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How Bruce Lee Fought Racism While Becoming a Martial Arts Icon

The world knows his name, but not many people know his story. ESPN’s exceptional documentary, Be Water , shows how much Bruce Lee struggled as an Asian American in Hollywood and the many opportunities he lost due to racism. However, his ambition to rise above was stronger than his fear.

Despite frequently experiencing rejection and racism, Bruce Lee dramatically changed the film industry, using martial arts and his inclusive attitude. He was the underdog who became a cultural hero and left a long-lasting legacy. This is how Bruce Lee fought racism while becoming a martial arts icon.

Bruce Lee Kicked Stereotypes to the Curb

Bruce Lee never felt ashamed of being Asian; he was incredibly proud of it. That’s one reason why he refused to play outrageous stereotypes of Asian Americans on TV and in films. For a long time, Asian Americans have been portrayed as the villain, servant or buck-toothed loser. (We’re looking at you, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Sixteen Candles. )

This put Lee in a tough spot in Hollywood. However, he got the part as Kato, the handsome sidekick in The Green Hornet TV show. There were no prejudiced images of Asian Americans for him to portray, but he experienced other issues. For instance, he had very few lines, and the studio paid him unfairly — more than two times less than everyone else. While the show’s star, Van Williams, received $2,000 per episode, Lee only got $400 an episode.

He Welcomed Everyone to His School During the Time of Segregation

In the 1960s, U.S. society was segregated, and many businesses and facilities discriminated against people based on race, except for one place: Lee’s martial arts studio. He opened his school to everyone, no matter their race, gender or age. In fact, his first student was a Black man named Jesse Glover .

The martial arts master also shared his Chinese culture with megastars, from basketball player and activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to actress and fashion model Sharon Tate. “I am a man that never follows these formulas of the fear-mongers. So, no matter if your color is black or white, red or blue, I can still make friends with you without any barrier,” explained Lee.

He Lost Lead Roles but Didn’t Give Up

Besides dismantling prejudiced stereotypes, Lee also had another struggle to overcome: landing a lead role as an Asian-American actor. He actually proposed his own TV series called The Warrior , but the studio didn’t cast him because of his ethnicity and went for a caucasian actor instead.

Lee finally got his chance in Hong Kong, where he obtained his first major role in The Big Boss (1971) and another in Fist of Fury (1972). The “ No Dogs and Chinese Allowed ” clip from Fist of Fury is considered Lee’s most compelling scene in the film; in it, his character destroys a racist sign and beats anyone who dares to demean him.

He Married His Wife Before Interracial Marriage Was Fully Legal in the U.S.

Linda Lee Cadwell was one of Lee’s students before becoming his wife. At the beginning of their affair, Cadwell kept their love a secret from her family because they were against interracial relationships. However, they found out after Cadwell and Lee applied for a marriage certificate.

The press published the couple’s news, emphasizing that it was still against the law in multiple states. Cadwell’s parents tried to convince the two to break up, but Cadwell and Lee refused to do it. Cadwell’s parents grew fond of Lee as they got to know him. The couple’s family also grew when Cadwell gave birth to their children, Brandon and Shannon.

Lee Became His Own Boss to Achieve Superstardom

In America, Lee was tired of proving his worth as an actor. Racism consistently prevented him from achieving higher levels of fame. He moved to Hong Kong to write his own films and open a production company, but most importantly to send a message: Asian Americans can play lead roles in major films and change the entertainment industry.

Lee did exactly what he said he would do. He wrote, co-produced, directed and starred in Hong Kong’s The Way of the Dragon (1972), which coincidentally propelled Chuck Norris’ acting career. The martial arts film was also produced by Lee’s very own company, Concord Production Inc. This was the first time the world saw that Lee was a man of many talents — and it wasn’t going to be the last time, either.

He Gave Hollywood a Second Chance and Wowed Everyone

Lee’s repeated success in Hong Kong grabbed the attention of a powerful studio across the world, Hollywood’s Warner Brothers. Concord Production Inc. teamed up with Warner Brothers to produce Enter the Dragon (1973), which featured an Asian-American lead: Lee. However, working with Warner Brothers wasn’t easy. According to Lee’s daughter, Shannon, her father had to push for many of the film’s key scenes .

In the end, Lee’s battle was worth it. Enter the Dragon earned a whopping $1 billion (adjusted for inflation) worldwide, sparking a surge of mainstream interest in martial arts. In 2004, the Library of Congress preserved the film in the United States National Film Registry, calling it “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

Lee showed that Asian Americans can be strong, sexy and heroic. Not only did he destroy ancient stereotypes, but Lee also influenced a martial arts movement. He changed the way people relate to action films by using martial arts, showing them that a hero doesn’t need guns or gadgets to fight crime and injustice; all they need is themselves.

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Martial Arts School Business Plan

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Cents and Senseibility Value-Priced Martial Arts School

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

The Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation has been active in the United States for the past 30 years.  Being part of this organization will benefit Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School owned and operated by Rolly BonTemps, 5th Degree Black Belt. 

The Can-Am Taekwondo Instructors and Schools Confederation (CATISC) is the premier North American organization dedicated to the martial arts discipline of taekwondo, and is the founding organization of other international affiliates, overseeing over 1,500 schools and clubs, registering  over 300,000 members.

The focus of this program is to provide students the highest quality martial arts instruction available, in a safe and positive learning environment that people of all ages can enjoy.  Rolly BonTemps, a high ranking instructor, will combine excellent student instructor ratios with state of the art training facilities.  Instructor Rolly BonTemps, is a graduate of an instructor program that represents more than thirty years of research and development.  He will be with students every step of the way to help them reach their individual goals (and maybe even reach some new goals they’ve never before thought possible).

Cents and Senseibility will be value-priced taekwondo martial arts school serving its customers in our community by providing several programs for a variety of purposes, ranging from basic martial arts, to self defense, to esteem and life skills building, and more.  Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School plans to enhance its programs as it expands, developing new programs to ensure the students have as much access to the different aspects of Songahm Taekwondo as possible. 

The art of self defense is becoming more and more popular with the young people of this country as the terrorist threats to this country have become reality.  Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will also offer self-defense techniques to local Law Enforcement in the area.

Cents and Senseibility will offer what we believe is the best martial art in the world.  Taekwondo is an exciting and powerful martial art known for its dynamic kicking and hand techniques.  Although these martial art techniques are centuries old, the planned programs being offered are always evolving to keep pace with the rapidly changing world. 

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School realizes that each student possesses different physical abilities.  Size and strength vary with each individual.  Once a student has acquired a strong foundation in the basics, Rolly BonTemps’ outlined program will enhance the student’s physical capabilities and maximize his/her self-defense skills. 

Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School, is not interested in just teaching self-defense. Rolly BonTemps, as a certified instructor remains interested in the complete personal development of each student.  Individual attention is a feature of each and every class, allowing all students to progress quickly and confidently toward their personal goals.  Rolly BonTemps takes his responsibility as a role model for younger students seriously, teaching them the importance of strong character, leadership and good values. 

The teaching curriculum at the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is based on two concepts: “positive mental attitude” and “high goal setting.” Rolly BonTemps is so positive about this program that he promises to give students and their families the most professional, well supervised, and  highest quality classes available in any sport or art. 

Future plans call for Cents and Senseibility to expand into Cardio Kick Boxing Classes for the young adults.  Pilates (fitness exercise) Classes will also be offered to young and older adults. 

Enrollment for the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is projected at 120-125 students as the break-even point for profitability.  Under the value-priced structure being planned, based on past experience in marketing and selling the different plans, Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is projecting 100-120 student enrollments within the first 6-8 months after opening.  Student enrollment in the Cardio Kick Boxing classes is projected at 45-50,  and the Pilates Exercising Classes are projected at 30-45 enrollments within the first six months after opening. 

Our financial plan is based on reaching our target sales goals while maintaining a reasonable cost base.  We plan to reach break-even sales volume in only four months after our opening and maintain a healthy 30+% bottom line profitability.  If we reach our financial goals, we plan to acquire a stand-alone building for the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School, which may better suit our growing needs.

1.1 Objectives

• Identify an area within the community that is centrally located to local Elementary, Middle and High Schools by mid-summer 2003. 
• Enter into lease agreement for 2,500-3,000 square foot (minimum) premises to establish Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School.  This area will include store front and visitor seating area, dressing/rest rooms for male and female students. 
• Actively recruit membership.  The marketing plan to be adopted has been extremely successful at other taekwondo schools across the country.  The success of this plan depends upon arranging with school administrations to visit local classrooms, especially at the Elementary School Level and provide a show and tell.  Here it is demonstrated to the children what the martial art can teach them.  Concentrating on discipline, self respect and self control, Rolly BonTemps works with the children for approximately one hour in the classroom setting.  The success of this program over the past four years has been remarkable.  As a result of this marketing plan, the membership for Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School is expected to grow by 8-10 children a week.  The martial arts school, in which Rolly BonTemps is currently employed as lead instructor, has the highest membership for a single CATISC member Taekwondo school in the country.  This was largely due to this marketing plan, which Cents and Senseibility will be following.   
• Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will actively seek out membership by marketing and handing out fliers, business cards, and advertisements at the local shopping centers, malls, and grocery stores in the area.  This is expected to generate 8-10 members a week. 
• Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will offer Cardio Kick Boxing Classes for both the young and older adults.  This will actively be marketed through handing out fliers, business cards, and advertisements.  This is expected to generate 10-15 members for each of the first three months.  Maintaining a class of 45-50 students by end of year one. 
• Cents and Senseibility will offer Pilates Classes for young and older adults.  Pilates is an aerobic exercise through stretching that is sweeping the country.  The plan is to have a certified instructor by month one.  Classes are expected to be enrolled at 10-15 members for each of the first three months.  Maintaining a class of 45-50 students by the end of the first year. 
• Cents and Senseibility plans to increase paid membership to 180-200 by the end of the first year (equivalent to 80% of school capacity).
• Develop a cash flow that allows for an investment build-up to support expansion, with plans to construct and own a stand-alone structure to support the functions of the Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School in the future.

