After taking lessons for a few years and gaining experience as a performer, you feel confident and ready to start a belly dancing business. In fact, the desire to operate your own business is on your mind every day.
Here are some guidelines to keep in mind before opening a location:
- Do you have a golden goose for financial start-up costs, miscellaneous expenses, and savings to overcome unexpected emergencies?
- Do you have dedicated students who have agreed to enroll when the doors open?
- Do you have knowledge or experience in operating a business?
- Do you have business partners who can help you?
- Can you make a long-term commitment?
- Are you able and willing to work long hours, which means giving up a part of your social activities?
- Are you a person with many talents and creative abilities?
- Are you adaptable and flexible? A popular, but true statement that we hear regularly is location, location, and location.
Location and community:
A popular, but true statement, heard regularly. It’s location, location, location. The study should be easy to find, safe, and within the scope of the target market.
The majority of the students are women who attend evening classes and their safety is a business concern. The studio and its parking lot must be well lit and safely maintained.
The dance studio must be located in or near a diverse community of nationalities. Many of these women enjoy dancing with an international spirit. If your target community is small, consider getting home or private instruction before investing in leasing or buying a studio.
Licenses, insurance, attorney, company name:
- Acquiring licenses and permits is a must. Check with state and local governments for business requirements.
- Hire an attorney. This person helps establish various types of corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships.
- Insurance for the protection of oneself, clients, property and other responsibilities.
- Hire an accountant or CPA.
- Music royalties may be required. Speaking from experience they will find you if you don’t know how to locate them.
- The business name must be filed with the state and there is no guarantee that the name will be accepted. The attorney will conduct a statewide search to make sure it can be used. Be prepared with three different names.
Advertise, market and sell:
In addition to being a good teacher, there are three other main concerns where knowledge and experience will help you succeed in business. These three are advertising, marketing, and sales. These three skills that require knowledge, creativity and financing will be a constant in all aspects of your business.
Advertising, marketing, and sales are the three pillars for staying in business and making a profit. Belly dancing is a lot of fun, but we have to wear a business cap to continue our pleasure and earn a living.
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