How to Start an Aerial Arts Studio

Start an aerial arts studio by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Aerial Arts Studio
2. Form your Aerial Arts Studio into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Aerial Arts Studio for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Aerial Arts Studio
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Aerial Arts Studio
7. Get Aerial Arts Studio Insurance
8. Define your Aerial Arts Studio Brand
9. Create your Aerial Arts Studio Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your aerial arts studio. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Aerial Arts Studio Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening an aerial arts studio?

Costs for starting this type of business vary, but generally include a building that's specifically designed for aerial arts (it must be modified with braces installed for trapeze, rope, and fabric/silk use). Overhead anchor points may also need to be added to the existing interior support beams. This may range between $5,000 and $25,000 depending on the building and existing infrastructure.

Gear includes padding per station at $800 each. Hardware, like carabiners, swivels, ropes, anchor slings, lowering devices and other related equipment will run you $400-$800. Fabric will run you $120 to $150 per person.

Insurance typically costs between $400 and $800 annually and includes general liability coverage. It's expected you will have all students sign a waiver of liability to limit your insurance needs. All instructors must also carry their own aerial instructors liability insurance.

Instructor pay varies, but is generally between $30 and $60 per hour.

Marketing for the business may run between $1,000 and $10,000 or more depending on whether you purchase space advertisements, run radio or T.V. spots, or do local advertising through fliers and business cards.

What are the ongoing expenses for an aerial arts studio?

Ongoing expenses are minimal and include regular maintenance of the rigs and equipment, along with instructor salary. Expect to pay several thousand dollars per year for a small to medium-sized studio.

Who is the target market?

The target market is fitness enthusiasts, yoga practitioners, Pilates practitioners, and individuals who are interested in learning circus arts and want a career in aerial or circus arts.

How does an aerial arts studio make money?

Aerial arts studios make money by charging a fee for classes. Many instructors and facilities charge a per-hour rate for classes and may have different rates for members and non-members.

How much can you charge customers?

Typical fees for aerial classes range between $15 and $25 per hour, with some studios charging up to $60 per hour for classes. You can also charge a flat fee for specific programming. For example, instead of charging $15 per hour, you could charge a flat fee of $150 for five 2-hour classes per month of instruction.

How much profit can an aerial arts studio make?

Profit for a studio depends on your hourly rate or flat fee program and where your studio is. You may achieve a 10% profit margin, but many studios operate on much thinner margins.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Make your studio more profitable by offering supplementary classes and mixing other disciplines into your core aerial arts programming. For example, consider offering aerial yoga or aerial Pilates. You may even want to partner with local yoga instructors to bring in more students.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your aerial arts studio is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate an aerial art studio business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Release of Liability

To avoid liability and potential lawsuits, an aerial art studio businesses should have their clients sign waivers. An example of an appropriate waiver can be found here.

Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional release of liability form for your studio when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.

Certificate of Occupancy

Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

• If you plan to lease a location:
• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a aerial art studio business.
• After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.

• If you plan to purchase or build a location:
• You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your aerial art studio will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is perfect for anyone who is athletically inclined and has excellent spatial awareness. In addition to athletic ability, a business owner needs to understand the basics of running a profitable business. While long hours aren't typical, flexibility in scheduling is. Most students will have to come either before or after work or on the weekends. So, a business owners has to be willing to train students during "off peak" times of the day.

What happens during a typical day at an aerial arts studio?

Aerial arts instructors have busy days. Before students arrive, they often train privately for their own benefit and to put together a program and schedule for students. Instructors spend a lot of time making sure rigs are safe, inspected, and maintained. They also ensure student safety by spending time going over safety procedures with students.

An instructor may have one-on-one classes or small group classes. Beginners, intermediates, and advanced aerialists are often grouped together in different classes, but some instructors do choose to teach mixed classes.

Several routines are performed during a class, with beginners focusing on basic moves that will prepare them for more challenging maneuvers later on. Instructors often have to deal with first-timers' dizziness, muscle aches and pain due to the unusual nature and use of the ropes and fabric used during class.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful aerial arts studio?

You must be an expert aerial artist if you want to be actively involved in teaching it to others. Usually, this takes many years of practice. Most business owners are actively involved in the business. However, if you know or can hire expert trainers, it's possible to simply run the business side of things with input from your instructors.

What is the growth potential for an aerial arts studio?

Growth potential for this business is usually small, but can be quite large depending on your ambition. Most instructors choose to maintain a small business so they can focus on quality instruction. However, some studios maintain several locations and build networks with other non-competing studios to further expand reach.