1.2 Mission

To offer students the best in martial arts training, physically and mentally, Cents and Senseibility Martial Arts School will be established to provide a place where one can learn the art of Taekwondo and enjoy the experience while making the commitment to learn and improve one’s self esteem, concentration, discipline and self control.  As students advance in rank from white to black belt they will gain the knowledge and experience that will last a lifetime.

1.3 Keys to Success

• Implement a solid budget and business plan.
• Establish a unique, modern, safe and clean martial arts school and environment.
• Focus on a good marketing plan to actively recruit students.
• Keep the students and family members happy and part of the Cents and Senseibility family.
• Plan on expanding to multiple locations.

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How to Write a Martial Arts Business Plan

Gymdesk Library /

Josh Peacock

First and foremost, martial artists open martial arts schools to spread their arts to their communities. But they also, often, open their own schools as a way to gain more control over their curriculum and enhance their own training. While both of these are good things, they do not form the best roadmap for building that school into a profitable, sustainable business. For this reason, it’s important that future martial arts school owners write out legitimate business plans to guide their efforts.

One of the big pitfalls of running any business is to have a vague idea of who your customers are and the direction that the business is headed in. Another major pitfall is to neglect your numbers; to have little to no idea of what you’ll be spending and what milestones you need to hit in order to begin making profit. 

Putting pen to paper, so to speak, is a proven way to get your brain thinking in more realistic terms about your new martial arts business. It helps you iron out what martial arts services you offer, who you offer them to, and how you’re going to reach them with that offer.

It’s for that reason that you should strongly consider writing a business plan for your martial arts school. In this article, we’ll be exploring two different ways to write a good business plan: the traditional way and the “lean” way.

Traditional Martial Arts School Business Plan

Traditional business plans are extremely thorough and very clear. They offer exceptionally concrete guidance to the opening and running of a new business, which can often be a messy affair full of distractions that threaten its profitability.

A typical business plan should include these elements:

Executive & Company Summary

Market analysis.

• Marketing Plan

Operations & Management Plan

Financial projections.

Below, we’ll summarize what each of these business plan sections entails.

The Executive Summary should summarize all the information and insights from the rest of your business plan. It shouldn’t be several pages long, but it also shouldn’t only be a few sentences long. It should give a clear picture of your martial arts school and the business opportunity it is capitalizing on.

Your company summary defines the structure, values, and purpose of your martial arts school. Overall, you should answer these questions:

• Who does my school serve?
• What problems of theirs does it solve?
• What competitive advantages does my company have?

Be clear about who you serve, and then make the case for why you, uniquely, will be successful.

Take a look at the demographics in the town that your school is opening in. Then analyze all the martial arts and related businesses in that area. You want to prove that there is room for your business; and more than that, you want to find, define, and map out what particular market you’re going to target with your martial arts services. If it’s an underserved market, you’ve definitely got a great business opportunity.

Marketing & Sales Plan

Martial arts marketing is a cinch if you have the right knowledge and some budget. The key is to have a plan for how to approach it, adjusting as you gain data, and not burning money on sporadic efforts.

This section should detail all the marketing channels you will be using, a tentative estimate of which you will be your dominant channels, and how you leverage those channels (ads, articles, posts, etc.). Estimate how you will allocate marketing budget between the different channels and if any contractors, consultants, or agencies will be needed to execute these campaigns.

Talk about the legal business structure your martial arts school will have, such as an LLC or a corporation. Clarify who will manage the business, his or her responsibilities, and how other potential employees or contractors will relate to that manager.

For a martial arts school, this shouldn’t be as complicated or lengthy as it would be for more complex business, but it could also cover onboarding new students, supporting current students through customer service, and procedures on hiring help.

Understanding the financial feasibility of your new dojo is one of the main and most important reasons why any school owner should write a business plan. 

Take your fees, your member targets, and your estimates for other income streams (e.g., merchandise sales, events) and place them into a nice graph or tables to show income and profit potentials. Be sure to include estimated expenses, accounting for overhead and emergency expenses. This should all err on the side of cautious conservativeness: be sure to inflate your expense numbers to account for unexpected expenses.

To do all this, you first need to estimate all of your expenses – from one-time startup costs to your projected ongoing costs. Those costs include but are not necessarily limited to:

• CAM/leasing costs
• General liability insurance
• Management software/CRM
• Phone & internet cost
• Electric & utilities
• Marketing budget
• Equipment & gear orders
• Point-of-Sale hardware
• Initial equipment expenses
• Cleaning & maintenance supplies
• Furnishments for the dojo
• Office supplies
• Technology (computer, phone, tablet, etc.)

To learn more, read our article about the cost of opening a martial arts school . Now, moving on the next step, list out your planned income stream and how much money each brings in per unit. We want to calculate how many memberships and product sales you need to make in order to break even. 

Since it’s hard to calculate pro shop sales and event profits, we can simplify this by dividing the projected overhead costs + startup costs with the 12 month dollar value of a membership. So if a membership is $130 a month, the 12 month value will be $1,560. The number you get from this will be the number of active students you need to break even. Growing beyond that is all profit.

To learn more about how to set your prices and design your business in a way that allows you to pay yourself a handsome salary, check out our martial arts pricing article .

Lean Business Plan for Martial Arts Schools

Also known as a “one page business plan,” lean business plans cover more topics than traditional ones, with the key difference being that each is addressed with drastically greater brevity. The plan is divided into four major sections: “strategy,” “tactics,” “business model,” and “milestones.” Overall, it’s a less time-intensive, more agile way to put together a plan for your martial arts school.

Below is a breakdown of the proposed subsection each main section should contain. Since this all should fit on one page, only a sentence or two is used to describe what should be found in each subsection.

• Identity . Write down what your company is all about, including your company values. This is your branding and your culture.
• Service(s) . What services do you offer to the community? One martial art, several, classes for adults and/or kids?
• Target Market . What is the specific group of people you are targeting? As a taekwondo school, your primary market might be children ages 6-12 from homes with a median income of $70,000 a year or more. As a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school, your target market might be adults ages 25-50 with a similar financial situation.
• Competition . Analyze the other dojos in town. What do their services look like? What audience do they seem to appeal to? Figure out what your niche is.
• Marketing activities . Map out all the most important marketing methods you will use, like website SEO, PPC, social ads, and any traditional marketing materials. Our martial arts software can help to streamline this process.
• Partners and resources . Most school owners don’t have business partners; but if you do, be sure to write them down here. Moreover, list out the resources available to you, be it advice from business connections, loans, investments, or anything else.
• Team . If you have help with your school, who’s on staff, and what are their duties?
• Put together an action list of all the most important tasks that need to be completed to open the school and get it operational, including who owns each task (if you have help).
• Plan a schedule to revisit and revise your lean business plan at a later date, as appropriate.
• Map out what the major achievement milestones will be for your business (first 10 students, first 50 students, first belt promotion, etc.).
• Revenue . List all the ways your dojo will bring in money. The main way will usually be monthly tuition, but also incorporate seminars, paid trials (if you plan on using them), and merchandise sales.
• Expenses . List all your projected overhead expenses, including marketing your budget.
• Financial Projections . Project income and profit based on your revenue, expenses, and milestones. Show what your income and profit will look like at different stages of growth of your student body.

While most martial arts school owners are the sole proprietors of their businesses, many still sometimes have business partners or investors. In this case, the sparseness of the one page business plan might not be enough. But for single-operated martial arts schools, it’s sufficient (and much more practical).

Business plans are an indispensable part of planning a martial arts school. While it might seem like a martial arts school doesn’t warrant one, the truth is that you are in danger of wasting money if you don’t have one.

If you’re starting a school with a partner or investors, or you plan on starting a chain of schools, a traditional, full business plan is the right move. If you’re opening one school by yourself, the lean business plan is the most practical and a huge time-saver.

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Martial Arts Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Martial Arts Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their martial arts companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a martial arts business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a martial arts business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your martial arts business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.  

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start a martial arts business or grow your existing martial arts company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your martial arts business to improve your chances of success. Your martial arts business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.  

Sources of Funding for Martial Arts Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a martial arts business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for martial arts companies.

How to Write a Business Plan for a Martial Arts Business

If you want to start a martial arts business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The business plan outline below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your martial arts business plan.  

