Your Guide to Building a Hot Yoga Studio
Starting a new business can be the most stressful experience of your life, but there are ways to make it through successfully. You just need to get things one step at a time, formalize all the legalities, and trust your passion and vision. Fortunately, this guide to building a hot yoga studio is designed to help, so let’s learn more!
1. Secure Your Financing
The main aspect of building a hot yoga studio, or any business for that matter, is to have financial backing. You can get different kinds of funding sources, like loans, investments, grants, or your personal savings. Still, you must understand how to use each, your responsibilities for paying them back, and what would work best based on your capabilities.
Most people can apply for loans from a federal credit union, but it’s a big commitment. Sometimes, getting into debt to start a business is not the smartest decision, although spending all your savings is not ideal either. Creating a company, even a small one, comes with risks, and you must be ready to assume all the responsibilities that will affect your credit history down the line. Once you’re ready, it’s time to make a business plan.
It would be impossible to get any kind of funding without a solid plan for the business. Being passionate about yoga is not enough to go forward. You need to have a document outlining the targets and strategies of the company and what you project for the future. You can also include solid market research to appeal to investors.
2. Remodel Your Space
Once the money is secured, you can start building a hot yoga studio. The first step will be renting or buying the commercial space and remodeling. A hot yoga studio needs to have a particular ambiance, which means that a big part of your budget should focus on renovations, decorations, and creating the relaxing spot your clients will require for exercise and the other services you’ll offer.
You’ll also have to consider practical matters, such as plumbing, roofing, hiring a construction waste disposal service, etc. Most people focus on the design and forget to account for everything that needs to happen before you can beautify a spot. However, once that’s done, you can move on to the fun aspects.
The final estimate of this renovation will depend on exactly what you want, meaning the amenities you’ll add to this studio. You’ll need enough space, bathrooms, a solid HVAC system, soundproofing, and more. Afterward, consider what kind of style you want. Some yoga places choose a natural jungle theme, while others prefer a more woodsy spa environment. You can pick anything as long as the colors promote relaxation and wellness.
3. Install Security Features
Any business requires security as there’s always the possibility of burglaries and other types of crimes in any area of the country. You’ll need to hire the best local locksmith to install solid locks and other safeguarding features. Many people these days decide to get surveillance and CCTV systems to record anything that can happen. This will help you during a police investigation and insurance claims.
While building a hot yoga studio is not the same as creating a big company with tons of computers or a store where you sell goods, it’s still possible that people will want to take what you have added, including desk phones, pillows, chairs, etc. Fortunately, you can easily find several security companies ready to offer many solutions depending on your needs and budget.
A small studio can make do with a few cameras to record everything, aside from having proper locks at every door. Many business owners like to have an office at their studio, so it’s vital to safeguard what you have stored. You can buy a safe to keep all possible cash and documents from being stolen. Cameras are also beneficial regarding liability, so you should get some even if you don’t expect any issues.
4. Draft Your Registration Policy
Registration or subscription policies are a big part of any exercise studio and gym. Some people prefer to pay a monthly or yearly fee to use the amenities whenever they want without worrying. However, that can’t happen unless your hot yoga studio has the right policies and regulations. You can ask a lawyer to help you draft it so it’s fair and convenient for your company. It’s also wise to get registration refund insurance, just in case.
Clients need to know what’s involved when they sign up for your studio and how they could get their money back if they don’t like the service. If everything isn’t written correctly, the customer could file a lawsuit and take you to court for damages. You don’t want to be liable just because your sign-up contract didn’t specify certain matters.
Therefore, it’s best to work with an expert to write the terms and conditions of your studio and all its services. You can even find several examples online from other yoga establishments. For instance, you should add how and when clients are entitled to a refund if they decide to unsubscribe from your studio. They may get their money back for classes they don’t attend under certain conditions.
5. Decide Which Services to Offer
You need to decide what kinds of services you’ll offer. It’s often better to start small while building a hot yoga studio. Offer just the hot yoga classes and then diversify as the clientele grows. For example, you can start offering other lessons, such as meditation, Pilates, Tai Chi, Zumba, and more. Some studios add physical therapy because it’s another fantastic way to care for your customer’s bodies.
The best part is that many extra services don’t require any additional financial investment. If you already have the rooms for yoga classes, you just need to get teachers for each discipline. Once your business becomes well-known in the community, you can consider expansions, such as spas, saunas, massage therapy studios, and more.
You must understand the community’s wants and listen to your clients. If you have the budget, you can add a few vending machines or a coffee maker in case your customers want to get treats before and after their hot yoga lessons. Remember that your insurance should be up-to-date and cover all these services. Many insurances require the teachers to be certified and licensed, so be ready and read all the paperwork while deciding the services you’ll offer.
