fitSpot Guru

What We Cover In This Episode: Defining bandwidth vs. motivation and why we need to stop treating every "stuck" feeling the same way [4:22] How it is completely normal to hit walls as a business owner, but what the goal should be when this happens [4:28] The power of honest self-assessments and moving beyond the "I'm just busy" excuse [6:39] The reasons that viewing business pivots and system changes as strategic investments rather than personal shortcomings is the key to longevity [8:29] Warning signs you are dealing with a bandwidth issue and how to be proactive in this situation [16:07] What really happens when the owner becomes the ultimate bottleneck in the business [19:05] Some of the ways you can fix your bandwidth problems right now [20:55] The red flags that will indicate you are facing declining motivation [25:17] How a lack of internal drive leads to sporadic marketing, inconsistent leadership, and ultimately, a broken team culture [28:19] The ways you can reconnect with your "why" by redefining your role in the company and building accountability systems [29:19] The dangerous overlap of time and energy and how mislabeling your problem is a recipe for disaster [35:32]   Quotes:  "'No' is a full sentence. 'No' is an answer. 'No' is an explanation. That also is a big part of bandwidth versus motivation." [Megan, 13:25] "You are kind of supposed to be the superhero of the story when you are the owner. How do you become the superhero? You have to make sure you are always strong, you always have to make sure your cup is full, you've got to always make sure you're being a positive person." [Nick, 20:22] "If you're feeling resentment towards your business, you have to look inward and be like, am I built to be a business owner? I hate to break it to people, but not everyone is and that's ok." [Nick, 27:30]   LINKS:  Episode 291: Do, Delegate, Delete: The Studio Owner's Guide to Choosing VA, Team, or Tech Episode 292: Delegate Like a Pro: How to Onboard, Train, and Track a Virtual Assistant Quora Email Us Your Rapid Fire Question!  Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LezVU) and Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree

What We Cover In This Episode: How to master the "consultant" approach to sales in order to grow your client base [1:10]  The "software trap" and why it's the biggest mistake studio owners make when wanting to generate new leads [7:33] The reasons that automation should be a tool for efficiency, not a replacement for personality [10:00] What the #1 growth lever for the new year should be if you only have 90 days to move the needle [14:12] We debunk the BIG myth most studio owners believe right now about the path to growth [15:23] Quotes: "Automation is to help retention. I do not think it is meant to be the driver of the conversation. At this point, I feel it is more informational than anything, it's not really [meant] to take a personality." [Nick, 10:07] "As consumers, we pretty much know what we want, especially if we have signed up to enter your ecosystem. We are aware of you, we will make that choice when it makes sense for us." [Nick, 13:26] "You should be able to look at your booking keeping once a month, or once a quarter at least, look at all of the subscription software that you have and know exactly what they do, which team members are using them and what problems they're solving. If not, get rid of it." [Nick, 16:21] LINKS:  Email Us Your Rapid Fire Question!  Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LezVU) and Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree      

What We Cover In This Episode: The first "step" you must optimize before a client even steps through the doors of your studio [4:48] What you can do to eliminate friction in the decision-making process by using proper, descriptive class names and difficulty levels [5:33] The deliberate actions and communication strategies that keep new clients engaged long enough to solidify fitness habits [10:11] How to begin creating certainty and a clear starting point for your clients [12:15] Why it's important to understand that your welcome email is not a suggestion, it's a directive [13:03] The key reasons that your pricing menu and class schedule should be "boring" [16:17] A reminder that clients need tangible evidence of their consistency and progress to feel like a true part of your community [18:33]   Quotes:  "Studios are not losing members because their classes are bad, they are losing members before they even get to that point because they are unintentionally making it harder for the client to know what the next step is." [Nick, 0:47] "There's so many dynamics that go into an intro offer that your title needs to do the heavy lifting so they do click in, read more, and understand exactly who that membership is for." [Nick, 9:57] "We want to create certainty throughout this process, so if your intro offer has multiple paths, the clients will choose none." [Nick, 12:28]    LINKS:  Got a Question? Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team!  Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LezVU) and Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree    