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of martial arts business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a martial arts business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of martial arts businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the martial arts industry.
• Discuss the type of martial arts business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of martial arts business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of martial arts businesses:

• Boutique-Boxing: This type of fitness studio focuses on practicing boxing techniques as a way to stay in shape.
• Japanese Martial Arts: This type of martial arts studio may teach one or more Japanese styles such as Aikido, Jiu-Jitsu, or Judo.
• Chinese Martial Arts: This type of martial arts studio may specialize in teaching one or more Chinese styles such as Tai Chi or Karate.
• Korean Martial Arts: This type of martial arts studio may focus on one or more Korean styles such as Tae Kwon Do or Hapkido.
• Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): This type of martial arts studio combines full-contact techniques from a variety of different kinds of martial arts and combat sports.

In addition to explaining the type of martial arts business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, the number of classes offered, reaching $X amount in revenue, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the martial arts industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the martial arts industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your martial arts business plan:

• How big is the martial arts industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your martial arts business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your martial arts business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, families, and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of martial arts business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.  

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other martial arts businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes other types of sports studios, recreation centers, and fitness clubs. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of martial arts business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you make it easier for customers to acquire your services?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a martial arts business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of martial arts company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide MMA, boxing, or Karate classes?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your martial arts company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your martial arts business located in a busy retail district, a business district, a standalone studio, or purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your martial arts marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your martial arts business, including answering calls, planning and providing classes, billing customers and collecting payments, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to acquire your Xth customer, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your martial arts business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your martial arts business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing martial arts businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a martial arts business or successfully running a small sports club.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you employ 5 instructors, and will each instructor teach 3 classes of 30 students per day? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your martial arts business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a martial arts business:

• Cost of equipment and studio supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your studio location lease or testimonials from happy customers.  

Writing a business plan for your martial arts business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the martial arts industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful martial arts business.  

Martial Arts Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my martial arts business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your martial arts business plan.

How Do You Start a Martial Arts Business?

Starting a martial arts business is easy with these 14 steps:

• Choose the Name for Your Martial Arts Business
• Create Your Martial Arts Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Martial Arts Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Martial Arts Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Martial Arts Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Martial Arts Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Martial Arts Business Equipment
• Develop Your Martial Arts Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Martial Arts Business
• Open for Business

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Martial Arts business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to hire someone to write a business plan for you from Growthink’s team.  

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

• Online classes
• Tips and tools

How to write a martial arts business plan in 10 steps

Find out what you need to include when you write a martial arts school business plan with our easy-to-follow 10-step guide.

Starting any new business is an exciting time. The prospect of working for yourself, building something new and original, and the journey of taking something that started as merely an idea and turning it into a success can be incredibly rewarding.

As a martial arts instructor looking to become a martial arts business owner, it's no different. You should be excited and rearing to go. But before you go racing off, hold your horses for just a bit and make sure you have all the tools you need in place before you head out on your martial arts adventure.

In this guide, you'll learn the different steps you need to take to easily write an effective martial arts school business plan. From conducting market research and setting your goals, to nailing down your financials and putting together a marketing plan, you'll be well on your way to martial arts success.

What is a business plan?

Put simply, a business plan is a document that anyone who wishes to start their own company puts together in order to plan and organise their business idea. This could be anything from a martial arts school, to a cafe, to a tech startup.

The point of having a business plan is to give you focus and direction for your martial arts business so that you can map out what needs to be done in order to achieve your martial arts business goals. It's also a great way to track your progress and keep on top of things as your martial arts school grows.

Why you need to write a martial arts business plan

For many martial arts instructors, opening a martial arts school, dojo, or martial arts studio comes from wanting to have more control over the style and curriculum they teach. It also gives them the opportunity to hone their own skills in the martial arts style they prefer.

But this and this alone is not enough to guide you through the different paths of turning your martial arts school from a concept into reality. A martial arts business plan serves more than one purpose.

As with any business, there are countless reasons why you should have a business plan before you start a martial arts school . Here are just a few:

• To give you a clear idea of what needs to be done to ensure martial arts business success.
• To give your martial arts business focus and direction.
• To track your business progress as it grows.
• To get business funding from banks or investors.
• To act as a business roadmap.

By having a martial arts business plan in place, you can be better equipped for the challenges and opportunities that come with owning a martial arts school. A martial arts business plan will allow you to focus on your goals, both long and short-term, for your new martial arts school.

Writing your martial arts school business plan

When you start to write your martial arts business plan, it can seem daunting, but by following an uncomplicated business plan template, you'll have all the sections that are vital properly planning your martial arts school.

The sections that you should include in your martial arts business plan include:

• An executive summary.
• A company overview.
• Management and staff.
• Market analysis.
• Primary market.
• Marketing strategy.
• Services and amenities.
• Financial projections.

Each section plays its role in helping you prioritise the tasks needed to get your martial arts school up and running. So without further ado, let's take a look at what each section entails.

1. Executive summary

Your executive summary is essentially the introduction to your business plan. And the key here is, "summary". Keep it focused, keep it brief. The real detail will come later, but at the moment you're explaining to potential investors or bank managers the overall vision you have for your business. It'll also help you keep your goals clear in your mind.

Your executive summary needs to make certain points about your business as clear as possible. These can include subjects such as:

What is your business idea?

Let your reader know what your business idea is. Explain briefly the type of martial arts school you want to start. Is it going to be a school specifically for one type of martial art, such as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school or a Taekwondo school? Or do you intend to offer a variety of classes for different martial arts?

Why are you setting up a martial arts school?

Explain your motivations for setting up a martial arts school. Give a short background of your own career teaching martial arts. Why have you decided that now is the time to start your own martial arts school? Have you taught in many martial arts schools? Do you have a strong martial arts following that you can rely on to come to your new school?

What do you hope to achieve with your martial arts school?

Be clear about what you hope to achieve. Do you want your martial arts school to be a one-location business, or do you envisage your school becoming a franchise in the future? Do you want to instruct a certain age group? It’s important to demonstrate you’ve considered these

2. Company overview

The company overview section of your martial arts business plan should provide the reader with greater detail about your proposed martial arts studio and your business goals. You can now go into greater detail about the style or different styles that you intend to teach at your martial arts school. You should also include:

The martial arts school's mission statement

This is a short paragraph that summarises what your martial arts school is all about. It should be more personal than your brief explanation in the previous section, and your initial mission statement should be succinct. For example, TeamUp's mission statement is:

"To provide the best management software for fitness studios, boxes, and gyms."

It's clear what the goal of the company is. It's direct with obvious intent. Before you go into greater detail about your business, make sure you have a mission statement that clearly states your goal and philosophy for your martial arts studio or school.

Your martial arts school's vision statement

Similar to the mission statement, your vision statement is about what you hope to achieve with your martial arts school. But it should be more future-focused than the mission statement. It's what you hope martial arts will look like in five, 10, or 20 years time thanks to your efforts.

3. Management and staff

If you're the only one running the martial arts school, then this section can be quite brief. You've already shown your credentials and that you have the necessary experience in the martial arts industry.

However, if you have plans to hire staff or instructors, you need to go into more detail about who will be helping you to run your martial arts school. This includes martial arts instructors, receptionists, and any other support staff you plan on hiring.

Show you know how to hire the right person

Make it clear that you know the kind of people you want to hire. Demonstrate you know how to hire the right person by doing your research and writing a detailed job description.

A martial arts instructor is the most important part of any martial arts school. They are the ones who will be teaching the classes and interacting with the students on a daily basis. You want to hire should be experienced and qualified in the martial arts discipline they will be teaching.

But more than that, you want to make sure they share the same values and philosophy as you. It's even worth saying that you're prepared to help train the right person up and help them get certified as they work rather than hiring the wrong person just because they have the right certifications.

Include your plan for training up your staff

You should also include a section on employee training, as it's important that your staff are well-versed in your martial arts school's philosophy and methods. You need to make sure they know how to teach the martial arts style you're offering and encourage them to keep developing their own techniques and credentials. It’s also important that they understand your business goals and want to be a part of achieving them.

4. Market analysis

Your market analysis is when you start to show that you've really done your homework. You want to demonstrate that you've considered the chances of success for your martial arts studio. You need to establish that you've thought about potential blockers as well as identifying a gap in the market.

Who are your main competitors?

This is where you start to really show that you know the martial arts landscape. You need to identify who your main competitors are and what their business does well or where they are lacking. This will help you to learn from them and avoid making the same mistakes.

It's also worth mentioning any potential new entrants into the market. These could be other martial arts studios looking to set up in your area or a new gym that's starting to offer martial arts classes. What will you do differently? How will you stand out from the growing crowd?

What are the trends in the martial arts industry?

The martial arts industry is always changing. There are new styles and disciplines emerging all the time. You need to be on top of these trends so you can make sure your martial arts studio is offering the latest and greatest.

You should also be aware of any shifts in the market. For example, more people might be looking for martial arts classes that focus on self-defense techniques rather than competition. If you can identify these trends early, you can make sure your martial arts studio is ahead of the curve.

5. Primary market

This is when you tell your investors your target clientele. Martial arts studios can be quite niche, so it's important to be as specific as possible about who you're targeting. Are you focused on kids' martial arts classes? Are you catering to adults who want to learn self-defense? Is your martial arts studio aimed at those who want to compete?

The more specific you can be about your target market, the better. This will help you to craft your marketing messages and make sure you're attracting the right kind of students.

