Can You Still Run A Small Dojo Big Profits School In This Economy?
This is a fair question to ask, but in reality the question should really be, “How can you NOT run a Small Dojo Big Profits martial arts school in this economy?”
And, that’s because following the Small Dojo Big Profits martial arts business plan in starting and running a martial arts school is, in my experience, the lowest-risk method of any, bar none.
Sure, I’m biased. 
But my reasoning for this is based on logic, observation, and experience. Let me explain…
Smaller Means Less Risk And Less Overhead… But A Lot MORE Profit
Cash flow will make or break you in business. Have enough cash flow and your business will continue to thrive and grow. Face cash flow problems and your business will wither and dry up quicker than you can say, “bankruptcy.”
That’s why you need to follow a business start-up plan that shows you how to boot-strap your business… so you make sure your school is generating positive cash-flow from very early on in the game.
If you’ve read business publications like Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, Wired, and others since 2007 you’ve probably noticed a two distinct trends among business start-ups from all industries -
- Boot-strapping is the new venture capital, and
- SMALL is the new BIG.
The days of new businesses borrowing tons of easy venture capital from investors are gone – and in our industry, the days of going to the bank and borrowing your start-up capital have vamoosed as well.
Furthermore, financing a martial arts school using your credit cards has gone from stupid to downright insane. Interest rates have skyrocketed, and carrying loads of unsecured debt has become about as unpopular as cheating on Sandra Bullock (pure idiocy on both counts).
However, the smart money is on:
- - Starting your business in a manner that is self-sustaining, self-funding, and risk-averse… in a manner in which any start-up capital you may have is used sparingly and in a discriminating manner -
- - Keeping your overhead and expenses as low as possible – sparing your profits so they can be rolled back into your business in lieu of your life savings -
- - And, maximizing your profits while minimizing your headaches (and workload) -
Which, incidentally, perfectly describes the Small Dojo Big Profits method to a “T”.
So, Which Will You Choose?
You may still be stuck in that old business paradigm that involves borrowing start-up capital, burning through it like there was no tomorrow, and then hoping and praying you can enroll 75 students at your grand opening radio remote that you spent 50% of your start up costs on… 
If that’s so, then you probably also still like to head to Vegas each year for vacation to gamble away your savings, and you likely think that playing the lottery is an excellent investment and retirement strategy as well.
But, for wise martial arts instructors, the smart money is on adopting the Small Dojo Big Profits approach to starting and running a martial art school.
In all honesty and with all kidding aside, it may just be the best $147 you’ll ever spend in your business.
Excellent Q&A on Starting A Martial Art School Using Small Dojo Big Profits
One of my newsletter subscribers emailed me with the following questions about my programs. I think he brings up a lot of interesting questions about Small Dojo Big Profits, so I thought I’d post my answers here for everyone’s benefit. Enjoy.
- MM
Q: My question is does your program really have a marketing schedule that is easy to follow and implement?
A: Yes and no. We have a schedule, but all marketing takes some work, and good marketing takes more than bad or lazy marketing does. You need to be realistic about starting and growing a business, especially in this economy and in this day and age. People are bombarded with marketing messages, day in and day out. You need to be visible all over your area if you want to grow your school. That takes time to implement and manage. I wish I could tell you it was easy, but then again if I did you wouldn’t be following me.
Q: Is the marketing costly?
A: It can be inexpensive, or costly – depends on your resources. I have a universal marketing cost axiom: You can either have low-cost/time-intensive marketing, or high-cost/low-time-investment marketing. Each methods differs, and you have to decide what you’re going to do based on your marketing budget.
Expect to reinvest most of your profits into your marketing for the first six to twelve months you are in business.
Q: Does your program have ideas for attendance records?
A: I have spreadsheets you can download. Simple is best, in my opinion. However, you may want to use some sort of school management software once you can afford it. It will make your life easier. I recommend a few on my sites. Or, when you join just ask the instructors on the forums to recommend what they use.
Q: Does your program teach sales technique and price disclosure techniques?
A: Small Dojo Big Profits provides a primer on appointment setting and enrollments procedures. If you want more on sales skills for martial arts instructors, my “Phone to Enrollment System” goes into much greater detail on the topic. You can purchase it here:
http://martialartschoolalliance.com/martial-arts-business-marketing-books/
Q: Do you advocate a contract system?
A: Yes. For several reasons that are plainly stated in the Small Dojo Big Profits manual, and repeated in various articles and forum posts on my membership sites. In short, using membership agreements (contracts) ensures that your clients understand exactly what is expected from them and what you’ll provide for their tuition.
In addition, it forces them to commit. I don’t believe in teaching students who aren’t committed to learning. So, it helps separate the serious from the curious.
Finally, it stabilizes your income somewhat. People are flaky these days – getting things in writing helps you keep your doors open. I don’t care what anyone says, running a month-to-month school just isn’t in your best interest.
Besides, if you can’t take your own school seriously enough to ask for an extended commitment, why should your students?
Martial Arts Business Momentum and The Flywheel Effect
One of the marketing experts I’ve been listening to a lot lately talks about “the flywheel effect.”
Basically, this is a concept in marketing where your efforts can be compared to keeping a flywheel turning… the flywheel is heavy, and it takes a lot of effort to get it going at first.
However, once it’s in motion it doesn’t take near as much effort to keep it turning.
But here’s the real kicker…
When you keep trying a lot of different approaches, it forces you to change direction. You have to stop that flywheel and get it turning in the opposite direction.
You’ve lost momentum – and you have to start all over again.
That’s why I encourage people to just follow what I say, use my entire system, and stick with it. You have to commit to following the program – it’s a system I developed through trial, error, research, observation, and study over 15 years. And, it works.
The people who buy Small Dojo Big Profits and belong to my sites that have done just that are the ones getting the best results. Others who are still picking and choosing ideas, mixing and matching business approaches to create the wheel all over again… well, they don’t get the same results.
So, commit to “just follow the system”, get the flywheel going, and keep on working the numbers day in and day out as a matter of course.
After a while – it may be a month, six months, or a year – but it will pay off.
You just gotta’ keep that flywheel going.
Welcome to the Small Dojo Big Profits blog
I’d like to welcome you to the new Small Dojo Big Profits blog. For quite a while I hosted a blog on this site, but after starting my martial arts business coaching site I abandoned that blog in favor of starting Martial Arts Business Daily.
However, I’ve come to realize that I need a place where I specifically address questions from my customers regarding the Small Dojo Big Profits system. So, I’ve decided to reopen the blog on this site, and will be blogging here on topics that are specific the the martial arts business system.
Feel free to subscribe to this blog using the RSS link the lower left-hand corner, and check back with us for new content regularly.