6. Repair Your Parking Lot
It may seem like the most inconsequential part of building a hot yoga studio, but the parking lot can seriously affect how many clients you get. First, understand that yoga and the possible other services you want to add to your studio attract mostly women who won’t go anywhere that isn’t safe. They need to feel like they can go into the studio, relax, exercise, etc., and go out afterward without worrying about their surroundings.
Therefore, you’ll need to repair the parking lot. A concrete company can help you repave or cover potholes and offer other solutions depending on the current situation. You must also consider proper lighting options because that affects how many people will come at night. A poorly lit parking lot can be dangerous for women, so it’s best to consider anything that could happen to your clients.
It’s also smart to get regular maintenance. You want to attract clientele willing to spend a ton of money, and most don’t want to park their fancy cars in ugly, greasy, and cracked parking lots. Therefore, hire a maintenance company to scrub all fuel and grease from the concrete, clean up any weeds that may develop from the corners, remove all mulch and leaf stains, and identify possible problems.
7. Let in Natural Light
People who practice yoga want to connect with their bodies or experience a more natural and organic life than the modern world can offer. That’s why using natural light is essential to building a hot yoga studio. During the remodel, you’ll need to contact local window companies to see what options you can get to maximize the natural light in your establishment.
Remember, the sun can increase temperatures, so you should have a functional air conditioner and curtains in case the class wants a darker atmosphere. All yoga and other disciplines are different, and your studio should be able to accommodate them correctly. The idea is to make everyone feel comfortable. A warm ambiance is exactly what your clients crave to relax and decompress from their stressful lives.
However, you will need some lighting options. Aside from illuminating hallways and other business areas, some workouts are better with certain types of brightness. Dynamic yoga needs a sparkling atmosphere because it’s more intensive than other types. Sometimes, natural lighting is not enough for this, but you should try to utilize it as much as possible. Yoga connects people to nature; there’s nothing like sunlight to emphasize that link.
8. Renovate Your Bathrooms
You’ve probably rented a space already for the business, meaning you must inspect the bathrooms. Some people don’t care about them, but a yoga studio should. The atmosphere of your company needs to be cohesive and encourage relaxation. It’s glaring to walk out of a warm, inviting studio into a bright, blinding public bathroom just like that.
Therefore, you should renovate the bathrooms in the studio, especially if you want to add more services. Aside from getting a local plumber to inspect that the water is running perfectly, you’ll need experts who can install showers, a sauna, new toilets, lockers, and much more. Public gyms and studios should offer clients the option to get fully cleaned up on the premises because some will attend their classes right before work.
Also, pay attention to the amenities you offer in the bathroom. The soap dispensers should always be full. There should be toilet paper in all the stalls and, perhaps, a tampon dispenser outside. The style should coincide with your studio’s general feel so clients will remain comfortable and relaxed while inside. Building a hot yoga studio is about creating an illusion, a different reality, where people can escape.
9. Host a Grand Opening Event
Once you’ve planned everything and renovated the entire place, you should consider the opening. It should be an important event because you want the community to know where to find your studio and what they can get. Fortunately, social media has made reaching out to the public easier than ever, so you can start creating buzz months before the opening.
You can update people on the progress of the renovations, as any type of content will bring interest. However, if you do that, you’ll get many people on the first day, so a grand opening is a great idea. Hire a catering company that can offer appetizers and drinks to the guests. Your studio may not fit many people, but you can create a rotation where everyone can see the interior. Pass brochures with all your services so they can return and register later.
You can also have a free first hot yoga lesson to spark interest. Some businesses also partner with skincare lines and similarly relevant products for the studio, and you could hand out freebies to customers. Inviting local celebrities or influencers is another great idea to get your business on the map.
10. Considering Renting Out Your Space
Finally, it’s smart to consider other types of revenue that your studio could produce. If you have several rooms for yoga lessons, you could rent out the space to other instructors for different classes. For example, salsa lessons require studios, and you could partner with a teacher to rent out the space without adding them to your regular payroll. These rentals are fantastic because the different clients they bring can look at your services and be interested in them.
You can also rent it for wine and painting lessons if possible. The idea is to have a steady stream of customers coming in and out so your business always looks busy. Meanwhile, you should also think about renting other spaces if your hot yoga business turns a profit. You can try out a separate studio for other lessons, simultaneously increasing the number of classes you can give. Building a hot yoga studio comes with many opportunities to diversify.
Now that you know all the necessary steps in this guide to start building a hot yoga studio, it’s time to act. Being an entrepreneur is challenging but rewarding. Call contractors, plan your strategy, start designing, and make your dreams come true.