6. Marketing strategy

Once you have a thorough marketing analysis and explained your target market, you now need to show that you've thought about your marketing strategy. Prove that you've thought about different avenues for marketing and that the marketing materials you intend to use are appropriate for your target clientele.

Define an online marketing strategy

Online marketing doesn't have to be overly complex. There are a few things you need to have in place to really get your online marketing campaign live and kicking. For example, make sure you know how to build a website or that you have a website developer creating one for you. Your website will become the hub of your operations.

Create social media pages. Engaging social media posts will not only help you in the early stages of launching your martial arts studio. They will be a vital part of your marketing plan as your business grows.

Have a local marketing plan

Having a marketing plan that concentrates on your local area is especially important when you're just about to open your business. Your initial customer base is more than likely to be comprised of people in and close to your local area, so make sure they know you're there.

Local marketing ideas can actually be a lot of fun for your and the community in general. From holding events or competitions at your school or studio to sponsoring local events, there are plenty of ways to get your martial arts studio name out there.

7. Location

The location of your martial arts studio is important for a number of reasons. First, it's important to make sure you're in a safe area with good foot traffic. You don't want your martial arts studio to be hidden away where no one will find it.

Second, you need to think about the demographics of the area you're in. Are there a lot of families? What is the income level? Knowing this will help you to target your marketing messages appropriately.

8. Services and amenities

This is where you'll get to show off everything your martial arts studio will have to offer. Is your facility state-of-the-art? Do you have a wide range of classes and programs available?

Give a thorough rundown of the services and classes you will be offering

Make sure you list all of the services your martial arts studio will offer so potential students know exactly what they'll get when they enrol. Show off all the class types you'll be offering, and consider how you’ll motivate your martial arts students .

Highlight classes for adults or classes for people working their way up through the different belts. If you're going to offer kids' classes , make an effort to sell that after-school spot. Offering after-school classes will be a great way to keep your studio full while most adults will still be working.

Highlight additional services you'll be offering. Whether you're intending to offer one-to-one appointments or online classes and on-demand content, let potential investors know that you've got a thorough plan.

Explain what amenities your martial arts studio will have

Your martial arts studio should have all the amenities that students need to be comfortable and safe while they're at your facility. Making sure that your school or studio is a fun, clean, and enjoyable place to be is one of the primary ways to retain members and students . You can't expect them to return to classes if they're put off as soon as they walk through the door.

Show investors that you've considered the amenities you'll need to install in your martial arts studio, including things like changing rooms, lockers, showers, and a waiting area for those who are accompanying students to their classes. You should also list any other unique selling points that you intend your martial arts studio to offer.

9. Financial projections

Your martial arts studio business plan isn't complete without financial projections. This part of your plan is essential for potential investors who want to know whether or not your martial arts studio will be a viable investment.

Include a break-even analysis in your martial arts school business plan

Your break-even point (BEP) analysis is a crucial part of your martial arts studio business plan. This is where you'll need to learn how to calculate a BEP analysis and do some serious maths to figure out how long it will take for your martial arts studio to start making a profit.

To do this, you'll need to list all of your fixed and variable costs. Your fixed costs are things such as:

Your variable costs are things that include

• Staff salaries.
• Marketing expenses.
• Martial arts equipment.
• Martial arts studio software .

Once you've got all of your costs listed, you can start to figure out how much revenue you'll need to bring in each month to cover those costs. This will give you a good idea of how long it will take for your martial arts studio to start making a

10. Appendix

The appendix of your business plan is where you keep a full rundown of your financial projections, alongside any other supporting documents you may have. The appendix is important because it's where you can provide potential investors with additional information that they may find useful when making their decision.

This could include things like your martial arts resume, letters of recommendation, or even a copy of your black belt certificate if you have one. Don't discount anything in this section. If you feel that adding a relevant document or certification to your business plan will help to enhance your proposal, then include it.

A martial arts business plan is an essential part of planning your martial arts school. It's an important document to take to banks and investors to show you've thought about each part of starting your new business venture. 

But more than that it is a vital roadmap for you as a new business owner. It'll give you the step-by-step instructions you need to follow and keep you on the right track to getting your martial arts school up and running.

Remember to ensure that your martial arts school business plan is well-researched, concise, and easy to understand. Include all the essential information potential investors need to understand your goals. With a thorough martial arts business plan, you're one step closer to fulling your goal of running your own martial arts school.

Start collecting vital information about how to run a martial arts business with management software and find how TeamUp's scalable pricing and intuitive software can help you by booking a call with one of our team today.

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Create Your Martial Arts School Business Plan

1. executive summary, 2. company overview, 3. market analysis, 4. marketing plan, 5. operations and management plan, 6. financial projections.

Mastering your martial arts discipline doesn’t happen by random chance. There’s a process you commit to following and executing with precision. Posture, practice, form, the fundamentals — you can only achieve mastery when they’re all part of your plan.

Mastering the business aspect of your school requires the same dedication and forethought. Your business plan is where all that takes shape.

Think about it like this. Imagine you have a championship match with a high-caliber opponent. Would you just show up the day of the fight hoping for the best? Backed by nothing but positive feelings and a smile? Good luck. You know that winning can only happen when you consistently do the things that winners do — train, prepare, and plan.

Winning in business is the same. As the old saying goes, if you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. Don’t do that. Create a solid business plan for your martial arts school with the same focus and deliberate intent that brought and continues to bring you success on the mat.

How a Martial Arts School Business Plan Can Help You

Creating a business plan for your martial arts school has many benefits. One of the biggest is that it will force you to think about your fitness business in a strategic and methodical way.

Too often, martial arts school owners get lost in the day-to-day operational tasks and forget to take the time to be strategic. Before they know it, weeks, months, and years have flown by with their schools running on autopilot. That can result in a lot of missed opportunities for growth.

Instead, envision where you want to take your business. What do you want it to look like next month, next year, five years from now? A well-written business plan can make all those goals a reality by providing the action steps necessary to achieve them.

Your business plan works to support your mission, vision, marketing plan, financial plan, and overall strategy. It will also help you apply for funding or enter into partner or vendor business agreements.

Most importantly, a business plan will give your school legitimacy and a  roadmap for the future .

Who Is the Business Plan For?

First and foremost, your martial arts school business plan is for yourself . Creating a document like this helps you collect your thoughts and outline the basic steps for business success.

A business plan demonstrates:

• Your martial arts business is viable and has a reasonable chance of success
• You understand your competition and the local market
• You have full intention of properly staffing and marketing your school

And if you’re going to have a staff or team members who will be making important business decisions or acting on your behalf, your business plan can be a training tool to ensure the business goals, objectives, and processes are clear.

Business plans are also essential if you’re going to apply for funding or have other financial partnerships.

Two young BJJ Brazilian Jiu jitsu Athlete fighters training sparing technique at the academy fight

How Long Should My Martial Arts School Business Plan Be?

There is no required length that your business plan has to be. Really, it’s not a matter of length. It’s about adequately planning and describing how your business is going to operate. A perfect business plan should provide all the information that someone who isn’t you would need to run your martial arts school. Focus more on description and detail, not length.

But, if you’re looking for a rough guideline, Investopedia recommends about 15-25 pages . This length will vary depending on the age of your martial arts school and the amount of research you put into your business plan.

If the document length seems daunting, there’s no need to worry — we break it all down for you step by step in our business plan template.

[Download the Template]  

When Should I Create My Martial Art School Business Plan?

Many people create a business plan before they open their business but there are also many situations where an established business (perhaps one that grew organically from a single trainer to a facility with a staff) doesn’t have a business plan. That’s okay — it’s never too late to create one. And even if you’re already up and running, a martial arts school business plan is useful at any stage of business development. That includes when:

• Your martial arts school is already established and successful
• You’re getting ready to open your school
• You’re pitching your business to lenders and investors

A business plan is extremely valuable in all these scenarios. Why?

• If you have an established school already, things can always be refined and improved
• If you’re prepping for your school opening, you want to start off on the right foot and align your vision with your staff’s understanding
• If you’re early stages, you want to be able to secure funding and prove your business prowess to others

And your business plan isn’t something you create once and then forget about. In fact, we recommend revisiting your existing business plan on a regular basis to update your strategy when circumstances have changed. This is especially true if your school has experienced significant growth or if the fitness industry in your area looks different than when you first created your business plan.

Review it with your team, or at least a version of it that contains the information pertinent to their roles and responsibilities. Maintain it as your touchstone for defining the purpose of your martial arts school and the processes by which you make it happen.

How to Write a Business Plan for Your Martial Arts School

Since your business plan will cover every aspect of your martial arts business, it’s best to start by collecting all your documentation early. Make sure to gather:

• Bank statements
• Service contracts
• Insurance policies
• Certifications
• Any other business documents

The more information you can gather, the easier your business plan will be to write.

If you have key employees or investment partners, include them in the process. The more your team is on the same page, the better the finished business plan will be.

Plus, the more help you have, the faster the process will go, simply because other key people on your team have the ideas and insight you need. You can make the process fun by planning an off-site retreat, or you can hold several shorter meetings and assign your team members small tasks they can work on independently.

Need extra help? You may want to consider hiring a business consultant .

Key Elements of a Martial Arts School Business Plan

Below is a brief rundown of the main sections your business plan should include.

Try not to feel overwhelmed as you first look at these topics. Part of the purpose of creating your business plan is to break your business strategy down into manageable pieces that are easy for you and others to understand.

