Learning Center
We’ve consolidated our videos, guides, webinars and more into the AFS Business Learning Center. Browse the resources, and use the concierge service if you need help with any topic.
As a studio owner ask yourself these common questions... 1.) Do you know your retention rate? 2.) Which is harder...acquiring new customers or retaining current ones? 3.) Are you worried about that competitor coming in around the corner or across the street? 4.) In what ways do you engage with your customers outside of training?
To catch someone’s attention, tweet them. To build brand loyalty, think Facebook. To turn social chatter into cash, have a strategy. In this webinar, journalist and social media specialist Stephanie Neil will unravel the mystery of how to use social media to boost your personal brand—and your overall business.
Brian Cygan is the founder and CEO of The Exercise Coach, a tech-enabled personal training franchise with 60 locations open or under development in the U.S. In this webinar Brian discusses what motivates people to "Be their own boss" and the implications for performance and satisfaction.
You never want to be over-insured, but you especially never want to be under-insured. Learn what coverage makes sense for your business and how to get it at the best price.
Want more clients? More revenue? More exposure? Of course you do! But first you need to learn how to do it properly. Deneen Laprade from Susan K. Bailey will provide you the tools and fundamentals necessary to market your studio business in any environment.
Whether you're an independent trainer or a studio owner, hosting a successful Fitness Study is one of the best ways to reach the de-conditioned population in your market.
With a fitness study your focus will be on a population that isn't walking into your business now.
Marketing, when dissected to its most basic element, is nothing more than storytelling.
When telling a story you are sharing information that you believe will be entertaining, important, interesting or relevant to those for whom the story is targeted.
Finding and hiring great talent takes focus. But providing them with a compelling reason to seek you out is an essential first step.
At the end of the day, your employees are your greatest asset and deliver your brand promise. To make sure you take the right steps and have the right talent in the right places follow this essential Guide to maximize your success.
Eliminate many, if not all of the barriers that derail many entrepreneurs when it comes to studio design.
The cost associated with the design and construction of a fitness studio is highly variable and depends on many factors. Make sure you eliminate mistakes prior to creating your ideal studio space.
Nothing speaks louder or resonates more profoundly than the words, actions and results of entrepreneurs who have been successful in bringing their dream to life.
Receive the critical information from nationally-known, successful studio operators, who share everything you need to know.
Are you insured? Or maybe you’re a little confused about how insurance affects you?
This guide will walk you through the different coverages provided to you through AFS’ exclusive insurance partner, Sports & Fitness Insurance Corporation.
During the nearly 10 years I spent running large scale health clubs and consulting with small fitness studios, one of the most common questions I received was "How do I motivate my team?"
This question was always top of mind for studio owners, directors, managers, GM's - everyone shared the same issue. So how do you overcome this? How do you connect with your team, whether it be personal trainers, Pilates instructors, group exercise, front line staff, or customer service? To be honest there's no secret formula, but rather a combination of empowering your team and connecting with them.
As an entrepreneur, creating a business plan and documenting it provides clarity and direction to your vision.
By identifying your new studio’s objectives, then building a plan to achieve them, it provides added insurance that you know where you are going and how you are going to get there.
While researching the hundreds of fitness studios over the past few weeks, it was alarming to see the amount of common mistakes that studio owners make. Most might seem minor but often lead to a significant loss of leads and sales for their owners.
As a studio owner, you want your website to compliment your business. You want people to understand exactly what you do as quickly as possible. Someone once told me to design your website as if “the dumbest person in the world was trying to understand what you do and navigate your site.” While a drastic approach, that statement stayed with me.
In today’s banking environment, I am asked frequently if any lending is being done. The good news is that lending is indeed being done. The bad news is that as a direct result of our prolonged recession, many funding sources have gone out of business and have exited the leasing business.
This erosion of lenders has put additional demand on the remaining funding sources with a finite amount of capital to lend.
Studio developers (those looking to open their own studio) are often faced with several obstacles (financing, website design, marketing, social media expectations, amongst a slew of others).
One area that’s just as important, but often overlooked is ensuring you have a custom domain. Not only does it reflect your studio’s identity, but represents your brand, helps to improve your website’s credibility, and your search engine rank.
Management software plays an important role in the effective growth of your business. A major component of your software is the billing process, and many fitness facility owners are confused about this component.
A commonly asked question is, "Should I manage my own billing or should I let someone else handle it for me?" If you align yourself with the correct software system and billing process and if you ask the right questions, you will be able to retain members and minimize your processing costs.
You might not enjoy thinking about insurance, but you will enjoy it a lot less if you’re ever in need. Just ask the owners of Amherst Orthopedic Physical Therapy, the Buffalo, NY studio in which a client was left paralyzed when a leg extension machine fell on her.
The $66 million judgment (later reduced via settlement to $19 million) was viewed by the court to be 20% the responsibility of the studio. Ouch! Here’s an insurance primer that outlines the most important coverages.
Social media has become one of the hottest platforms for marketing and messaging. The “experts” would lead you to believe that social media is a “slam dunk” when it comes to generating fans, followers and of course, prospect traffic.
In reality, social media can be an outstanding marketing tool, which in combination with other marketing strategies can be effective in generating consumer interest.
Despite what you might read, there IS money out there and you CAN get it. Learn the best sources of funding and how to access those funds.
FBA is Right For Everybody
• Trainer, Manager or Owner • Beginner or Veteran • 500-10,000 sq.ft.