"We looked really, really busy and busy isn't the same as profitable."
In this solo episode, Nic, founder of Soul Pilates, shares the key lessons from a recent talk she gave on studio operations, and turns it into a mini workshop for Pilates studio owners.
She opens up about the moment her accountant told her she'd made no money despite a full studio, and explains why good operations and good profit are part of the same thing. She walks through her three pillars of great studio operations, clarity, consistency and ownership, and shares how Soul Pilates uses the RACI model to make sure nothing falls through the gaps as the team grows.
Nic also digs into the common gaps she sees in studios, from late cancellations, class cover and client complaints to the sales journey and reformer maintenance. She shares real stories from her own studios, why SOPs need room for grey areas, and how building a daily, weekly and monthly rhythm frees you up to work on your business, not just in it.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Beyond the Reformer
03:03 The questions every studio owner should ask themselves
04:15 Why growing means you can't do everything yourself
06:04 Write down every task you do in a week
08:08 Busy isn't the same as profitable
10:08 Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should
11:43 Pillar one: clarity in every role
14:15 Pillar two: consistency, and when SOPs go wrong
16:55 Pillar three: ownership and the RACI model
19:21 Turning frustrations into processes
20:08 How to handle late cancellations
23:45 Class cover and keeping great teachers
25:52 Handling client complaints
29:10 Teaching consistency and the sales journey
30:46 Reformer maintenance and safety
31:49 Building your studio rhythm
33:47 Operations are built one problem at a time
34:26 Your one operational commitment this week
36:25 Why every studio should be run like it could be sold
If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you're following along so you don't miss future episodes. And feel free to share this one with someone you think would take something from it.
Connect with Nic:
Beyond the Reformer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_reformer_pod/
Soul Pilates Education: https://www.instagram.com/soul_pilates_education/
Sign up to Our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2bff55298739/beyond-the-reformer
Ready to take your Pilates teaching to the next level? Applications are now open for Soul Pilates Education's 2027 Teacher Training programs in Bristol! Choose between our 12-month Comprehensive Training (Jan 2027) or our 7-month Reformer Training (Mar 2027). Learn to teach with real depth, adapt movement, and gain full confidence with clients. Limited places available.
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