It’s more than okay to only focus on one section per day. You want your guiding light to be a strong one, so take the time you need to get clear on your business plan.

This section summarizes the key points in your business plan. It serves as a quick overview of the rest of the plan for readers who want to skim the first page. It’s usually best to write the executive summary last, since it’ll be easier to accurately capture the contents of your business plan that way.

Your company overview is a comprehensive description of your business, including who you are as a business owner and what your martial arts school does or will do. After reading this section, readers should understand what your business is all about.

Here’s some key information you want to include in this section:

• Type of business
• Mission statement
• Vision statement
• Any SMART goals you have
• Products and services you will provide
• Target market (you’ll go more in depth later)
• Core competencies
• Licenses and registrations

This isn’t a research-heavy section — it’s meant to give basic insight into your business.

By contrast, your market analysis section is a heavily researched summary of:

• The competitive landscape
• Overall market size
• What you expect your share of the market to be

The goal of this section is to demonstrate your industry understanding and make a compelling argument for the existence of your martial arts school. This is your chance to explain who the existing competition is as well as address any overarching fitness industry trends in your area.

Since many of these numbers will be projections — and especially considering the success rate of small businesses — this is one of the sections you’ll want to revisit year to year. You don’t want to be making a business plan based on information that’s several years out of date.

The   marketing plan is a roadmap that lays out how you will attract prospects and turn them into students at your martial arts school. You’ll want to cover:

• School branding  
• Target market (for example, school-age athletes )
• Advertising strategies
• Differentiating factors

This section of your plan can include any digital marketing strategies you have, like social media or paid ads.

Your operations and management plan outlines how your martial arts school will operate on a daily basis. At the bare minimum, it should include a breakdown of:

• Staffing plan and general org chart
• Pay and benefits
• Automated software tools that will help you run your school

This could include a business management and billing tool like Zen Planner or a customer relationship management tool like UpLaunch. Anything that you’d use to help streamline daily tasks.

The financial projection section provides a report of your finances to date. Then, it builds a forecast for future revenue and expenses .

Here are some of the specifics to include:

• Both projected and actual financials
• Break-even analysis
• Long-term goals

If you’re already a Zen Planner customer, you can use the reporting dashboard to help you create customized financial reports for your martial arts school.

Download Your Martial Arts School Business Plan Template

Now that you understand what your plan is for and what sections it should include, it’s time to create your martial arts school business plan.

We’ve provided a business plan template to help you get started. The template includes some of the information we’ve shared in this blog as well as additional details to help you fill out each section.

If you need more help, check out these resources from the Small Business Association . 

[Download Your Business Plan Template]

What to Read Next:

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Online Marketing Strategies to Increase Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy Member Growth and Retention

Introducing the New Zen Planner to Unleash Your Potential & Transform Your Gym 

How To Write A Martial Arts School Business Plan

“Discipline is not a mystery,” says Sensei Leader Movement Founder and Jim Bouchard . “It’s the simple and dedicated practice of aligning your vision and your actions.”

If you’re starting your own martial arts school, you’ve clearly taken the time to perfect the discipline of your practice. You’ve harnessed the drive to make your passion your full-time profession. Great work! But in order to run a successful dojo, you also need to establish and maintain a disciplined business plan.

This plan needs to clearly align your vision and goals with how you intend to achieve them. It’s what you’ll present to your bank to secure loans, to your investors and to your future managers. It’s what proves to friends, family, clients and colleagues that you’re serious – that there’s no going back on your dreams.

Also, when you lay it out for yourself, it’s easier to visualise the next steps and hold yourself accountable to make them happen.

Put simply, you can’t succeed without a kickass business plan. You can find some good fitness business templates online , but to give you the edge beyond the average, we recommend our hot tips for success. 

Start with a clear and succinct overview

What’s your business name, and positioning statement? How will you stand out from the competition? The overview, or Executive Summary as it’s sometimes called, is your opportunity to define who you are and what you stand for. 

It’s also the time to craft you offering. Open strong. Establish your specialty and make it clear what products and services you offer. For example, “We’re a dojo that focuses on Japanese martial arts only – karate, judo and aikido.” 

In your overview you can also outline desired class levels, schedules and times as well as proposed venue(s).

Conduct an industry analysis

It’s crucial your martial arts business plan demonstrates an understanding of the existing market, both in your locally and further afield.

Make sure your business plan explains the perceived demand for martial arts in your area. Perhaps a successful studio isn’t accepting more students or doesn’t provide the particular specialisation you’re offering.

It’s also a smart idea to profile a dojo or martial arts brand you admire and highlight some examples of what they do well in this section. How will you adapt your inspiration to fit within your business model?

Define your target market

It’s absolutely crucial to have a clear idea of who you’re targeting.

Will your martial arts school mainly target young people? Do you have specialist teachers for advanced level classes, or for those who want to start from scratch? Perhaps it’s a combination of all the above.

A great way to highlight this in your martial arts business plan is to attempt some profiling of target clients. Give details on their age, gender, level of martial arts expertise, predicted duration as a client, and so on.

The more detail you can give on your desired clients, the easier it will be to identify their wants and needs to both yourself and potential investors.

Forecast for the years ahead

When you’re writing a business plan, you don’t just want to look at immediate gains, but to work towards a bigger picture. This business is intended to be something strong and to hopefully stand the test of time – not something you’re running for a few months. 

A solid martial arts business plan will forecast predicted growth over the years, based on estimated sign-up figures. Not sure what they’ll be? You can get a picture from your competitor and industry analysis, and target market profiling.

Statements like this are just what investors want to see: “We’re setting up our new martial arts school ‘Ninja Kids’ next to a primary school that’s currently under construction. We wish to capitalise on our close proximity to our desired target market of beginners aged 6-12.”

Outline your proposed operations

In this section, you need to shape your proposed operating schedules and costs for your dojo. 

Here are some things you need to think of:

• Venue cost and contract
• Timetabling
• COVID-safe plan
• OHS and safety
• Council permits

Develop your marketing approach

There’s no point launching a martial arts school if nobody knows about it. This part of your business plan is a chance for your promotional prowess to shine.

So, how are you going to get the word out?

There are free options, such as social media. You could:

• Start a Facebook group
• Show off your shiny new studio on Insta
• Launch some teaser sparring videos on Tiktok.

A local radio station or newspaper might be interested in coverage, or advertising.

If you can tap into existing networks of local martial arts interest areas, or call on the trusted connections of your teachers, a round robin SMS text out can be great to get the initial word out.

The options are endless. Just make sure that whether it’s mail drops in letterboxes or adverts in glossy magazines, your marketing intentions are outlined clearly in your business plan.

Know your finances inside and out

Crunching the numbers for a new martial arts business can be intimidating. But you need to be realistic. Total up all costs and be honest. 

If you’re seeking financial assistance you need to be as transparent as possible – and this means also making sure all your personal debts are in order. There’s no room for skeletons in the closet.

Make your venue hire more budget friendly by sharing a venue with another fitness business to begin with. And start small. You can always grow, but it’s not as easy to go backwards. 

With the right plans in place, your steps to dojo success are well within reach!

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Karate School Business Plan Sample

APR.08, 2018

Do you want to start karate school business?

Do you want to start a karate school ? It is estimated that more than 5 million Americans are currently involved in learning some type of Martial Arts so, evidently, this business has a lot of market. Secondly, you can start this business with lower initial investments as compared to other businesses and can make it profitable, provided that you plan and execute it successfully. Like all other businesses, the first step towards successful planning of this business is to develop a comprehensive business plan which will not only help in startup but will also form the basis of your company’s future policies. So, if you are wondering how to write an effective business plan then here we are providing you the business plan for a karate school startup named ‘NewStar Martial Arts Academy’.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

NewStar Martial Arts Academy will be owned by Santoshi Takayuki, a Japanese American master of karate. Grand Master Santoshi has devoted his entire life to learning and teaching karate, that’s why he knows everything about opening a karate school .

2.2 Management

The company will hire a staff comprising of trainers, assistants and sales executives, all of which will be trained for one month prior to onboarding.

2.3 Customers

NewStar Martial Arts Academy will be a licensed karate school where people belonging to all age-groups will be taught the highest-level of self-defense by the best trainers of the United States under the supervision and mentorship of Grand Master Santoshi Takayuki.

2.4 Target of the Company

The business targets are to balance the cost of a startup within next 5 years of launch and to become the best karate academy in Manhattan.

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

NewStar Martial Arts Academy will be owned by Santoshi Takayuki, a Japanese American master of karate.

3.2 Why the Business is being started

Santoshi has devoted his entire life to learning, developing, and teaching karate and self-defense techniques. His venture is meant to serve the society by teaching them the art of defending themselves while also making suitable profit out of it.

3.3 How the Business will be started

If you are low on investment, you must think about how to open a karate school using minimal resources. Staring everything from scratch is costlier than buying an existing facility that’s why Santoshi will procure and enhance an existing Martial Arts academy. The costs for of startup are as follows:

The startup requirements are as follows:

Services for customers

The most important thing to decide before you think about how to start a karate school is the services you will provide to your customers. It is important because all subsequent components of a depend on your provided services for business plan . NewStar Martial Arts Academy will be a licensed karate school where people belonging to all age-groups will be taught the highest-level of self defense by the best trainers of the United States under the supervision and mentorship of Grand Master Santoshi Takayuki. We will provide training of the following six types of karate:

Along with teaching the karate, our trainers will also counsel the members in their fitness programs.