Hey fitFam! Today, we're bringing you a short and straightforward update about the next few weeks for the podcast. We know this time of year gets chaotic. Studios are packed, schedules shift, families take priority, and honestly, everyone's just trying to get through the holidays in one piece. So we're making a small adjustment on our end to support that. fitSpot Guru will be taking a brief holiday break on December 11th, 18th, and 25th, and there will be no new episodes those weeks. We'll pick things right back up on January 1st, and we're coming back with a new format that we're pretty excited about., so press play now to hear what's changing and how you can be part of it!    LINKS:  Got a Question? Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team!  Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LezVU) and Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree    

What We Cover In This Episode: Where you can find sources for high-quality, trustworthy, and low-cost business education [6:20] How to use self-coaching methods for better self-assessment and self-correction [6:55] What you can do to cultivate an essential mindset of curiosity, experimentation, and resourcefulness for growth [7:36] Tips for strategically building your self-education stack through focused content curation, not just consumption [8:43] Ways to leverage industry organizations and local chambers that provide accessible training and teaching [11:00] The power finding or establishing a peer accountability group for consistent, mutual entrepreneurial support [13:52] How to master the skill of asking more specific questions to unlock better, relevant free resources [15:26] The way to implement a dedicated weekly learning routine to ensure consistent self-improvement [16:37] Insights on creating your own studio owner toolkit with templates to eliminate the need for costly external resources [18:51]
 Why it's a good idea to curate a short, focused list of go-to free education sources like podcasts and books for maximum impact [20:22] What it looks like to set up and utilize an AI support system to generate content, outlines, and role-play difficult scenarios [22:22]   Quotes:  "If you show up every day with curiosity and truly caring about getting better, over time, three months will go by, 6 months will go by, all of a sudden, a couple years go by and you just kind of laugh at where you were, just because you showed up every day" [Nick, 2:21] "Really audio your calendar and look at your week…how many hours are you teaching? How many hours are you doing admin work? How many hours are you developing instructors? How many hours are you putting towards marketing? Just kind of break down that week of where your hours are going. How do you make sure you dedicate one to three hours to just trying to get better?" [Nick, 17:02] "If you're willing to dig in, experiment and keep learning, you can build the same systems and strategies that a consultant would walk you through, at a fraction of the cost." [Nick, 27:30]  LINKS:  Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz  Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear The E-Myth Revisited: A Guide to Starting a Business in a Productive and Successful Way by Michael E. Gerber Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller  The Gym Owners Podcast (Apple Podcasts & Spotify)   Marketing Made Simple Podcast (Apple Podcasts & Spotify) Got a Question? Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team!  Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LezVU) and Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree    

What We Cover In This Episode: How research confirms that offering experiences for free often creates lower perceived long-term value for your clients [4:20] Why perceived value drives conversion far more effectively than merely lowering the actual price of your service or product [6:15] The "Discount Dilemma" and the need to be cautious when using deep discounts [8:28] The key reasons that effective introductory offers should be treated as a strategic client on-boarding system designed to build habits [10:00]  A reminder that scarcity and urgency still matter and can significantly boost conversion rates [12:04] How to boost client lifetime value by adding automations and strategic outreach points [18:08] Why successful businesses learn to re-price their services based on the value delivered, not affordability [19:31] Strategies for implementing a system to celebrate loyalty moments and milestones and the benefits of doing this [19:53] How the way to overcome the fear of increasing prices is by using compelling data to reframe the value proposition [21:12] Quotes: "They are finding that studios who run continuous trials often see retention drop by 25 to 35% after the first month because clients never built a habit to begin with." [Nick, 4:47] "There is something about unlimited. It doesn't create any urgency, it doesn't force you to put anything on the calendar." [Nick, 5:48] "You are basically saying that your intro offer is a taste of the lifestyle. It is a taste of what you're going to get at the studio. Make your intro offer around what you expect their membership to be. [Nick, 10:52]   LINKS:  Features, Benefits, and Impact (Psychology Today) HBS Online's summary of Value-Based Strategy: A Beginner's Guide to Value-Based Strategy  Discover the top performing intro offer types for your business (Mindbody)  Got a Question? Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team!  Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LezVU) and Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree        

