Pilates and Profits: Debunking Myths About Pilates Instructor Earnings – Part 2
Did you miss part 1? Read it here.
Studio Owners!
This section is for you.
Too often, studio owners pay themselves only for the hours they teach. However, this can be very problematic when building a team. If your team needs clients and you need to earn more, you may unconsciously choose yourself over providing work hours for your team. Not because you don’t care — but because that’s how your business is structured.
Instead, include your salary in the studio’s operating costs. This way, you will gain greater income stability and be able to be where your business needs you most. If a teacher drops out — you can take over the classes. If the studio needs more marketing — you can handle that.
Taking responsibility for owning a studio and hiring a team is a huge deal! You did it to help clients in your community and give instructors the opportunity to share their talents. If you set prices in the studio based on “market research” — I understand that. But that’s not the only way. And it’s not a way that rewards you for the enormous risks associated with running a studio and all the work that comes with it.
It also doesn’t help ensure that you will be able to pay the studio bills and fairly compensate instructors for their hard work. If you applied a similar process as sole proprietors, your prices would include not only your income but also all studio costs — and the guessing would disappear. Your salary can be whatever you want it to be… $75,000–$100,000 a year or more. A studio that clearly defines its mission to the community and supports its team can earn hundreds of thousands — even over a million!
The salary you desire is possible — depending on the role you want to play. Ask yourself: do I want to take on the risk of running a business? If not — consider finding a studio that aligns with your values, and together set a schedule that benefits both parties.
If you are ready for the risk, gather all the information regarding the costs you will incur in your sole proprietorship or studio. Check what taxes may apply to you in the place where you live. Determine how many weeks a year you want to work and how much money you want to actually take home.
Too often I hear: “I only earn when I teach.” For employees, this is true. But if you are self-employed or a studio owner — it doesn’t have to be that way. Build your financial goals into the costs of running the business and earn as much as you want.
You can change your mind along the way! Perhaps being an employee is ideal for the time when you have children or other commitments that make building a business difficult. Great! Find a place where you can shine. Or maybe you started with your own business, but your life has changed? Transitioning to employment is also okay.
Whatever you choose — remember: you are the only person who does what you do, the way you do it, and your salary is not determined by someone who has been teaching a little longer than you!
Lesley Logan, founder of ProfitablePilates.com
Note!
This text reflects the realities of the US market, but the assumptions contained within can serve as great inspiration for creating your own calculations.
This text is a translation of the article https://thecore.pilates.com/pilates-and-profits-demystify-the-pilates-instructor-salary-part-2/
I’m Lesley Logan, a certified Pilates teacher with a passion for a holistic approach to health and well-being. I’ve been teaching the Joseph Pilates method since 2008, drawing my knowledge from the best, including one of his direct students, Jay Grimes. Besides teaching, I help instructors and Pilates studio owners grow their businesses through my programs, book, and platform, ProfitablePilates.com. My mission is to share my knowledge and inspire people to create businesses that are both fulfilling and profitable.