Setting up own club

At the beginning there were many days that nobody showed. I joined a long time friend who had his own tae kwon do/Muay Thai academy. I only taught one day a week to start, and again took me a while to build it up.

I had a name in the area also, but a lot of competition as well. Get the word out, advertise, and don’t get frustrated!

Bobby McMasters

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1272 forum posts12800/1000

I’m in the process of setting my own club up and am after some advice on: 1) attracting members 2) retention rates 3) anything else that people have learnt that they think would help

1) social media posts are free advertising.
2) people cycle through all the time. I'd advise you to have a solid, beginner-oriented class.
3) be consistent, get good people to help you out, and run a professional program.

Good luck!

Vince Choo

Black belt 3rd degreeVerified

1126 forum posts21045/1000

Depends a lot on your location. Are you renting a dedicated space? Subletting an existing studio space?
Are you in a urban or suburban community? Where are your nearest competitors (other BJJ clubs) in your area? Are they within 3km or closer? etc. These are some factors that will help determine what kind of advertising & promotions you need

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

Don't go too big too soon. I started Artemis BJJ in a small matted room upstairs at a weights gym, £10 an hour rent, 1 class a week. Kept doing that until I had enough fees to run another class, then again and again.

When we outgrew that room, I waited until I could some sessions in the bigger space downstairs, added those. Eventually we outgrew that too.

It took about 5 years, then I could go full time in a venue where I paid by the month. I've lived off purely BJJ now since 2019. Never lost money, because I grew the school organically.

Edited 2 year(s) ago

Philip Dunlap

Black belt 3rd degreeVerified

1043 forum posts59560/1000

First thing is why are your opening a school

PowellyOP

Brown beltVerified

18 forum posts1310/700

Don't go too big too soon. I started Artemis BJJ in a small matted room upstairs at a weights gym, £10 an hour rent, 1 class a week. Kept doing that until I had enough fees to run another class, then again and again. When we outgrew that room, I waited until I could some sessions in the bigger space downstairs, added those. Eventually we outgrew that too. It took about 5 years, then I could go full time in a venue where I paid by the month. I've lived off purely BJJ now since 2019. Never lost money, because I grew the school organically.

That’s pretty much what I’m doing. I’m hiring a space in a school with 1 session a week and then building from that when there is a demand.

PowellyOP

Brown beltVerified

18 forum posts1310/700

First thing is why are your opening a school

I enjoy teaching really.

Dave Cork

Black beltVerified

235 forum posts2250/1000

I’m in the process of setting my own club up and am after some advice on: 1) attracting members 2) retention rates 3) anything else that people have learnt that they think would help

1) The biggest surges I've seen and experienced have been after demos and social media boosts.
2) Retention rates SUCK... But that shouldn't really be a shock. How many whites belts names can you actually remember?... Be honest.
3) Accept the fact that the kids classes are going to be what keeps the doors open. And, you're going to perform worse because your focus is now on other people's improvement rather than your own.

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

My school has always been about the adult classes, not the kids. Took us a while to actually start a kids class, which I only did as some of my students are parents and asked for it (I don't run them, one of those students took charge).

But yeah, it seems at a lot of other schools, the kids classes are a big part of it.

William Murphy

Black belt 5th degreeVerified

2143 forum posts25730/1000

If you keep the place fairly clean, keep the shitter clean, and keep some feminine products in the bathroom, female students might not be too disgusted to join up.

PowellyOP

Brown beltVerified

18 forum posts1310/700

If you keep the place fairly clean, keep the shitter clean, and keep some feminine products in the bathroom, female students might not be too disgusted to join up.

Fingers crossed

Sindre Eide

Purple beltVerified

86 forum posts4445/400

I ran a gym for 2years and flyers with cupons for 2weeks or 1month free trai img worked well. Also throw up posters around the city. Other than that I visited schools teaching self defence and promoting the gym and used social media to promote it.
After that you need a good plan and program to keep people interested and comming back. I like to show things good for street defence on the first weeks because people can relate to it. Also I always teach one submission because that is what people find cool and can lock them in.

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

117 forum posts6070/1000

The main principle of running a healthy club/gym is to run it like a business. Very often I see people run their gyms like theyre a group of friends doing jiu jitsu, or like a hobby. Which is fine obviously, but if you are going to try and make a living, this wont cut it.

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

117 forum posts6070/1000

For me what works really well is running a beginners program. This will help with retention as well as introducing new clients to the sport gently. Dont throw them in with the big dogs, you will lose a lot of good potential clients and stick with the same old crew.

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

I see people run their gyms like theyre a group of friends doing jiu jitsu, or like a hobby. Which is fine obviously, but if you are going to try and make a living, this wont cut it.

Disagree. That's exactly how I run it, and I've lived off purely BJJ since 2018. To each their own, but I really dislike corporate BJJ training environments where the focus is on money and profit.

To be fair, I am very fortunate in that my overheads are super low (no car, no kids, I don't drink and I've paid off my mortgage). So I can understand why gym owners with a lot of costs might go the more super business route.

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

117 forum posts6070/1000

Being passionated about it is one thing but if you have to make a living out of it, you are going to have to charge people for your services.
I dont like the big coorperation type of jiu jitsu business either. I like to have my passion for jiu jitsu and teaching shine through in my business. But I dont want to be poor for it. I have Kids to feed and a rent to pay.

Edited 2 year(s) ago

Matt

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

46 forum posts1875/1000

I read small dojo big profits by mike massie and also listen to his podcast. I learnt heaps and now have a full time dojo with over 300 people a week coming through the door.
Good luck with it all

I also have an entire dvd on bjj fanatics which has all my systems and process on it if you’re interested

Matt

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

46 forum posts1875/1000

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

I'm not interested in a business book, but I AM interested that you competed in judo at the 2008 Olympics. Cool!

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

117 forum posts6070/1000