Marketing Analysis of karate school business

The most important component of a karate school business plan is its accurate marketing analysis because it is only after this stage that a good karate center business plan could have been developed. Marketing analysis must be incorporated before developing the business plan of karate school .

5.1 Marketing Segmentation

Marketing segmentation of the martial arts school business plan shows the various segments or groups of our prospective customers. Our target market is the community living in Manhattan at a 30 minutes’ drive from our office. The community consists of all types of people from varying backgrounds. As per the financial position, nearly half of the community has a monthly income ranging from $40k to $50k while nearly 10% people have incomes even around $100,000. So nearly all of the people are well established and can easily afford our membership fees. Our experts have identified following target groups for our services:

The detailed marketing segmentation of our target audience is as follows:

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5.1.1 Children (6-18):

The first group of our customers will be the children living in the vicinity of our karate school in Manhattan. Nearly 62% of American parents send their children to Martial Arts school business plan or karate schools for learning self-defense and improving their health that’s why this target group will constitute the bulk of our customers. These children belong to financially stable families who can easily afford our services.

5.1.2 Adults (18+):

The second category includes individuals who themselves want to learn martial arts school business for any reason and are aged above 18. Their training will differ from other groups and they will be subjected to more strictness.

5.1.3 Professionals:

The last category includes those individuals who have a passion for karate and want to make a career in it by participating in national and international level contests. This group will be trained at a completely different level under the direct supervision of Grand Master Santoshi himself. The detailed market analysis of our potential customers is given in the following table:

5.2 Business Target

5.3 product pricing.

We will basically offer three types of packages to our members to choose from:

• Monthly membership for $1000 per month
• Semi-annual membership for $5000 per six months
• Yearly membership for $8000 per year

6.1 Competitive Analysis

Our biggest competitive analysis is the leadership of Grand Master Santoshi, who is famous for developing new techniques in karate and has also served as a self-defense instructor for the Tokyo Police department in the 1980s. Our second competitive advantage will be our unparalleled customer service which will maximize the retention of members and reduce the turnover rate.

6.2 Sales Strategy

We will attract our customers towards us by various efforts, such as:

• The school will be advertised as a pro start karate and fitness center in magazines, newspapers and social media
• We will offer discounts on the membership for the first three months of the launch
• We will arrange on the importance of learning self-defense in martial arts school business and the accompanying health benefits

6.3 Sales Forecast

Our sales are forecasted in the following column charts:

The detailed information about sales forecast is given in the following table:

6.4 Sales Monthly

6.5 Sales Yearly

Personnel plan

If you are wondering about how much does it cost to open a karate school , you’d better decide what staff will you be hiring, because a lot of investment/revenue is needed to pay salaries of the staff. That’s why it is every important to develop an accurate personnel plan.

7.1 Company Staff

The company will initially hire the following staff:

• 1 General Manager for managing the overall operations
• 2 Administrators/Accountants for maintaining financial records
• 4 Sales Executives responsible for marketing and discovering new ventures
• 5 Trainers for providing training to members
• 10 Assistants for undertaking day-to-day tasks
• 3 Drivers for providing transportation facility to members
• 4 Cleaners for cleaning the school
• 1 Front Desk Officer for acting as a receptionist

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial plan.

The last thing to do before thinking about how to open up a karate school is to develop a financial plan outlining the development of company over the next few years. The financial plan of martial arts school business plan is as follows.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 brake-even analysis.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 profit monthly.

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 business ratios.

Download Karate School Business Plan Sample in pdf

OGS capital writers specialize in business plan themes such as open driving school business , business plan language school , e-learning business plan , private tutoring business plan , management plan martial arts business , best preschool business plan and many others.

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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8 Steps to Creating a Winning Martial Arts Business Plan

Your martial arts business plan is your roadmap to success. It guides you on your journey, helps you make better decisions, and increases your chances of securing funding for your business.

Creating a business plan for your gym is a process. It’s easy to think of a business plan as something you build once and then you’re done. But your business plan evolves and changes with your business; it’s not a static checklist. 

So whether you’re starting a new martial arts business or expanding an existing studio, a business plan sets the foundation for success. 

In this article, we break down the core elements of a martial arts business plan and how to build a winning document to attract investment for your martial arts business.

What is a business plan and why do you need one?

So, what is a business plan for your gym? It’s a document that tells the reader—investors, the bank, etc.—what your business is and a realistic idea of where the business is heading. At a basic level, your business plan should answer the following questions: 

• How does your martial arts business work?
• What are your business goals?
• What steps do you need to take to reach your goals?

Research shows that entrepreneurs who write formal business plans are more likely to succeed . With a new business, it’s beneficial to pull your ideas into focus by putting pen to paper. However, even established businesses can leverage a business plan when planning growth and expansion efforts.

The main reason to create a thorough business plan is to obtain startup capital and funding. Potential investors and financial institutions will need concrete numbers with facts and figures to move forward with your business. Without a business plan, there is little to no chance of winning their confidence—or their money.

What to include in your martial arts business plan? 

Ready to create a solid business plan for your martial arts school? Follow these eight steps to cover all your necessary bases. Prefer to work from a template? We recommend this one or this one.

Executive summary 

The executive summary is always at the top of a business plan. It should be an attention-grabbing pitch that’s concise yet interesting. You’ll continue to flesh out the points from your executive summary throughout the document. 

Although the executive summary is the first piece of your business plan, it can be easier to write it at the end. Keep in mind what it should include so that you answer your own questions as you build out your plan. 

The executive summary should explain: 

• WHO – who your business is and what it offers 
• WHY – what you hope to accomplish through your business
• HOW – how you are going to get there

Company overview

The company overview is a more detailed description of your martial arts business. It goes beyond talking about who you are and delves into the specific clientele you plan on serving, how your business stands out from the competition, and the goals for your business. 

Because martial arts business models can differ, now is a good time to explain how you will run your business in more detail. 

Your company overview can include: 

• Expand on the purpose of your business 
• Business model and structure
• Products and services you offer 
• Target market research  
• Founding story 
• Legal structure

Industry analysis

The industry or market analysis is where you investigate your local market. Think about your niche, current trends in martial arts , and how your business aligns with market demand. 

Essentially, this section evaluates the fit of your business in today’s market. Try to include some facts and statistics about the martial arts industry and where the market is headed. 

For example, a martial arts school looking to obtain funding for expansion into new locations would include trends and statistics on target demographics and where to reach them — e.g. how many youth are signing up for martial arts classes and the proximity of existing studios to elementary schools, plus any gaps that exist. 

Customer analysis 

Within the martial arts industry, there are various niches and audience segments. Even within one business, you can have multiple target audience personas. The customer base you choose to target will have a big impact on your business, the types of services you offer, and how you market yourself. 

Start by breaking your target customers down by the following: 

The Top 10 Barriers Slowing Your Fitness Business Growth

DEMOGRAPHICS

PSYCHOGRAPHICS

Competitive analysis 

A competitor analysis investigates businesses that are in direct competition to you. These are martial arts schools that offer a similar service within your niche. 

Although you can mention indirect competitors, this section is mainly for a detailed analysis of your direct competitors. It may be impossible to find out everything about a competitor, but you can usually get a clear idea from your research. 

Break down each of your competitors into the following: 

• Services and products they offer 
• Target audience
• Pricing and business model 
• Strengths and weaknesses

Marketing plan

Martial arts are unique in nature. A successful marketing strategy has to be reflective of the distinctive character of classes you offer. 

The marketing section of your business plan is the place to explain everything you plan to do to get your services in front of your target audience. Be sure to include your strategy, projected startup costs, and who will handle your marketing efforts. 

Your marketing strategy can include: 

• Social media marketing 
• Advertising 
• Email marketing 
• Referral program
• Sponsorships
• Partnerships 

Leadership team 

This section is a great place to highlight the skills, experience, and expertise of your team. In doing so, you’ll demonstrate how specific team members will help you to achieve success

Start by laying out key members of your team. This doesn’t need to be limited to martial arts experts, but other experts who will drive your business — e.g. marketing and sales managers, customer service leaders, and maintenance personnel. 

How you structure your business and the type of compensation and benefits you offer will help to attract and retain high-quality talent over time. Make mention of your plans for compensation in this section of your business plan. 

Financial projections

Depending on where you’re with your business, your financial plan can include current financials for the most recent year in addition to future projections. Your projected revenue should be based on facts and research with supporting numbers. 

Include a five-year projection with detailed breakdowns of monthly and annual earnings. Think about your income, cash flow, costs, and outgoing expenses. 

Your finances are the backbone of your business, so it’s important to be as thorough as possible.

Taking your business further

In order to set up your martial arts business for long-term success, you need a business plan. Doing so also increases your chances of securing external funding, whether from private investors or financial institutions. From here, you need trusted tools to help you manage and grow your business.

Enter ABC Glofox : a software that matches your growth ambitions. 

We’re the #1 fitness management software for a reason. 

• Easily manage all your bookings & payments online
• Build a loyal following with your custom branded app
• Use cutting-edge sales & marketing tools to engage with your customers

Ready to boost your fitness business? Book a demo today!

