2. Offer a good trial program. Tell them exactly who you are looking for. We have been doing a 4-week trial for $25 and they get a uniform. These are converting to enrollments at about 75%.

3. Create a program for young children. We teach a class for 3-6 year olds. Most schools do not take kids under 5–actually, most activities period. Often the first words out of a caller’s mouth are “What age can they start?” We have a 30 minute class for the little ones with a curriculum tailored to their ages. They love it! And you will likely get older siblings too.

Advertise on facebook and post all events at your school

There’s a real demand for such niche programs. And if you’re worried about “crappy students” (Item 24, above), don’t be. Most of the kids work out just fine. In our experience, of perhaps 100 kids, only one or two were really disruptive or problems. Many transitioned very nicely from that specialized program into the schools’ regular karate programs.

Another type of niche is teaching a skill within the martial arts family that you’re not already offering. And you may actually find that expertise among your students. Two examples: My son takes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lessons taught in a very large karate studio. One of the other students–a blue belt in jiu jitsu–is an extremely good kickboxer, and he teaches kickboxing at the karate studio. Second example: My son, who’s also a blue belt and quite good grappler. He started off learning grappling at a karate studio; after a couple of years he was beating his instructor. He now co-teaches (and is really the primary instructor in grappling) at that karate studio.

Another idea, building on Lane Cox’s suggestion about getting involved in the community: Look for ways to build good will. Example: Here in the Washington area we had a huge amount of snow in the weeks prior to the district, regional, and state AAA high school wrestling tournaments. Schools were closed and so the kids couldn’t practice . . . at school. But a number of karate studios provided space, at no charge, so the wrestlers could practice and keep in shape. It didn’t cost the karate schools anything, but built tremendous goodwill within the community, and probably will lead to additional business.

Great ideas. I love this blog. As someone who is at least a year away from opening my own school, it’s really helped me plan, and made me more confident.

Regarding seminars, I was wondering how you start off? Do you offer to other clubs? To your own club? It’s not something I’ve come across much in my MA experience.

Anyway, love your site! Please keep up the good work!

Glad to hear my ideas helped you quadrupedal your students base in less than 4 months and you’re welcome! I’ve got to tell you, your comment made my day. It makes writing my posts and investing all the time and energy into them that much more rewarding.

Thanks for all your useful information. I will be a frequent visitor.

Idea 1: Develop relationships with the competitors, hold joint demonstrations and functions. Most people lack exposure to other martial arts except their own, and you can never have too many friends.

Idea 2: Don’t just Blog: Tweet. you can find tons of excellent martial artists on twitter using hashtags by discipline, ex. #kungfu, #karate, #taichi, or general ones like #martialarts, #martialway, or #MMA. Find your niche and network.