How To Start A Yoga Business In 7 Steps: The Ultimate Guide In 2023

Yoga has become increasingly popular in recent years and there’s now an abundance of studios all over the globe. Here at Baluu, we are seeing first hand a huge increase in yoga teachers creating accounts on a monthly basis. Few professions are as fulfilling as a yoga instructor, but if you want to start a business oriented around this healing practice, there are key factors you should bear in mind. In this ultimate guide we’ll break down each and every step you need to know to create a successful yoga business.

Ben Carter

min read

Yoga has become hugely popular in the West and has undergone many changes and adaptations. For example, while group classes have become the norm, yoga was traditionally taught one-to-one. Originating in ancient India, the word yoga derives from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning "to yoke" or "to unite" — a far cry from overpriced merchandise and fat-burning workouts!

However you dress it up, the chief goal of yoga is to achieve a sense of spiritual awakening and liberation from suffering. There are now innumerable different styles and interpretations of this timeworn practice, but almost all involve uniting body, mind, and breath to usher in a positive shift in consciousness. Whatever form your yoga business takes, these principles will remain at its core, hence why few enterprises are as rewarding and ultimately beneficial for the world.

How much money can be made operating a yoga studio?

This is a bit like asking "how long is a piece of string?" Ultimately, the profitability of a yoga studio varies widely depending on many different factors. Your target market, the location of your studio, what kind of services you offer, the cost of rent and expenses, as well as how you set up your pricing. Yoga entrepreneurs who draw up a detailed business plan—assess their local market and competition, and lay out clear financial targets —are more likely to succeed than those who don’t. So, before starting a yoga studio, ensure you’ve got all your ducks in a row.

Is it worthwhile to open a yoga studio?

If you have a strong interest in yoga, that may be sufficient motivation for you to launch your own yoga studio. The launch of a new company can be fraught with peril; for this reason, the first thing you should do is check that you have addressed all of the relevant considerations. Do you possess the necessary credentials and the necessary financial resources? Have you done any market research to determine whether or not there is a need for yoga in your community? Do you or a member of your team possess the business and management expertise necessary to propel success?

The formulation of a comprehensive yoga business plan that addresses questions such as these constitutes an essential initial step. Having said that, opening a studio isn't the only viable avenue you can take, as many yoga instructors work from home. You can explore both of these options. If you are in need of experience and want to get an idea of what it is like to manage a yoga studio, it may be a good idea to consider working as a private yoga instructor prior to applying for a management position at a yoga studio.

The 7 essential steps to starting a yoga business are:

Get your yoga certification
Decide whether you want to start a studio or be a sole proprietor
Build your clientele
Decide what style of yoga you want to teach
Pick a name that fits your business
Draw up a business plan
Choose an online booking system‍‍

1. Get your Yoga certification

Technically, you don’t need qualifications to start teaching yoga, but it's strongly recommended you acquire them. Without credentials, you may not make the right impression on clients or attract new ones. We recommend obtaining qualifications with a Yoga Alliance institution. There are different levels of qualification, ranging from the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) certification to the Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) designation. While it can be fun, yoga is a serious business that comes with a lot of responsibility. So ensure you get your qualifications before you draw up a business plan.

2. Decide whether you want to start a studio or be a sole proprietor

While starting a yoga business can be an incredibly rewarding experience, you should consider the potential financial challenges you may face. While there’s a possibility for your business to be lucrative, the average income of Yoga instructors ranges between $20,000 to $40,000 per year.

Besides owning a studio, there are multiple ways to run a viable yoga business and these options can offer you valuable experience. If your dreams are big, think of them as stepping stones toward your goal of running your own studio. As a sole proprietor, you can teach private clientele on a one-to-one basis, or work for a yoga centre or private health club — the latter can even grant health and retirement benefits.

If you do opt for opening your own brick-and-mortar establishment, remember that this comes with myriad responsibilities. Rent and utility expenses, managing staff, and insuring your business adheres to zoning requirements are all aspects to carefully consider— but more on this later.

3. Build your clientele

Establishing a reliable clientele is crucial, regardless of whether you run your business as a lone entrepreneur or run a studio of your own. Working for an established yoga outlet not only enables you to obtain expertise that is vital to the practise of yoga, but it also enables you to cultivate a dedicated following of yoga students. Then, once you do decide to create a studio, you will already have a clientele from which to select customers. Increasing interest in your profession can also be accomplished by providing classes at no charge or in exchange for donations.

4. Decide what style of yoga you want to teach

Hatha, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Bikram, Ashtanga, and Yin are only a portion of the myriad types of yoga practices. Before starting your yoga business, ensure you know what forms you will specialize in. Research which types are most in line with your ethos, what you’re qualified to teach, how popular they are and the likelihood of them attracting new clients.

While you can certainly offer a range of practices, remember not to spread yourself too thin. According to Adam Wrinkler, founder of Shakti Yoga and Living Arts, "Studios that offer one type of yoga may have a better success ratio because students know that whatever class they go to, that's what they're going to get.”

