Rules for main forums
- Be nice
- No advertisement
- No events
- No fundraisers
- No topics asking for votes
- Only posts related to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Seeking some guidance, renting mat space
2 year(s) ago • 752 views • 2 replies
RBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I am considering renting some mat space from a local martial arts school that doesn't currently offer BJJ, in an area that doesn't currently have an abundance of BJJ schools and is close to home. I have a full-time job that takes a lot of my time so I don't have the ability to commit to opening a school of my own right now, but my long-term goal would be to eventually have my own academy. I was thinking it might be beneficial to rent mat space twice a week from a local school to start building clientelle in a specific region.
I currently teach Friday evening classes at the jiu-jitsu school I've trained at for over a decade (but I don't own.) I don't get compensated for those classes, but benefit by having free tuition. I have full latitude to teach how I want during that class (or any class I fill in for another coach). But I still feel like there's a lot for me to learn in developing my own curriculum and adapting to my student's needs, etc.
For those of you who have traveled a similar path, what are some considerations I should take in that maybe I'm overlooking? What would be a decent rate to expect to pay for renting that space? Also, what would be a fair asking price for two-days a week classes? I already know I'll need to get insurance, so obviously that'll likely influence my asking price to ensure I stay on the profitable end.
Appreciate any guidance, even if your guidance is "don't do it." This is still an idea in its infancy, so I'm all ears.
I currently teach Friday evening classes at the jiu-jitsu school I've trained at for over a decade (but I don't own.) I don't get compensated for those classes, but benefit by having free tuition. I have full latitude to teach how I want during that class (or any class I fill in for another coach). But I still feel like there's a lot for me to learn in developing my own curriculum and adapting to my student's needs, etc.
For those of you who have traveled a similar path, what are some considerations I should take in that maybe I'm overlooking? What would be a decent rate to expect to pay for renting that space? Also, what would be a fair asking price for two-days a week classes? I already know I'll need to get insurance, so obviously that'll likely influence my asking price to ensure I stay on the profitable end.
Appreciate any guidance, even if your guidance is "don't do it." This is still an idea in its infancy, so I'm all ears.
SSBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
I went through a similar thing, and now have my own gym where I rent a building.
First - how’s your relationship with the professor/owner at the gym where you’re currently teaching? Be careful there, lots of potential for tension and hurt feelings. Does he/she know you want to go do your own thing? Mine ended up in a blow up. Wouldn’t do it any differently, but I’m persona non grata there now.
I rented mat space the way you’re looking to - it’s a solid, viable path. But it has its own frustrations. Depending on when it is, your class time may be the first thing to get moved or not respected. My weekend open mat time often got canceled because the karate people were doing belt tests. I paid 30% of what I made each month. That was what someone else had done before. If I had it to do over I would start out shooting for 10% instead. You really aren’t creating any wear and tear, and you’ll be using it when no one else is. Present it as basically free bonus income to the potential location.
If this works out - save up everything you make so that when you move into your own space, you already have money for security deposits for power, water, etc, plus usually you have to pay double whatever the rent is the first month as a security deposit. Plus an insurance policy will be like $750-$1000 approximately for 1 year. That plus forming your own LLC, you’ll need something like $2k for the miscellaneous stuff not counting rent.
You may not need your own separate insurance policy if you’re just renting the mat space. You may be covered under whatever existing one the gym has. Especially if you just give them 10% of what you make. To sweeten the deal you can offer something like 50% off to any of the students of the main program there if they start taking your classes.
No clue on how much BJJ costs in your area, but I started with $80 a month or $10 per class, if they ever got up to $80 then the rest of the month is covered. I did 2 class days per week but also a weekend open mat time. So it was cheaper to do the month up front if you knew you’d be training most days.
Last thing - when you want to move into a building of your own. Mats are STUPIDLY expensive. I mean. It is comical. Also, unless you get the 1m x 2m rectangles, the normal lead time from somebody like Dollamur is 8 to 10 weeks. Just something to factor in. It’s really hard to pick a place to rent, figure out what you need mat-wise, then just sit on it while waiting for mats to get made and delivered.
I really like the Dollamur Swain mats I ended up getting. But they ended up being about $160 per mat after taxes and shipping. I got 67.5 mats, which was almost $11k and isn’t quite 1,500 square feet of mat space. Like I said, comically expensive.
Hope that helps! Good luck
First - how’s your relationship with the professor/owner at the gym where you’re currently teaching? Be careful there, lots of potential for tension and hurt feelings. Does he/she know you want to go do your own thing? Mine ended up in a blow up. Wouldn’t do it any differently, but I’m persona non grata there now.
I rented mat space the way you’re looking to - it’s a solid, viable path. But it has its own frustrations. Depending on when it is, your class time may be the first thing to get moved or not respected. My weekend open mat time often got canceled because the karate people were doing belt tests. I paid 30% of what I made each month. That was what someone else had done before. If I had it to do over I would start out shooting for 10% instead. You really aren’t creating any wear and tear, and you’ll be using it when no one else is. Present it as basically free bonus income to the potential location.
If this works out - save up everything you make so that when you move into your own space, you already have money for security deposits for power, water, etc, plus usually you have to pay double whatever the rent is the first month as a security deposit. Plus an insurance policy will be like $750-$1000 approximately for 1 year. That plus forming your own LLC, you’ll need something like $2k for the miscellaneous stuff not counting rent.
You may not need your own separate insurance policy if you’re just renting the mat space. You may be covered under whatever existing one the gym has. Especially if you just give them 10% of what you make. To sweeten the deal you can offer something like 50% off to any of the students of the main program there if they start taking your classes.
No clue on how much BJJ costs in your area, but I started with $80 a month or $10 per class, if they ever got up to $80 then the rest of the month is covered. I did 2 class days per week but also a weekend open mat time. So it was cheaper to do the month up front if you knew you’d be training most days.
Last thing - when you want to move into a building of your own. Mats are STUPIDLY expensive. I mean. It is comical. Also, unless you get the 1m x 2m rectangles, the normal lead time from somebody like Dollamur is 8 to 10 weeks. Just something to factor in. It’s really hard to pick a place to rent, figure out what you need mat-wise, then just sit on it while waiting for mats to get made and delivered.
I really like the Dollamur Swain mats I ended up getting. But they ended up being about $160 per mat after taxes and shipping. I got 67.5 mats, which was almost $11k and isn’t quite 1,500 square feet of mat space. Like I said, comically expensive.
Hope that helps! Good luck
RRandyOP
Black belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I really appreciate all that guidance! Gives me some more to think about and plan for prior to pulling the trigger.
As for my instructor, he's very supportive and has already told me he'd help me set up and get running whenever I wanted to start down that path.
As for my instructor, he's very supportive and has already told me he'd help me set up and get running whenever I wanted to start down that path.