What We Cover In This Episode:  Why knowing the financial baseline, and "break-even point"  when evaluating class profitability and fixed costs is crucial for studio owners [5:08] How to approach evaluating attendance trends and what to track [6:09] The way that balancing instructor versus owner-led classes will indicate financial risk [7:24] A reminder to always consider the ripple effect of cancellations and the full impact doing this can have [7:59] How to communicate class changes proactively by presenting them as a strategy to better serve members [9:09] What you can do to leverage fitDEGREE tools to track class popularity [16:54] Strategies for boosting low attendance numbers before cutting the class [17:13] The advantages in considering a pop-up or special series instead of a weekly slot [17:27] How to maintain instructor and member trust by communicating changes well in advance [17:41] Quotes:  "What makes average business owners to good business owners, to maybe even great business owners, is making decisions with data and your gut and not waiting too long to make the decision." [Nick, 3:32] "Cancelling a low attendance class can free resources for a higher demand timeslot, but frequent cancellations can train clients not to trust your schedule…I understand this idea of freeing up resources, but at the end of the day, it might not." [Nick 8:02] "Your schedule should serve both the business and the community, and the smartest studios are making data-driven decisions, not knee-jerk reactions." [Nick, 20:53]   LINKS:   Got a Question? Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team!  Learn More About All of Our Partners & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree      

What We Cover In This Episode:  Why it's so important that business leaders and owners learn to recognize the subtle signs of decision fatigue now, before it's too late [5:04] How to audit your decision load by identifying and offloading low-impact, repetitive choices [6:27] The magic that happens once you implement default settings for your life and business [7:45]  Tips and strategies for designing a system that protects creative energy [10:05] The way to begin mastering the critical business strategy of finding your 'good enough' point [11:22] What the "Two-Minute Decision Rule" is and what it looks like in practice  [14:15] How to win your morning by creating a decision-free morning schedule [14:52] Why using a parking lot task list will help you maintain focus and overcome decision fatigue [15:47] An efficiency hack that will significantly reduce time and mental friction if you use it [18:28] Why in order to truly scale and delegate, you'll need to systemize the repeatables in your business [20:36]    Quotes:  "Saying 'no' is often a smarter business move than saying 'yes.' You as an owner should be the King or Queen of saying no." [Nick, 2:33] "You are going to exhaust yourself if you are chasing perfection in every single bucket of the business. Make peace with 'good enough' and then keep it moving." [Nick, 12:39] "Decision fatigue is not a sign that you are failing, it is proof that you are doing too much mentally. The goal isn't to stop making decisions, it is to build systems to protect your brain power for what actually matters." [Nick, 22:16]   LINKS:   Got a Question? Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team!  Due App Learn More About All of Our Partners & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree    

What We Cover In This Episode: Why Spot Booking is now free for all studios and how it can be used for safety, accessibility, and improving the client experience [3:27] The way to offer a premium experience to your top-tier clients by using Spot Booking early access for priority class registration [10:55] A new functionality that helps studio owners save on credit card processing fees [12:52] How to restrict classes based on experience level (using tag-based restrictions [24:11]  Quotes:  "Any report that is technically a client facing list, so your sales report, client report, memberships, anything with clients listed in a column can be filtered by tags." [Megan, 23:07] "We think announcements are one of the most under leveraged features in fitDEGREE. Remember, you can always do tag-based discounts on member-only announcements, intro offer, client announcements and things like that." [Nick, 23:46] "I really think it expands the business for every type of modality that you just don't want clients to outgrow the studio, and this is an easy way to keep them engaged." [26:12]   LINKS:   Got a Question? Book a Call with the fitDEGREE Team!  Payabli Learn More About All of Our Partners & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree  

What We Cover In This Episode:  Tips for maximizing the end of the year by strategically treating December like an "off-season" [5:15] How to create maximum impact with minimal effort during this time [5:45] Why it's essential view your business as a marathon, and reset expectations before the January rush hits [6:20] What you  can do to visually revitalize your space and the reasons this is such an important process [9:46] How to retain staff and optimize performance as you approach a brand-new year [10:19] Why you must test your funnels and ensure the client experience feels intentional [12:03] Key strategies to use for re-energizing your client base in 2026 [13:19]  Quotes: "Most businesses are seasonal. You can either have complete panic that the studio is slow and you're freaking out or you can embrace the slow down and say, 'How am I going to use this time to the best of my abilities?'" [Nick, 2:57] "Treat December like an off-season, where you can take a step back and look at the big picture. See what is working, what is not working, what feels wrong and what your space says about your brand energy." [Nick, 5:22] "Align your team before the chaos of January hits…it really is important to make sure the team is feeling refreshed instead of worrying about what didn't happen in 2025 at this point." [Nick, 6:22]   LINKS:   Learn More About All of Our Partners & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree    