5. Pick a name that fits your business

Brand names are deceptively powerful. There is a rationale behind why children are able to rapidly name brands such as Coca-Cola and Nike, yet they are unable to recognise photographs of important historical personalities. It is important to put a lot of thought into selecting a name for your yoga business, as the name you choose should convey both your core beliefs and the different styles of yoga you teach. You will never be at a loss for what to do because you have millennia of tradition at your disposal, in addition to the English and Sanskrit languages.

Luckily for you, we recently published 460 unique business name ideas for a yoga studio. There are many different styles here (something for everyone), and totally free to use if you so choose! Just make sure no one else already took the one you like ;).

6. Draw up a business plan

Scrupulous business-minded thinking and an ancient Hindu practice dedicated to raising consciousness might not seem the best of bedfellows. However, if you want your yoga practice to be sustainable and successful, you should draw up a detailed business plan. While this may not be an attractive proposition for some, there are many business plan templates and articles online to help you do this. In fact, we recently scoured the internet and rounded up the 5 best yoga business plan templates we could find. There's a mixture of both free and paid for templates here, so well worth a look!

A typical business plan will provide you with an invaluable roadmap to aid you in the early stages of your operation. It covers key factors like an executive summary, marketing analysis, operations plan, and more. Ultimately, creating a solid business plan is necessary for securing the future success of your yoga studio.

Right, so you’ve got your qualifications and decided upon a catchy name. Now you’re ready to take the plunge by setting up your own brick-and-mortar establishment! However, opening a yoga studio comes with a lot of responsibilities and considerations, so make sure you carefully assess each factor before undertaking your venture.

Things to ensure you include in your business plan:

A suitable teaching location

Depending on where you’re based, renting a suitable space for your yoga studio can either be affordable or highly expensive. For example, getting a lease somewhere like New York would be a lot more expensive than somewhere like Liverpool, England. It could be worth starting with a smaller space and, when you’ve built up enough income and clientele, relocating to a larger one. However, many experts suggest small is the way to go, as bugger studios can often mean bugger headaches. Just ensure your studio can accommodate the type of classes and amenities you offer.

Your target audience

People don’t tend to travel hundreds of miles to go to a yoga studio, so determining who your local customers will be and what yoga will appeal to them is essential. For example, if you’re based in a location with a high population of elderly people, consider tailoring and marketing some of your classes to seniors. Conversely, if your clientele is likely to be younger and more bohemian, a studio that prioritizes Yoga’s traditional origins may be better received. T

Business model

Figure out which type of business model you will use. Will you go for membership-based or pay-per-class? Carefully assess the pros and cons of each option, or the potential of offering both, and opt for the solution best suited to your goals and target audience.

‍Staffing

If you’re no longer the sole proprietor, you’ll need staff to help keep up with the growing demands of your business. That means you have to work out what’s within your budget and decide what you can afford to pay your employees or independent contractors. You also need to consider what their contracts will include and whether you will offer benefits.

‍Marketing and promotion

There are multiple ways to market your yoga business. Developing an effective and wide-reaching marketing plan will help you make prospective clients aware of your brand. Among the many marketing ideas at your disposal, it’s likely social media will be your bread and butter. So ensure you’re willing to dedicate time to a multi-platform social media strategy, as well as email marketing, local advertising and SEO, gift vouchers, and partnerships with other businesses.

Legal considerations

Picture this: you’re about to run your first class in your yoga studio. Then, suddenly, a letter arrives informing you you’re in breach of a specific legal requirement. Not doing your due diligence when it comes to legal matters can be devastating for your business, so ensure you research and comply with all the legal requirements of running a yoga studio, like obtaining insurance and the relevant licenses.

Finances

When it comes to drawing up a financial plan, leave no stone unturned! Be as thorough as possible, and double-check each point. A high percentage of businesses fail and this is partly due to the failure to make accurate financial projections. So create a detailed plan that encompasses aspects like start-up costs, ongoing expenses, and projected income. You could also check your available grant programmes and consider reaching out to investors. Just make sure your business plan is water-tight!

7. Use an online booking software

Gone are the days when people had to rely on print advertising or take bookings over the phone. Now, online platforms allow you to take bookings online, thereby streamlining the booking process and letting you focus on what you do best: teaching yoga! They also come with a plethora of other useful features, including email automation, customer intake forms, and marketing tools.

There are now a wide variety of great booking systems for yoga businesses and what one you opt for will depend on your needs. For small businesses, we believe Baluu offers the best bang for your buck. Offering an all-in-one solution, it comes with a booking system, payment processing, and the ability to make a fully-branded website in only a few hours. The fact it offers this out-of-the-box solution — without the need for expensive add-ons and finicky coding — truly makes Baluu one of a kind.

Many yoga professionals swear by Baluu for its ease of use, slick interface, affordability, and hassle-free onboarding process. There’s also a free trial so you can feel for the software, so why not give it a shot? If you’d like some help setting up your Baluu booking website, this guide will take you through each step.

Conclusion

As we’ve shown, creating a successful yoga business is no easy feat. However, if you apply the passion you have for the ancient practice to the business side, there’s a strong possibility you’ll create a popular, much-loved yoga studio. All it takes is careful planning and research, along with a commitment to stay true to your ethos and values. So cross your i’s and dot your t’s and share this wonderful, healing practice with the world!

Looking for more great advice for your yoga business? Have a read of some of our related guide below:

‍
‍

‍