extensive marketing assistance. If you are not experienced in yoga to the point of being able to properly teach others, but you see the profit potential of this business idea, you can recruit teachers to work for you. You could choose to have teachers with varied areas of expertise that would allow your studio to hold classes on yoga as well as other popular exercise practices such as pilates. Once you know what types of classes your studio will offer, you need to purchase appropriate equipment such as yoga mats, free weights and steps that will be needed in classes. Another important purchase you will need to research is insurance. You must be covered in case an accident or injury happens in your place of business. Market your business by placing flyers around town, talking to your friends and family and placing ads in the newspaper and phone book. You’ll also definitely want a website. To add profits to your bottom line, consider renting out your studio to other small business owners like self-defense instructors and martial arts teachers. As you can see, there are many ways to take advantage of this very popular fitness practice. Your skills and dedication can take a small studio to the next level and earn your business a substantial profit.

A Day in the Life of a Yoga Studio Owner:

If you are the yoga instructor, you will arrive at the studio well before your first class to make sure it is clean and your equipment is properly arranged. If you are not teaching classes, you will still arrive at the studio before the first class and greet customers as they get ready for class. You will take phone calls throughout the day and sign up new members for classes.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for excellent yoga instruction.

What You Need to Start:

• Yoga studio business plan
• Studio space
• Insurance
• Equipment
• Marketing plan and materials
• Franchise (optional)
• Instructors (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Yoga is a very popular, low-impact fitness option for a people in a variety of age groups and fitness levels.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can also choose to start small and rent out space in another facility.
• You can hire instructors to handle the classes for you.
• You get to do what you love all day.

The Bad:

• It can take some time to build your client base.
• This business is very competitive; you will need to set your studio apart to attract clients.

Resources:

• Yoga Alliance
• United States Pilates Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Fitness Workers
• Wikipedia on Yoga
• Wikipedia on Pilates

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