Business Basics Day 5: Running Your Own Classes

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the last day of ‘Business Basics’.

Whether the possibility of running your own classes may seem to be in the distant future, that day could be closer than you think! Though there added financial risks and administration associated with running your own classes, there are countless amounts of benefits in doing so – creative freedom, creating your own working hours, choice in who you work with and much more. So when that day comes (or if it already has), here are some things for you to think about:

Create a Sign in & Waiver Form:

The first time a student attends one of your classes it is wise for you to get them to fill out a sign-in & waiver form. This allows you to document and consider any injuries, where your clients are coming from and emergency contact details. Though your insurance will cover third party injuries, ensure your students carefully read the waiver section so they are fully aware of what is expected in your yoga class. Your waiver form should be written in legal language for it to be legally binding. If you are concerned about the language in your waiver form, please consult your lawyer. It is also a good idea to get students to update these every few months or so, just incase their details or situation changes. Refer to Schedule A for an example of a sign-in & waiver form.

Recording Class Attendance:

For audit and accounting purposes it is also a good idea to keep track of class attendance daily. It will also help you reconcile how much cash you have received and record anything specific that you may need to follow up on or note. Remember, the more records you keep the easier it is to trace back your steps. For an example of a daily attendance register see below:

Date	Name	Class Attended	Amount Paid	New Student	If yes, sign-in form completed
4/7	Jane Doe	Hatha	$15.00	N
4/7	Tom Smith	Vinyasa	$50 – 4 class pack	Y	Y
4/7	Sarah Ford	Vinyasa	Class Pass	N
		Total Cash Collected	$65.00
	Notes:

Creating Class Passes:

A fabulous way to reward loyal customers and to secure steady income is to offer bundled class passes. Some common options are packs of 5, 10 or even unlimited monthly or 3 monthly passes. When pricing your class passes ensure that they are providing value for your customers but not devaluing your services. It is also a good idea to put an expiry date for each type of class pass. In order for you and your student to keep track of class passes, I suggest creating business cards (one for each type of class pass) that include  the following information:

• Name of the student
• Date purchased
• Expiry date
• Number of classes purchased
• Your business contact details

Every time a student attend a class you can mark it off their card and record their attendance on your attendance register.        

To manage your money and ensure you have enough cash and change for customers, consider keeping a petty cash box with spare class passes, receipt book, business cards and change for payments.

Create Studio Guidelines & Etiquette

For the safety and comfort of your students, consider creating a set of studio guidelines. These guidelines can be placed where you sign customers in and in facilities such as the kitchen and toilet. Consider including the following:

• Try not to eat anything within 90 minutes of class starting. If you do need to eat something, please try and eat something light like fruit.
• Wear appropriate comfortable loose or stretchy clothing.
• Arrive 10-15 minutes before class starts to sign in and store your belongings.
• Please remove your shoes before entering the studio.
• When you enter the studio please be silent. Other people may be relaxing or meditating before class starts.
• Please leave your mobile devices outside of the studio.
• Pack up and clean your mat and area after the class has finished.
• Please advise your teacher of any injuries or change in circumstances at the beginning of class.
• Be mindful of personal space. The yoga studio is a sacred space so please be respectful of other’s in the class.
• Describe where the exits, fire extinguishers and first aid kit are located. Remember, safety first!

Ambience

First impressions last. Make sure your sign in area is clean and tidy and your studio reflects the type of class you are teaching. Every small detail counts, so if you would like to set up a small shrine, scatter the room with candles, play music, the sky’s the limit – your students will appreciate every small detail and effort you put in to making their experience a special one.

Business Basics Day 5 Workbook

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