Dance studio with your own space

Families enrolling children for the school year and adults paying monthly or per class.

Monthly tuition, registration fees, recital and costume fees, and extra income from birthday parties, camps and rental of the room to other instructors.

• Dance teaching experience across levels
• Managing and hiring instructors
• Marketing to local families
• Budgeting and handling lease costs

• Lease commitments, so have a lawyer review it and check break clauses
• General liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire instructors
• Zoning, occupancy and fire code rules for a studio with groups of children, so check with your city or county
• Background checks for staff working with minors, and check your state's rules
• Enrolment often dips over summer, so plan cash flow for slower months
• Music licensing for classes and performances

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your lease, flooring, mirrors and sound system. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on enrolment and the classes you offer.

Check your lease commitments, have a lawyer review them, and look at break clauses. Also check general liability insurance, workers' compensation once you hire, zoning, occupancy and fire code rules with your city or county, and background check rules for staff working with minors.

Estimates suggest at least about 25 hours a week. Useful skills include teaching across levels, hiring and managing instructors, marketing to local families and budgeting. Enrolment often dips over summer, so plan cash flow for slower months.