r/FitnessStudioOwner

I’m getting pretty far into planning a small boutique fitness studio focused on contemporary mat Pilates, sculpt, and barre style classes. I have a lot of the planning done, have a space in mind, and I’m at the stage of talking to a lawyer about the lease/ contracts before moving forward.

Would love to hear from people who have actually opened a studio. What do you wish you knew? What did you underestimate? Anything you spent too much or not enough money on? Anything you’d do differently?

I’m also really interested in hearing about presales and how far ahead of opening you started marketing and selling memberships, what worked, etc.

Also curious about the tech side like website and app development, booking software, memberships, payments, all of that. I’m thinking about Momence right now but definitely not committed and would love to hear what people actually like using.

Basically at the point where this is starting to feel real and I want all the random advice from people who have been through it lol. Lease, buildout, instructors, pricing, presales, software, opening week, anything!

I’ve been thinking about doing this for a LONG time, ever since I started setting up a medium sized fitness studio in my basement a few years ago. And now I’m finally at the point where I’m seriously considering opening it up to a small number of clients.

A little background: I’m a certified Personal Trainer and Mat Pilates Instructor, currently continuing my studies in anatomy/biomechanics and comprehensive classical Pilates. I’ve also completed training in a specific reformer/hot sculpt method, although I can’t use that particular method independently because of the contract I signed with the studio.

My home studio can comfortably fit about 6 people, and I’m thinking of keeping it intentionally small and intimate.

My current plan is:

Mat Pilates (ball, pilates circle, light weights, blocks, mats available for everyone)

Offering 4 classes per week

2 weekday evening classes & 2 weekend morning classes

1x/week & 2x/week memberships

Intimate, women's safe space, calm, peaceful and lofi, jazz, bossa nova vibes.

Plants, salt lamp, low soft lights, mirrors, clean bathroom/changing room.

I’m also thinking about doing a small Pilates workshop/opening event first. Something that introduces people to Pilates, the history/principles, and some foundational movements. Using that as a way to get the studio rolling and hopefully convert a few people into founding members.

For those of you who teach Pilates out of your own home/studio: what do you wish you knew BEFORE you started?

I’d especially love to hear about things that aren't obvious until you're actually doing it.

Things like:

- Scheduling/payment systems (I currently have been playing with an app called ForActive have not tried finalizing a sale or anything so would like to know what other people are using)

- Boundaries with clients when they’re coming into your home

- Taxes/business setup (I am getting liability insurance)

- Burnout or overbooking yourself

- Things you underestimated

- Things you spent money on that you absolutely didn’t need

- Things you wish you had invested in sooner

I would love to hear the “I wish someone had warned me about this” stories too.

If you run a home-based Pilates studio, I’d really appreciate hearing what worked, what didn’t, and what you would do differently if you were starting over.

Thank you!

P.S. Currently teaching at a boutique studio (Reformer & Hot Sculpt), so I have experience and great feedback from clients.