What We Cover In This Episode: The key indicators that signal your business is ready for a manager, moving you from being the bottleneck to stepping back and focusing on growth [3:36] Some of the red flags that will indicate it is not the right time for you to hire a manager [10:36]  Actionable advice on finding the right leader who will multiply your impact, not just manage your current chaos [14:16] The way that listing specific daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities prevents confusion and ensures you hire a manager who manages, not a co-owner who creates [16:10] How to approach using a 90-day trial phase for the new hire [18:58] What you can do to empower your manager and track their effectiveness [19:58] Mastering the "Slim Team Model" and the essential tactics for success when your studio is owner-operated [20:34]  Quotes: "If you bring someone on, and they don't have a playbook, you are not bringing on a manager you are bringing on a co-owner." [Nick, 11:17] "Give your instructors a career. Give your manager a career. The more invested they can be in your business, the better work they are going to do. If they're managing four jobs and you're just one of them, it's going to feel like it's their fourth job." [Nick, 13:04] "Some people are phenomenal followers/assistants, and the second you put them into a management position or role they will crumble, because it is not who they are, it's not how they operate, it's not where they thrive." [Megan, 14:58]     LINKS:   What Sets Top-Performing Fitness Studios Apart? BFS Network Has the Data NetGym Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark & LenzVU) & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree    

What We Cover In This Episode: How to assess your financials by analyzing what percentage of your monthly revenue is dedicated to payroll [3:16] What clients really value and prefer in the studio in terms of staffing [4:07]  What happens when you define your ideal allocation for teaching, managing staff, and business growth [6:08] How to approach growth and what you need to be evaluation and questioning as an owner [14:36] The main reasons why owners prefer small core staff over a larger one and the things to watch out for with this sort of model [17:32]  Why owners choose larger staffs and the risks that accompany this type of set up in the studio [19:05]   Quotes:     "If you do not have a path for people to grow forward, then whenever teaching becomes a burden or a studio is willing to pay more, they are probably just going to dip out." [Nick, 6:38] "[With[ the smaller staff you're going to want those W-2s. If you have them as independent contractors but you only have four or five instructors, that sounds scary as hell to me." [Megan, 8:24] "You can have the same studio, the same mission, vision, values, same class formats, everything, if you are in a different part of town, it is just going to be different people, it's going to be a different culture." [Nick, 17:05]   LINKS:  Learn More About All of Our Partners (including LoopSpark, LenzVU & Perkville) & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree      

What We Cover In This Episode: Why you must ensure every studio has the core safety tools on site [3:17] The key reasons that your staff should be equipped with basic emergency training [3:32] What to consider when building a culture of awareness and prevention [4:09] How to identify the non-negotiables that every studio should keep in its space [7:42] The importance of providing baseline training for all staff [8:01] The way to create clear protocols so safety becomes second nature, not an afterthought [9:11] A reminder to make sure to have the must-have tools on-site, such as a first aid kit, AED, and fire extinguishers [9:28] Why staff training should include essential certifications like CPR [13:29] How safety should be a core part of your communication with clients too [16:33] What happens when you conduct regular maintenance and reviews of all safety protocols and equipment [18:22] Quotes:  "It is kind of a space to differentiate amongst other studios but also amongst clubs that have classes or franchises in particular…[it shows[ you're really clean and prepared for accidents to happen." [Nick, 17:04] "We can talk about how much people hate role playing for sales. I imagine how much they hate doing role playing for safety, but there is really no way to reenact it other than getting reps in, simulated reps in." [Nick, 21:08] "It's a boring and scary side of the business, but it is super important and it could be a differentiator for you in the area. If something happens at one place and they don't handle it so well, and something happens at your place and you do handle it well, it's going to build up a lot of trust and certainty." [Nick, 21:57]   LINKS:  Learn More About All of Our Partners (including LoopSpark, LenzVU & Perkville) & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree    