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How To Write a Business Plan for Martial Arts School in 9 Steps: Checklist

By alex ryzhkov, resources on martial arts school.

• Financial Model
• Business Plan
• Value Proposition
• One-Page Business Plan

Are you passionate about martial arts? Do you dream of sharing your knowledge and skills with others? Starting a martial arts school can be a rewarding and profitable business venture. The martial arts industry is experiencing steady growth, with an estimated market value of $4.2 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $6.3 billion by 2025.

Whether you're an experienced martial artist looking to turn your passion into a business or an entrepreneur interested in the fitness industry, this blog post will guide you through the process of writing a comprehensive business plan for your martial arts school. A well-crafted business plan will not only help you secure funding but also serve as a roadmap for success in the highly competitive martial arts industry.

The first step in writing a business plan for your martial arts school is to identify your target market. Consider who your ideal students are - children, adults, or both? Are you targeting beginners or experienced martial artists? Understanding your target market will help you tailor your classes and marketing efforts to attract the right students.

Next, it's important to conduct thorough market research. Gather information about the demand for martial arts classes in your area, competitor analysis, and industry trends. This will help you identify opportunities and potential challenges, and allow you to position your martial arts school effectively in the market.

Once you have a clear understanding of your target market and the competitive landscape, it's time to determine your unique selling proposition (USP). What sets your martial arts school apart from the competition? Is it your diverse range of martial arts styles, the expertise of your instructors, or the state-of-the-art facilities you offer? Clearly defining your USP will help you attract and retain students.

Now, it's time to define your business goals and objectives. What do you want to achieve with your martial arts school, both in the short term and long term? Setting clear and measurable goals will provide focus and direction for your business, helping you track your progress and make informed decisions.

Assessing the financial feasibility of your martial arts school is crucial. Consider the costs involved in starting and operating your school, including equipment, rent, insurance, and staff salaries. Determine your revenue streams and pricing strategy, and conduct a financial analysis to ensure your business is financially viable.

Creating a marketing and sales strategy is essential for attracting students to your martial arts school. Develop a plan to promote your classes, such as online advertising, social media marketing, and local partnerships. Consider offering introductory offers or referral programs to incentivize enrollment.

In order to deliver high-quality martial arts education, you'll need to determine the required resources and infrastructure for your school. This may include hiring qualified instructors, investing in equipment and facilities, and implementing effective student management systems.

Lastly, develop an operational plan that outlines the day-to-day running of your martial arts school. This should include class schedules, curriculum development, student evaluations, and safety protocols. Having a well-thought-out operational plan will ensure smooth operations and a positive learning experience for your students.

Writing a business plan for your martial arts school may seem like a daunting task, but following these nine steps will help you create a solid foundation for your business. By identifying your target market, conducting market research, defining your unique selling proposition, and setting clear goals, you'll be well on your way to launching a successful martial arts school.

Identify Your Target Market

Before starting a martial arts school, it is crucial to identify and understand your target market. The success of your business relies heavily on catering to the needs and preferences of your customers. By defining your target market, you can tailor your classes, marketing efforts, and overall business strategy to attract and retain the right students.

1. Demographics: Begin by researching and analyzing the demographic characteristics of your potential students. Consider factors such as age, gender, income level, and location. Understanding these demographics will help you determine the types of martial arts classes that would appeal to your target market.

2. Interests and Goals: In addition to demographics, identify the interests, goals, and motivations of your target market. Are they looking for self-defense training, fitness improvement, or a competitive edge? Understanding their aspirations will enable you to tailor your classes and curriculum to meet their unique needs.

3. Competitor Analysis: Analyze your competitors to gain insight into their target market. If there are other martial arts schools in your area, study their offerings and the customers they attract. This analysis will help you identify any gaps in the market and determine how to position your school effectively.

4. Feedback and Surveys: Engage with your potential target market by conducting surveys or seeking feedback to gather insights and preferences. This interaction will provide valuable firsthand information about what potential students are looking for in a martial arts school.

• Consider offering trial classes or workshops to gather feedback and assess the interest of your target market.
• Attend local events and community gatherings related to martial arts to connect with potential students and gain a deeper understanding of their needs.

Conduct Market Research

Conducting thorough market research is a crucial step in creating a successful business plan for your martial arts school. Market research allows you to gather important information about your potential customers, your competitors, and the overall martial arts industry. This information will help you make informed decisions and develop strategies that will set your school apart from the rest.

Here are some of the key areas to focus on when conducting market research:

• Demographics: Gather data about the demographics of your target market, such as age, gender, income level, and location. This will help you understand who your potential students are and how to tailor your marketing efforts to reach them effectively.
• Market size and trends: Determine the size of the martial arts market in your area and identify any trends or patterns that may affect your business. This could include factors like the popularity of certain martial arts styles or the demand for specific types of classes.
• Competitor analysis: Identify and analyze your competitors to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and unique selling propositions. This will allow you to differentiate your school and create strategies to attract and retain students.
• Customer needs and preferences: Conduct surveys or interviews with potential students to gather insights into their needs, preferences, and expectations. This information will help you design classes and programs that meet the specific needs of your target market.
• Explore online resources, industry reports, and local martial arts associations for valuable market data.
• Visit local martial arts schools to observe their operations, class offerings, and pricing structures.
• Engage with your target market through social media platforms and online forums to gather feedback and understand their interests.
• Consider conducting a pilot program or offering introductory classes to test the market demand and gather feedback from potential students.

Evaluate The Competition

When starting a Martial Arts School, it is crucial to evaluate the competition in your area. This step will help you understand the market landscape and identify opportunities to differentiate your school from others. Here are some important factors to consider:

• Number of Competitors: Identify the number of existing martial arts schools in your area. Take note of their locations, styles offered, and target demographics. This information will help you determine the level of competition and potential saturation in the market.
• Quality of Instruction: Assess the quality of instruction provided by your competitors. Consider factors such as the qualifications and experience of their instructors, teaching methodologies, and student success rates. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors, you can position your school to provide exceptional instruction.
• Offerings and Specializations: Explore the range of martial arts styles offered by your competitors. Identify any gaps or opportunities that you can capitalize on. For example, if most schools in your area focus primarily on Karate and Taekwondo, you could consider offering Jiu-Jitsu and Judo classes to attract a different segment of students.
• Pricing and Packages: Research the pricing structures and packages offered by your competitors. Analyze the value they provide in relation to the cost. This will help you determine an appropriate pricing strategy for your own school and identify potential areas for differentiation.

Tips for Evaluating the Competition:

• Visit the websites and social media profiles of your competitors to gather information about their offerings, schedules, and overall brand image.
• Attend trial classes or events at competitors' schools to get a firsthand experience of their teaching style and facilities.
• Talk to current and former students of competing schools to gather insights about their experiences and any areas for improvement.
• Stay updated on industry trends and developments to identify potential opportunities that your competitors may have overlooked.

By thoroughly evaluating the competition, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the market dynamics and be better equipped to position your Martial Arts School for success. This knowledge will inform your decisions regarding pricing, marketing strategies, and unique selling propositions, allowing you to stand out in a crowded market.

Determine Your Unique Selling Proposition

In order to differentiate your martial arts school from the competition, it is crucial to determine your unique selling proposition (USP). This is what sets you apart and makes your school stand out in the market.

Your USP should be a combination of factors that make your school special and appealing to your target market. Consider the following points to help you determine your unique selling proposition:

• Identify your strengths: Evaluate what makes your school unique and why students should choose your classes over other options. This could be the experience and expertise of your instructors, the diversity of classes offered, or the focus on individualized training.
• Understand your target market: Research your target market thoroughly to understand their needs, preferences, and pain points. Identify what they value the most in a martial arts school and how you can fulfill those needs better than your competitors.
• Highlight your benefits: Clearly communicate the benefits that your school offers to prospective students. This could include factors such as a supportive and empowering learning environment, flexible class schedules, or opportunities for advancement and participation in competitions.
• Research your competition to see what unique selling propositions they are promoting, and find ways to differentiate yourself accordingly.
• Focus on a niche market and tailor your offerings to their specific needs, whether it's kids, adults, beginners, or advanced practitioners.
• Consider incorporating innovative teaching methods or incorporating new technologies to enhance the learning experience.

Keep in mind that your unique selling proposition may evolve over time as your school grows and adapts to the changing needs of your market. Regularly assess your USP and adjust accordingly to maintain a competitive edge.

Define Your Business Goals And Objectives

Defining your business goals and objectives is essential for creating a solid foundation for your martial arts school. These goals will serve as a guiding force, helping you make informed decisions and steer your business in the right direction. Setting clear and measurable goals will keep you focused and motivated as you work towards achieving success.

When defining your business goals, it's important to consider both short-term and long-term objectives. Short-term goals typically cover a period of one to three years and focus on immediate actions and results. Long-term goals, on the other hand, outline your desired outcomes over five to ten years, giving you a future vision to work towards.

Tips for Defining Business Goals and Objectives:

• Be specific and realistic: Set goals that are attainable and present a clear direction for your martial arts school.
• Include financial targets: Determine revenue goals, profit margins, and cash flow targets to ensure the financial sustainability of your business.
• Consider growth and expansion: If you have plans to expand your school in the future, include growth targets in your objectives.
• Focus on student excellence: Set goals related to student performance, such as achieving a certain belt level or winning competitions.
• Prioritize customer satisfaction: Aim to provide exceptional customer service and create a positive learning environment for your students.

