How Martial Art Business Owners Can Weather A Recession In 2023

The past two-plus years showed us all a lot about business. 

It showed the people who survived the holes in their business and game. 

It showed the world how to do more with less. 

This happens in every downturn. It is alarming the things it can show us. 

Everywhere I turn, I hear about a recession these days. 

And in Fitness and Martial Arts - we know that about 25-30% of the industry is gone. 

So what does that mean for you? Less competition. 

But also more challenges. 

Where we once all rested on our past successes - we don't have that luxury in the future. 

Recessions - are an interesting thing. People lose it all and get rich during the SAME event. 

I've been through 2 already. It does suck. But there is always a great lesson for business owners in it. 

We tighten up the game and batten down the hatches. And we get ready to weather the storm. While still trying not just to survive - but to thrive. 

We make due. And keep moving. 

Try this tip out - I did it and saved over 1200 dollars a month. 

Go through all of your expenses - there is almost 90% certainty that - right now, you are subscribed or paying for one or probably more things you are not using. 

I get it - we are many savers - it verges on being a pack rat. But - if you haven't used it in 3-6 months. 

Cancel the account. Look to have your trash picked up two times instead of 3. 

Get a haircut every three weeks instead of 2. 

Buy in bulk. There are a lot of ways to KEEP more money right now. That requires NO extra lifting at all. 

You can cut costs and increase profit - instantly - vs trying to go out and get more business. 

That's the 2nds part - getting more business and keeping more business. 

Both times - in 2010 and 2020- my businesses leveled up. 

Flourished even if a part of it - died. 

It would be best to prune the dead leaves and branches for a healthy tree to grow. 

Business and relationships are like plants. 

We care for them. They grow. We neglect the biz or plant; they die. 

Neglect doesn't always mean with intent. 

It could mean without knowing. 

We all don't know what we don't know. 

But not knowing bites a lot of us in the butt. 

We live in some fantastic and wild times. 

So here is a list of things you can do right now - to stay ahead of all of this. 

1) Get ahead of it! 

Stay ahead of others in your marketing - right now is before Halloween - you should have had your Halloween marketing done and out already - if you didn't - real talk - it's too late. 

Get on Holiday season marketing - an excellent way to give goodwill and give back to families who all of this may have impacted. 

Gift Certificates are a fantastic way to get sign-ups, increase your bottom line in the last Quarter - and also give back to families. Easy, fast, effective, and affordable. 

Plastic Holiday Gift Cards are a step up from paper-based gift certificates. They look super professional and turn heads. 

2) Keep MORE students. 

Everyone talks about getting more students, but very few people talk about keeping more members. 

Churn is the silent killer of business, which can mess you up if you aren't staying on top of it. 

Use Thank you cards, and student retention cards to send thank you notes or we miss you cards to current and past members. 

This works great - check out this blog post and video on how to use it. 

3) Online marketing and online business - have been the biggest game changer in my life. 

I'm able to move about the cabin freely. 

There are a couple of things everyone who is running a business or using the online space to sell their - product, service, or hybrid needs to know and use for maximum effectiveness. 

A) We want to look and sound professional - it's simple to do and super important. We don't like to attend a job interview in dirty sweats. We try our hardest to do as much as possible with what we have. You don't need more than a few hundred bucks - but the difference goes from a 4 to a 9. 

Also, I put together a comprehensive course, Lights Camera, Action - and marked it way down. Suppose you want to learn about lighting, cameras, and audio and how to get the best out of your gear. Check it out here. 

B) Know how to use live and recorded video content to create and connect with an audience of people who would buy your stuff. Making online content - helps connect with your audience. Check this excellent little program out that's under 20 bucks. 

It's called Recession-Proof Online Business and hundreds of members have used it and learned from it. 

C) Get up online with a course or product- the best path to personal freedom is getting online products and services out of your head so they can make you money - while you do other stuff. If you want to get the ideas out of your head and up online and start taking back your freedom with online courses and products. Then check out this program Rocket Launcher 3.0. 

Remember - the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago - the next best time is right now.