What We Cover In This Episode: What you can do to make gifting easy for your members [4:45] How launching campaigns by late October can help you avoid the "holiday noise" that starts around Thanksgiving [5:33] The key reasons why campaigns should be designed with tight retention dates [7:24] What to consider when doing a gift card push around the holidays [15:20] How creating a referral challenge can boost engagement and get you new clients [15:40] Things studio owners can do to leverage Black Friday and Small Business Saturday [16:00] Why pre-selling January memberships can be a powerful marketing strategy [16:50] Final thoughts on offering an "introductory series" for new clients and what this can lead for them and your business [22:09] Quotes: "I think with branded material or any kind of promotional material, don't go cheap, either don't do it or make sure it's high-quality." [Nick, 12:01] "Celebrate the studio, celebrate the small business, give back, encourage them to support small businesses instead of the large franchises in the area…take advantage of Black Friday, Cyber Monday; it's not just for e-commerce. It can also be for the local businesses." [Nick, 16:09] "The goal is to get people started not necessarily to keep people going because if you are providing value, the value is what keeps them coming back not because they scored a great black Friday deal." [Nick, 21:36]   LINKS:  Custom Sock Shop Learn More About All of Our Partners (including LoopSpark, LenzVU & Perkville) & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree      

What We Cover In This Episode: Why the chat feature was removed from the FitDegree app, and how it strayed from the original goal we had for it [3:12] The timeline and impact of the chat feature's removal, including details on what will and won't be affected by the change [11:26] How studios can find alternatives for client communication now that the in-app chat is being removed [13:20] The best platforms for internal communication, and why they are better than in-app chat for staff [14:41] How to communicate this change to your members to keep the transition professional and positive [16:25] The way to address complaints from clients who are unhappy about losing the chat feature [17:14]   Quotes:  "The client-facing app is good enough for where it needs to be, and we've got to get back to where we started, of solving studio owner problems and focusing on that." [Nick, 6:58] "I would rather spend those months building out something like a sub-management tool that is actually solving a problem instead of trying to force this novelty feature to work." [Nick, 10:55] "Announcements and text messages is where you should have been before the chat, and that is where we are suggesting you go back to after the chat [removal]." [Nick, 14:33] "This is a decision that we felt like we had to make to be a better software platform and for our studios to be better business owners." [21:38]   LINKS:  Learn More About All of Our Partners (including LoopSpark & LenzVU) & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree    

What We Cover In This Episode: How to decide between seasonal hires or a skeleton schedule during busy periods [3:44] What to consider when building a streamline training plan for your team [9:27] Why you should use reporting tools to check last year's attendance data for better planning [11:56] The way to utilize onboarding cheat sheets to get new staff up to speed quickly [12:43] Why considering "shadow shifts" is an effective strategy when onboarding seasonal staff  [13:09] The benefits of offering staff incentives for less desirable shifts [13:26] How announcing changes in your app can keep your team informed and engaged [14:50] Why you should consider using AI to help with your planning and our thoughts on how you can start doing this [18:05] Quotes: "We can decide that we want to hire seasonal staff, we can also decide we want to go down to a skeleton schedule, [but] just make that decision with intentionality [and] have a strategy behind it. If you want to go the other way next year, you can, but at least go in with a plan and see if the plan works instead of just trying to wing it and hope for the best." [Nick, 3:22]   "Just look at that historical data and decide what you need to do. Maybe you need to listen to the data and act accordingly. Maybe you need to see the data and throw a curve ball at it. [Nick, 12:22]  "I feel like it's time to recognize that you're a small business owner (16:30) and just be ready, you know? Like this is kind of the burden you have of being a small business owner, that you almost have got to put a lot of holiday plans on standby and be ready. [Nick, 16:46]    LINKS:  Episode 305: Surviving Instructor Time-Off Season Learn More About All of Our Partners & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree    

What We Cover In This Episode: Why standardizing the way instructors request time off is a key strategy for a smooth season [4:08] The reasons that building a reliable sub pool in advance of the season is an effective strategy to focus on [5:28] Why it's essential to over-communicate schedule changes [9:14] How to streamline communication and substitutions utilizing specific software [9:44] The benefits you'll see by proactively managing time off and requiring instructors to submit requests well in advance [12:13] What you can do to incentivize last-minute coverage [17:47] Why you should have a flexible format for classes for those times when you can't find a sub [20:50] Tips for preventing instructor burnout by balancing the workload among your substitute instructors [21:15]   Quotes:   "I just don't want to be bogged down on a weekly basis. So who are those members that are there consistently, that are a big part of the community, and that are qualified to teach? [Nick, 5:54]  "I always think that's a great idea, having a pool of subs at all times, but I feel like this is something that I'm pretty sure Net Gym software will automate for you. Even if you're not using Net Gym, it's a great idea to have some sort of blocking system." [Megan, 6:55] "You might have your core people that you do rely on to cover subs, and that could be your core people in a sub pool or it could be your core lead instructors that are treating this more like a career and not just a part time gig." [Nick, 21:26] LINKS:  Episode 304: No-Show & Late Cancel Policies That Actually Work NetGym  Vestaboard Messaging Smart Display Learn More About All of Our Partners & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree  

