The Business of Boutique Fitness

Although some studio owners feel like “sales” is a dirty word, the reality is that it’s the lifeblood of your business. Establishing a natural rhythm can help integrate this critical responsibility.   In Episode 673: The Sales Rhythm that Grows Fitness Studios, Coach Caroline Plambeck outlines how you can develop an organized, cyclical sales process.    Paint the panorama: identify annual goals, then break into quarterly targets Get granular: reverse-engineer monthly, weekly and daily goals from annual numbers Appoint ownership: delegate sales responsibilities to all team members Aim broadly: address intro offers, reactivations, winbacks and current members Touch base: use shift reports, check-ins and data for real-time status   Winning at sales doesn’t mean you need a new offer every week – or the lowest prices. Sales isn’t just hustle – it’s about rhythm and routine. Create your cadence with Episode 673.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

A question I get all the time is, “What are the highest performing studios in the world actually doing?” Sustainable profitability and a growth trajectory are key, but how do they get there?   To find out, join me for Episode 672: What the Top Studios Are Doing Right Now. I’m sharing what I consistently observe in thousands of studios we work with around the world.   Relentless dedication: live your priorities and be committed to excellence  Thoughtful growth: adopt an M&A model, establish pace of openings  First impressions: maximize presale to open profitably or rebrand powerfully Marketing mastery: create comprehensive omnichannel growth strategies Team care: craft selection process, offer benefits, share growth opportunities   Plus, the top studio owners are laser-focused on building a wildly successful business in preparation for an ultimate sale. That drives everything they do. Check it out in Episode 672.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Your fierce commitment as a studio owner can lead to the disastrous trap of micromanaging. This lose-lose approach usually ends up with you burning out and your staff leaving.   Join Coaches Matt Hanton and Caroline Plambeck for practical suggestions on how to escape this common mistake in Episode 671: Stop Micromanaging: How to Empower Your Staff.   Let it go: accept that it’s OK if the job is done at 80% of how you’d do it  Delegate and educate: introduce autonomy gradually and share clear SOPs Paint the big picture: teach your team the “why” behind the work Empower and align: allow freedom within the framework to reach KPIs/outcomes Help, not hover: check in, invite questions and ask for feedback    Y’all, micromanaging is like helicopter parenting. No bueno. Break away so that your fear or need for control doesn't frustrate your team or stifle your business. Learn how in Episode 671.   Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Face it: 80% of boutique fitness studio owners are stuck in the operator role, wearing all the hats, all the time. Not a bad thing, but it will never get you to become a 7-figure CEO.    If you’re ready to grow, get the expert roadmap from Lise Kuecker and Coach Matt Hanton in Episode 670: How to Lead Successfully, Strategically and Like a 7-Figure CEO.   Back off: release some control and delegate so your business can grow Add on: hire a sales manager, set goals, and train and empower them  Dig in: monitor data daily and make decisions based on the numbers Build out: develop smart systems and processes that can run without you Level up: Shift your mindset to strategizing and planning vs. executing   Y’all, the journey to 7-figure boutique fitness studio CEO is absolutely possible if you’re willing to put in the work, embrace new challenges and take a leap of faith. Start with Episode 670.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

