What is my first step?
It doesn’t matter if your studio is on a growth trajectory or if you are just trying to maintain. If you’re overwhelmed, frustrated or having financial issues, the first step can seem daunting.
Job Descriptions vs. Standard Operating Procedures: Why You Need Both
What’s the difference between a job description and a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)?
Most businesses stop after creating job descriptions — assuming they’ve covered their bases. After all, a job description outlines what someone is supposed to do… right?
Well, yes. And no.
Let’s break it down:
Your Salary Isn’t the Gravy — It’s the Minimum
Every business has a threshold just to keep the doors open — and your salary belongs in that baseline.
It’s not the extra.
It’s not the reward for “if there’s anything left.”
Profit is the extra. Your paycheck is the minimum.
Dream big
In early 2009, opening a studio was a big dream of mine. It took six months to clear out the space in a detached studio behind my house, purchase equipment and find clients, but I got it going. Low-ish risk.
Fifteen years later, it’s a different story with a 2,500 sq. ft. storefront studio in downtown Austin. Risk is palpable. So, I am always fine tuning.
Business Fundamentals I Learned at $4.25 an Hour
My first job was working concessions at our small-town movie theater. It paid $4.25 an hour and required customer service, handling cash, serving food, and following an exceedingly detailed inventory and cash drawer procedure at the start and end of every shift.
It didn’t seem like much to a 16-year-old. But after 30 years in the workforce — and now running a multiple six-figure service business — I think about that job all the time. It was the essence of small business.
Time to daydream
Working long hours six days a week isn’t healthy, no matter how much I love my job. And working less doesn’t mean I don’t love my job or that I have a lesser work ethic. It just means I have other interests, too. It means honoring my potential for other talents.
Ready, set, profit
Our first step was to complete a Financial Snapshot of our business. This involved an in-depth analysis of my studio’s services, pricing, and utilization. All good. Already tracking it. Totally expected.
Your team = your brand ambassadors
A truly exceptional Studio Manager or Front Desk Team Member can transform your client experience — becoming the living, breathing embodiment of your brand.
A so-so one?
At best, they'll maintain the status quo.
At worst, they can quietly erode the culture you've worked so hard to build.
My journey has begun
At its essence, service-based businesses rely on an exchange of values. For example, you provide your expertise as a wellness professional in exchange for your client’s money. But for many of us, this logical approach to pricing is still not enough.
You have to believe you are worth it.