What We Cover In This Episode: Why your studio's demand should dictate your no-show and late-cancel policies [4:35] Tips on how to select a penalty that deters repeat offenders without alienating your best members [6:36] The key ways in which waivers can be a powerful tool for formalizing your policies [9:01] How to use automated notifications and your client communication channels to ensure members are always aware of your policies [15:30] Why it's crucial for your entire team to understand and enforce your policies in the exact same way [15:49] The reasons that making your policies as black and white as possible is the ultimately the best strategy to put in place [19:28]   Quotes:   "Choose a penalty that deters repeat offenders without alienating members. So it's not really going to be your best members that you're thinking about with this, you kind of have to think of your worst members when you're thinking about this." [Nick 6:36]  "If you update your cancellations polices, add a new waiver, [or] if you just have studio policies in general…all of these things can be in a waiver called 'your studio policies.'" [Megan, 9:04] "Call them studio policies, call them studio etiquette, this is how we protect our culture at the studio so we can create a welcoming environment." [Nick, 10:16] LINKS:  Learn More About All of Our Partners (Including LoopSpark and LenzVU) & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree  

What We Cover In This Episode: The key difference between an independent contractor and an employee to be aware of as a studio owner [6:36] Why having contractors in your studio might not be in your best interest and the hidden "pain points" that could arise [8:29]  How to choose the best practices for classifying staff as either 1099 independent contractors or employees, depending on your state's laws [10:54] Where bartering really fits in for a boutique fitness business [15:28] Best practice for bartering with a contractor in a legal way [21:34] How to pay someone legitimately as a contractor in a common law state [27:00] Quotes:  "Is bartering even possible? Is it possible to pull off effectively and legally, and get away with it or should we treat bartering like a bad word?" [Nick, 21:03] "If you ever aspire to be a business that is profitable it is just one of those things, you can't really count yourself as profitable if you're not hitting the things that you need to hit to be a proper business." [26:31] "Personal liability coverage is considered a benefit, so if you were going to do that you would have to tell that contractor they are not covered under your insurance. Either they  have to operate within your business without insurance or here is a resource to go get a small trainer policy." [28:16] LINKS:  Matt's Website & Email  Gym Ventures Website Learn More About All of Our Partners & Get Exclusive Offers Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree    

What We Cover In This Episode:   Why your business model should match your personal strengths and tolerance for uncertainty [1:27] The "Vision Test" and why a profitable studio might not be the right choice for you [2:18] How to approach building hype for your new studio before the doors even open [7:55] The specific risks involved when you inherit a studio's client base [8:49]  What to be aware of in terms of the hidden costs involved when purchasing a studio [11:27] Why expanding nearby to a second locations requires an certain evolution of your business [27:19] Final considerations in relation to your appetite for risk [28:55]  Quotes:  "A purchase of a studio means you are inheriting certain members which could be a head start, but it also could be a gamble if they are tied to the old owner or the brand." [Nick, 9:10] "Don't forget financial risk. New studios often have high upfront costs for build out, branding, or marketing. An existing studio may have lower start-up costs but could come with hidden issues like overdue bills, outdated equipment or staffing challenges." [Nick, 11:22] "I really feel like it is opportunity based, but I would say if you were buying a studio you are marrying into that brand and you are just kind of keeping it afloat for the next 5 to 10 years." [Nick, 18:02] LINKS:  Frost Training Club Learn More About All of Our Partners & Get Exclusive Offers Gym Lawyers  Visit the fitDEGREE Knowledge Base Send Megan Your Playlist or Discuss the Podcast Here!  fitDEGREE's Business Portal https://calendly.com/fitdegree-support  support@fitDEGREE.com https://www.instagram.com/fitdegree/ ​​https://www.instagram.com/fitspot_guru/  https://www.fitdegree.com/blog  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJ5rK6zWPXjbxtUQx3ys9Q https://www.tiktok.com/@megan_fitdegree