A thoughtful onboarding process is worth your investment of time and effort. Although you’re temporarily doing more work while also increasing your payroll, it’s ultimately a long-term gain.    Get the essential ingredients with Coaches Caroline Plambeck and Matt Hanton in Episode 669: The First 90 Days: How to Set Up Every New Hire for Success.   Stoke anticipation: generate good vibes with a personal note or small gift before day 1 Lay the foundation: review job description, KPIs, goals, mission, vision and values Cultivate connection: do meet & greets, assign a buddy and arrange teamwork Facilitate integration: train on SOPs and systems; encourage proactivity  Continue the conversation: check in often, ask for feedback and celebrate successes    Beyond simply teaching policies and procedures, smart onboarding incorporates communication, community and the culture of your studio. Episode 669 is your recipe.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Your people can make or break your studio. Building a standout team is critical to protect your business. And that doesn’t just happen automatically, y’all.    Make sure you’re firing on all cylinders in Episode 668: The Secrets to a High-Performing Team with Coaches Caroline Plambeck and Matt Hanton.    Prioritize prep: draft an org chart and job descriptions with specific KPIs  Recruit selectively: hire for culture and train for skill – you can’t force fit Train to retain: templatize a comprehensive onboarding process Touch base: create agendas for 1:1s and team meetings; invite feedback  Hand out shout-outs: celebrate wins, share successes and give rewards    It takes a thoughtful commitment and ongoing efforts to nurture a stellar team. If it feels overwhelming, start with one step, then add on. Get all the insider tips in Episode 668.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Y’all,   the noise about tariffs in recent months has stirred questions and anxiety among the fitness industry (and many industries, frankly) about the effects on their business.    Crediting Liz Clark’s and Mike Goscinski’s talk at the Health & Fitness Association’s Fly-In & Advocacy Summit, let’s dive into Episode 667: How Tariffs & Trade Can Impact Your Studio.     Universal uncertainty: legislative, studio and consumer unknowns  Lucky strike: service-based industries have an advantage Building up: construction costs jump due to steel and aluminum tariffs On the rise: price bumps on equipment and retail products made overseas  Good news: consumers prioritize fitness/wellness during economic challenges   Notify your local senators and congresspeople that higher costs on building and consumer goods will decrease jobs, tax revenue and economic growth. Learn the basics in Episode 667.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Y'all, Two industry powerhouses I'm absolutely fascinated by – Garrett Marshall and Debra Strougo! Garrett's been shaping our space for 22 years and just launched something that could change everything, while Debra brings her incredible insight from years of working with operators. Together they're solving the biggest challenge in fitness: how do we maintain our position of influence when 90% of our members are on their smartphones buying wellness products we don't offer? Tune in to our conversation with these two industry legends: Episode 666: The Big Picture with Garrett Marshall & Debra Strougo. ● The industry veteran: Started at Lifetime Fitness during their first IPO, learned how each department (personal training, spa, kids care, restaurants) runs on separate P&Ls - real respect for what's possible when you run fitness departments professionally ● WellBeats to Exponential: Co-founded WellBeats (originally Fitness Request) in 2007, then started competitor Fitness on Demand as CEO for 8 years under Lyft Brands, then 5 years as president at Exponential Fitness through another IPO ● The precision health platform: Launched 30 days ago after 18 months of development - designed to bridge fitness and healthcare without the operational nightmare most providers face ● The $5 billion opportunity: Companies like Everly Well, Thorne, HIMS are capturing the post-COVID wellness boom while fitness providers lose influence - consumers have a much broader definition of wellness now ● The practical solution: Curated partnerships (not a marketplace) with leading wellness providers - telehealth, peptides, GLP-1s, hormone replacement, at-home lab tests, precision supplements ● Three value propositions: Data integration to improve programming, product offerings for clients wanting more than fitness, recurring revenue that continues beyond membership length ● Smart partnerships: Hand-selected experts who wake up thinking about peptide therapy and hormone optimization - avoiding the trap of spending 40-50% of resources for 10-20% revenue growth ● The data advantage: Fitness providers get all the wellness data back to personalize programming - understanding that exercise is just one component of their members' broader wellness picture ● What's coming: Mental health telehealth and sleep/recovery services on the fast-follow list - expanding the five non-fitness wellness market segments ● Pre-validated expertise: Cutting through the chase to go directly to specialists who understand microdosing, metabolic health, and cutting-edge therapies your conventional doctor gives you blank stares about The signals are everywhere - walk your gym floor and see the evidence. The question isn't whether wellness and fitness will merge, it's whether our industry will step up to maintain our position of trust and influence. Garrett's built the bridge. Catch you there, Lise PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/

Y'all, Two industry leaders I'm absolutely fascinated by – Jennifer Maanavi, founder of Physique 57 (one of the best barre brands in the world), and Jack Thomas, creator of The Fit Guide (the gold standard for fitness excellence, like the Michelin Star guide for our industry). They're both revolutionizing how we think about hospitality in boutique fitness! Tune in to our new series of conversations with amazing industry leaders: Episode 661: The Big Picture with Lise Kuecker, Jennifer Maanavi of Physique 57, and Jack Thomas of The Fit Guide. ● Building boutique from scratch: Jennifer started Physique 57 in 2005 when boutique studios didn't exist - told architects she wanted it to feel "like coming to my house to work out" ● Hospitality over amenities: Their most successful studio had wear and tear but sold the most memberships because of warm feeling and community - proves it's about connection, not expensive finishes ● Two types of training: What to teach (mechanics for safety) vs. how to teach (hospitality that brings people back) - "you can tell people to do 10 jumping jacks one way, or another way" ● Sales as service: Reframing sales from pushy to helpful - like a washing machine store, clients need guidance to find what's right for them, not to be left to figure it out alone ● The Fit Guide standards: 250 metrics evaluating every element of the member journey - only 90%+ scores earn five stars, representing the top 1-2% of the industry ● Modality gaps revealed: Yoga scored lowest across all seven cities (guru mentality putting teacher at center), while barre scored highest (natural teaching opportunities) ● Gratitude mindset: "We're just so grateful that you're here" - understanding everything clients go through just to show up for class creates servant leadership culture Check out how both Physique 57 and The Fit Guide are elevating standards across our industry. The opportunities are massive when we focus on hospitality - and Jennifer's right, "the hero of the story is the client." Catch you there, Lise PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/