Remember to regularly review and update your goals and objectives as your martial arts school grows and evolves. By regularly assessing your progress and making necessary adjustments, you can ensure that your goals remain relevant and aligned with your vision for the future.

Assess The Financial Feasibility

Assessing the financial feasibility of your martial arts school is a crucial step in creating a successful business plan. These financial considerations will help you determine if your school idea is viable and sustainable in the long run.

1. Conduct a Cost Analysis: Begin by estimating the startup costs involved in setting up your martial arts school. This includes expenses such as leasing a space, purchasing equipment and supplies, marketing and advertising, and hiring instructors. Additionally, consider ongoing costs like rent, utilities, insurance, salaries, and professional fees. By accurately estimating these expenses, you can determine how much capital you will need to secure.

2. Project Revenue: Estimate the revenue your martial arts school will generate. Consider factors such as the number of students you anticipate enrolling, class fees, the frequency of classes, and any additional services you plan to offer. This will give you an idea of your potential income and help you gauge the financial feasibility of your school.

3. Break-Even Analysis: Perform a break-even analysis to determine the number of students or class attendance needed to cover your expenses. This will help you understand the minimum level of business activity required to cover costs and start making a profit. Use a simple formula to calculate your break-even point: Divide your fixed costs by the difference between your revenue per student and the variable costs per student.

4. Cash Flow Projection: Create a cash flow projection to estimate the timing and amount of cash inflows and outflows for your martial arts school. This will help you understand if you have sufficient cash on hand to cover expenses and maintain a positive cash flow. Consider factors such as student enrollment, seasonal fluctuations, and any other income or expenses specific to your school.

Tips for assessing financial feasibility:

• Consider consulting with an accountant or financial advisor to ensure accuracy in your financial analysis.
• Research local pricing for martial arts classes to determine competitive rates for your school.
• Explore potential funding options, such as loans or grants, to acquire the necessary capital for your school's startup costs.
• Keep your financial projections conservative to account for unexpected expenses or lower-than-anticipated revenue.

Assessing the financial feasibility of your martial arts school will provide valuable insights into the potential profitability and long-term sustainability of your business. By carefully evaluating the costs, revenue projections, break-even point, and cash flow, you can make informed decisions and develop a solid financial foundation for your school.

Create A Marketing And Sales Strategy

Once you have identified your target market, conducted market research, evaluated the competition, determined your unique selling proposition, and defined your business goals and objectives, it is time to create a comprehensive marketing and sales strategy for your martial arts school.

A strong marketing and sales strategy will help you reach your target audience, promote your school's offerings, and ultimately attract new students. Here are some important steps to consider:

• Define your target audience: Clearly identify the specific demographics and characteristics of the people you want to reach. This will help you tailor your marketing efforts and messages to resonate with potential students.
• Build brand awareness: Develop a strong brand identity for your martial arts school and create a consistent visual and verbal message that reflects your unique selling proposition. Use various marketing channels such as social media, online advertisements, traditional advertising, and word-of-mouth to increase awareness about your school.
• Utilize digital marketing strategies: Leverage the power of online platforms to reach your target audience. Build a professional website for your school, optimize it for search engines, and create valuable content to attract potential students. Additionally, engage with your audience through social media platforms, email marketing, and paid online advertising.
• Offer promotions and incentives: Create special offers, discounts, or referral programs to encourage prospective students to sign up for classes at your school. Consider partnering with local businesses or community organizations to offer joint promotions and attract more attention.
• Engage with the local community: Participate in local events, festivals, or trade shows to showcase your school's offerings and connect with potential students. Offer demonstrations and mini-classes to provide a taste of what you offer.
• Provide excellent customer service: Ensure that your instructors and staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive to the needs of your students. Happy students are more likely to refer your school to others, which can significantly boost your word-of-mouth marketing efforts.
• Regularly assess the effectiveness of your marketing and sales efforts through metrics such as website analytics, social media engagement, and student enrollment numbers. This will help you identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions about your marketing budget.
• Consider offering trial classes or introductory packages to allow potential students to experience your martial arts school firsthand. This can help overcome any hesitations and increase conversion rates.
• Collaborate with local schools, community centers, or sports organizations to promote the benefits of martial arts training for children and adults. This can expand your reach and establish your school as a trusted authority in the community.
• Implement a referral program to encourage your existing students to refer their friends and family members. Offer incentives such as free classes or discounted memberships to reward successful referrals.

Determine The Required Resources And Infrastructure

Once you have identified your target market, conducted market research, evaluated the competition, determined your unique selling proposition, defined your business goals and objectives, assessed the financial feasibility, created a marketing and sales strategy, and developed an operational plan, it is time to focus on determining the required resources and infrastructure for your martial arts school.

One of the most important resources you will need is a suitable location for your school. Consider factors such as accessibility, visibility, and proximity to your target market. Look for a space that is spacious enough to accommodate your classes and has facilities for sparring and competitions. Additionally, ensure that the location has a fully equipped gym to meet the fitness needs of your students.

Tip 1: Make sure the location has ample parking space for both students and instructors. This will enhance convenience for everyone and attract more students.

Next, you will need to invest in quality martial arts equipment. This includes items such as uniforms, training mats, punching bags, gloves, and protective gear. Ensure that the equipment is of high quality to provide a safe learning environment for your students and to withstand the demands of regular use.

Tip 2: Research different suppliers and compare prices to find the best deals on martial arts equipment. Consider purchasing in bulk to take advantage of discounts.

In addition to physical resources, you will also need to consider the digital infrastructure of your martial arts school. This includes having a professional website that showcases your classes, instructors, and facilities. It is also important to invest in a reliable internet connection to support online class registrations, communication with students, and online marketing efforts.

Tip 3: Optimize your website with search engine optimization techniques to increase its visibility and attract more potential students.

• Clearly define job roles and responsibilities for your instructors, administrative staff, and other team members.
• Establish a budget for your resources and infrastructure, taking into account the costs of location rental, equipment purchase, website development, and ongoing maintenance.
• Consider any additional resources or infrastructure specific to the martial arts styles you will be offering, such as special training equipment or mats.
• Regularly assess and update your resources and infrastructure to ensure they meet the evolving needs of your martial arts school.

By carefully determining the required resources and infrastructure for your martial arts school, you will be well-prepared to provide a safe and effective learning environment for your students. This will help you build a strong reputation and attract a loyal customer base, ultimately leading to the success of your business.

Develop An Operational Plan

Developing an operational plan is crucial for the success of your martial arts school. This plan will outline the day-to-day activities, processes, and procedures that are necessary to run your school efficiently and effectively. It will serve as a roadmap for you and your staff to follow, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and according to your vision.

When developing your operational plan, it is important to consider the following:

• Organizational Structure : Determine the roles and responsibilities of each staff member, including instructors, front desk personnel, and administrative staff. Clearly define their duties and expectations to ensure smooth operation.
• Scheduling and Timetable : Create a structured schedule for classes, ensuring that each style and age group is allocated the appropriate amount of time. Consider peak hours, as well as the availability of instructors and facilities.
• Policies and Procedures : Establish clear policies and procedures for various aspects of your martial arts school, such as safety protocols, student enrollment, fee collection, and disciplinary actions. Communicate these policies to your staff and students to maintain a professional and harmonious environment.
• Training and Development : Provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities for your instructors and staff. This will help them enhance their skills, stay updated with the latest teaching techniques, and deliver high-quality instruction to your students.
• Inventory and Equipment : Keep track of your inventory and equipment, ensuring that you have sufficient supplies for classes, competitions, and events. Regularly maintain and upgrade your equipment to provide a safe and engaging training environment.
• Customer Service : Focus on delivering excellent customer service by addressing the needs and concerns of your students and their parents. Establish effective communication channels, promptly respond to inquiries, and seek feedback to continuously improve your services.
• Regularly review and update your operational plan. As your martial arts school grows and evolves, you may need to make adjustments to improve efficiency and accommodate changes.
• Consider creating an emergency action plan to address potential incidents or accidents. This will help you and your staff respond quickly and effectively in any unforeseen circumstances.
• Collaborate with other martial arts schools or organizations to share resources, organize joint events, or offer cross-training opportunities. This can help expand your network and provide additional benefits to your students.

In conclusion, creating a business plan for a martial arts school requires careful consideration and research. By following the 9 steps outlined in this checklist, you can ensure that your plan covers all the necessary elements for a successful venture. By identifying your target market, evaluating the competition, and determining your unique selling proposition, you can position your school as a top choice for martial arts training.

Defining your business goals, assessing the financial feasibility, and creating a marketing and sales strategy will help you attract and retain students, ensuring the long-term viability of your school. Additionally, determining the required resources and infrastructure, as well as developing an operational plan, will help you establish and maintain a safe and efficient learning environment.

By following these steps, you can create a solid foundation for your martial arts school and guide its growth and success in the competitive market. Remember to regularly review and update your business plan to adapt to changing trends and opportunities in the martial arts industry. With dedication and careful planning, your martial arts school can become a thriving and respected institution within your community.

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