Part of building a successful physical training business is being positioned in the right location. A good location means more foot traffic, greater visibility, easy access, and more chance of walk-ins.
Here is our list of 10 tips to help you find the right location for your martial arts studio.
Come Up With An Appropriate Budget
Have a thorough understanding of your studio’s financial situation to give you a clear view of what budget you have available for your martial arts studio premises. When you know how much money you have available, you know what you can afford for your training studio.
Your budget (and your vision for your business) will determine the cost to open a martial arts studio:
- Do you want to own the space from which your business operates (more upfront investment); or
● Is franchising/rental more in line with what you can afford (lower monthly expenses)
● What budget do you need to properly equip your studio
● What do your monthly overheads look like
● How much do you pay for studio insurance
It’s always a good idea to rather over-estimate your costs. That way you won’t fall short down the lines if something unexpected crops up.
Know Your Bylaws
Ensure that you do research on your particular city’s bylaws. Different cities have different bylaws. If your chosen business location doesn’t honor these regulations, you may not receive a license to operate in that area.
Bylaws to be aware of:
● Certain towns/cities have specific areas zoned for a fitness facility.
● Depending on city zoning, you may need a conditional use permit.
● Many cities have strict parking requirements for fitness training facilities.
Research Customer/Neighborhood Demographics
When considering a location for your martial arts studio, keep in mind that your training offerings should match the demographics of the individuals in the neighborhood.
- Residents in wealthier areas don’t mind paying higher prices for high-quality training.
- However, lower-income individuals are very price-sensitive, so are more likely to be attracted to a budget-friendly facility.
Consider Accessibility
This is a very important factor when considering an area and property that will become your martial arts home. And it goes hand-in-hand with demographics.
To make it as easy as possible for your customers to join your martial arts studio, it should be accessible for most forms of transport.
- Do your target customers drive to your studio before or after work?
○ Then make sure there are easy entry and exit points, and ample, safe parking spaces.
● Or do they walk or bike to your studio?
○ Good pedestrian access and a bike rack are great, so they can safely park their bikes.
Look at the Competition in the Area
Healthy competition is always good. However, if the area is full of businesses with the same offerings as yours – especially if they are established – it makes attracting customers very difficult.
Ideally, you want to be the only martial arts studio in the area (a good rule of thumb is to have no direct competitors within a 3 to 4-mile radius).
- Some other things to consider:
Look for businesses in your selected area that can work alongside yours – massage therapists, chiropractors, and physiotherapists. Forming relationships with them can help build a powerful mutual referral system.
● Keep in mind that other businesses with some kind of health or fitness orientation can also be considered competition. This is if they have offerings that your target customers may choose over yours.
Consider Visibility
If you are targeting the general public with your martial arts programs, high visibility of your physical training space is vital.
On the other hand, if your center offers specialist practices that your clients travel to you for, then your visibility becomes more powerful on social media and in marketing efforts.
Tips for the Best Signage
- When basing your studio in a shared space or in a commercial environment, know what the building signage policies are:
How and where are tenants allowed to display their business name and branding?
● Are tenants’ business names only allowed on a big sign, in alphabetical order, at the entrance to the commercial building?
● How is signage space assigned to each business – is it equal, to or based on the space they are paying rent for?
● Will there be opportunities to expand your signage as your business scales?
Know About Your Rent Escalation Clause
The rent escalation clause is included in most rental leases. This gives the landlord the right to raise your rent over time.
Keep the following in mind:
Escalation clause percentages range from 5% to 10% per fiscal year, or per annum.
● Ensure that you are 100% clear on this clause before signing a lease with your landlord.
● Other factors to consider when renting a space.
Find Out About Your Neighbors
You know all too well that some martial arts practices often generate noise. This may be in the form of the spirit cry that students learn to “entice fear in their opponents”, or the thud of opponents hitting the floor in an MMA training session.
If you plan to locate your studio in a residential area, the neighbors may kick up a fuss if there is too much noise coming from your studio. There may also be safety concerns if unknown cars are parked on a residential street.
Similarly, if your facility is housed on an upper floor in a commercial building, the thuds and shouts may disturb fellow tenants below and beside you. This will almost assuredly lead to complaints, and you have to find another space.
Tips for the Best Layout of Your Space
The layout of your martial arts space is important in your customer experience. It should have the following:
Good Plumbing
For enough toilets, basins, and showers (especially important if your students practice their martial arts before heading to work)
Adequate Square Footage.
You don’t want to lock in a space that is too small, then your business scales, and you’re forced to move premises in a year or two. Also, don’t waste money on space that you don’t use. Rather get a smaller studio and use that extra money to amp up your training zones..
Natural Lighting.
A space with natural lighting is far more enticing to a student than working out in a dark basement. Students feel safer and more comfortable in a space that has “breathing room” and lots of natural light
Breathing Room” Means Open Space.
If senseis are teaching a larger class, they need to be able to coach across the room. Martial arts is also a very mobile physical activity, so students need to feel they have the space to perform the movements required by a particular practice.
Sufficient Space to Safely House and Store Equipment.
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