Y’all, combining our high-touch approach with personalized client data is gold. Cue this fascinating conversation with software engineer, trainer and data nerd Jason Moore.    Episode 666: The Big Picture with Lise Kuecker and Jason Moore of Spren left me with a feast of food for thought regarding what’s possible in our industry.     Measurement & motivation: tracking progress through meaningful personal data  Body image: capturing body comp, RMR and HRV with your phone’s camera Expanding access: adding value with on-brand, personalized, 24/7 AI coaching Data processing: enhancing credibility through coach training & education  Evolving capacity: launching V02 max measurement capability and more    Spren’s technology equips coaches to connect the dots and deliver outcomes that change lives. Discover more in this chat with Jason, the founder and CEO of Spren, in Episode 664.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Y'all, when you've been in this industry as long as I have, you can feel the big shifts coming. But even I wasn't prepared for the Pilates explosion we're witnessing right now. It's unlike anything we've seen before, and if you're not paying attention, you're missing the boat on the biggest opportunity in boutique fitness. Tune in to our new series of conversations with amazing industry leaders: Episode 663: The Pilates Explosion - Global Growth with STOTT Pilates' Beth Gibbs-Bartel. ● Education empire: STOTT Pilates has trained 80,000+ instructors across 100 countries with unmatched anatomical focus ● Asia domination: unprecedented growth in China, Middle East, and APAC regions driving global expansion ● Reformer revolution: studios shifting from 6-machine comprehensive setups to 20+ reformer-only concepts ● Know your limits: instructors finding their sweet spot for class sizes (hint: it's probably around 16 max) ● Chair emergence: stability chair group classes becoming the next big trend, especially in innovative markets like Australia ● Silver surge: aging population will drive return to privates and semi-privates as boomers seek personalized attention ● Social media catalyst: TikTok trends directly correlating to studio boom 3-6 months later ● Content creation: new facilities incorporating influencer and content spaces into studio design Whether you're thinking about adding Pilates to your offerings or you're already in the space, Beth's insights on global trends, equipment evolution, and the future of Pilates education will help you ride this wave instead of getting swept away by it. And meet Beth (who's about to take her own company's certification!), after you hear from her in Episode 663. Catch you there, Lise PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/

Y'all, For boutique fitness studio owners, scaling from a single location to a multi-club empire while maintaining premium standards seems impossible. But what if you could learn from someone who's done exactly that? Meet Rob Beal, Fitness Director at Third Space, who's helped grow them from 4 to 13 premium clubs across London and built the highest-valued fitness concept per square foot worldwide. Tune in to our new series of conversations with amazing industry leaders: Episode 662: Building Premium Fitness Empire - Lessons from Third Space London. ● Own your IP: keeping all training, programs and instructors in-house instead of outsourcing to freelancers ● Pilates leads the pack: Reformer Pilates is their #1 performing modality, now in 10 of 13 clubs ● Strength over HIIT: consumer demand has shifted from high-intensity to strength-focused programming ● Recovery revolution: spa, wellness and recovery services are essential for premium positioning ● Data-driven future: integrating wearable tech data and AI to enhance personal training ● Medical integration: longevity services and preventive health will dominate premium fitness ● Culture through growth: moving star performers to new locations to maintain standards and mentorship Whether you're planning your second location or dreaming of a fitness empire, Rob's insights on team development, real estate strategy, and staying ahead of consumer trends will reshape how you think about growth. And meet Rob (who's about to become a dad!), after you hear from him in Episode 662 Catch you there, Lise PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/

One brand I’m so excited to watch is LiveMetta – currently 11 yoga and Pilates studios (along with one spa) in Southern California. They’re truly bringing something different to our space!    Tune in to our new series of conversations with amazing industry leaders: Episode 661: The Big Picture with Lise Kuecker and Chris Farnsworth of Live Metta.    Mission critical: embodying loving kindness as a foundation and culture Competition killer: thoughtfully expanding to fully own select markets Golden Rule: prioritizing relationships, ensuring support, paying well Lifelong learning: investing in professional development and continuing ed Change agent: donating to local nonprofits through LiveMetta Heart Space   Check out how LiveMetta shines brightly in the boutique space. And meet co-founder, Chris (who I call my Southern brother), after you hear from him in Episode 662.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Y’all may assume that because 77% of boutique fitness studio members are women, marketing to females is a no-brainer. They’re showing up anyway, right?    Wrong. To grow, you must keep tweaking your outreach to this demographic. Learn how with Coach Rachel Prairie in Episode 660: Attracting & Retaining Female Clients in Your Studio.    Get close up: know your client avatar’s age, interests, hobbies and more Give them something to talk about: capitalize on word-of-mouth referrals  Create touch points: cultivate community with events, programs and socials  Make it easy: have great intro offers, flexible memberships and pricing options Educate & empower: share information about holistic wellbeing   Win women by carefully customizing your studio’s messaging, products and services. Review and refine your approach in Episode 660.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Want a relatively easy win-win for your studio? Consider partnering with another local business to drive traffic and boost sales in both places.    This goes beyond sharing a flyer or offering a discount. Coaches Rachel Prairie and Sep Uyttendaele lay out the possibilities in Episode 659: Partnering with Local Businesses.    Focus on fit: consider which businesses align with your brand and clients Create a wish list: identify local shops and ask members for recommendations  Get creative: think events, programs, presentations and bundled services Make an offer: draft a detailed proposal outlining mutual benefits  Build a relationship: collaborate closely, track key metrics, address snags    Linking to the right business can deliver a valuable ROI that includes a flow of steady leads and increased brand awareness. Open your eyes to the opportunities with Episode 659.    Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who’ve decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/