With any new business, avoiding mistakes is key to sustained growth and success. Of course, that is the case when it comes to running a successful fitness business. We’ve put together a list of key mistakes that you should avoid and they can be helpful to new or seasoned fitness business owners. Avoiding these mistakes could mean the difference between your business sinking or swimming.
Trying to Do Too Much
In a previous article, we briefly discussed the importance of finding the right niche for your fitness business. If you open a pilates studio, you shouldn’t be teaching people MMA or dance as well. It’s safe to assume your target market is looking for a pilates studio and you should provide them with the best pilates studio in the area. Stick to your niche and grow around your members. Don’t try to be a jack of all trades.
Not Doing Sufficient Research About Your Target Market
Speaking of your target market, you need to do your best to understand what exactly they’re looking for, even within the confines of your niche. Continuing the example of a pilates studio, are people in your area looking for a more advanced pilates session or are they beginners? Are your potential members willing to register for multiple sessions per week or are they only going to show up once in a while? These factors are very important for your fitness business strategy and doing this research in advance will save you time and effort down the road.
Not Listening to Your Members
Engaging with and listening to your members might be one of the most important roles of a fitness business owner. Are the sessions you’ve scheduled happening at the right time of day for your members? Are they too long or too short? Is your pricing reasonable for the demographic you’re attracting? What about more mundane things like the design of your studio – how are your members responding to it? Make sure to constantly engage and interact with your members to be able to provide them with what they really want out of your studio and you’ll see them coming back more often.
Not Adapting to Changes
What changes, you ask? How about a pandemic that alters the daily lives of you and your members alike? If you’re unable to pivot to providing online classes, having sanitary conditions throughout your studio or be able to provide peace of mind that your studio is safe, it could spell disaster for your business. This is just one example, but adapting to change is of utmost importance across many aspects of your business and you should be open to pivoting and change when necessary.
Ensure You Don’t Make More Mistakes
We’re just scratching the surface when it comes to understanding what you should avoid when starting your fitness business. The best way to ensure you make the right moves is by managing your business using a fitness business management platform. You can easily communicate with members, change your schedule in just a few clicks and stay connected even during unprecedented times. Learn more about the Arbox fitness management platform right here.
