🟥 Red Flag #1: No actual business or education qualifications
You’d be surprised how many people are offering business advice without ever studying business—or teaching.
💬 Questions to ask yourself:
- Do they have any formal qualifications?
- Do they know how to structure learning and support actual transformation?
✅ In my case: I’ve got formal quals in both Business Education and Dance Teaching. It’s not a flex, just a fact. I believe in backing up what I teach.
🟥 Red Flag #2: They’ve never run their own studio
It’s easy to give advice. It’s harder when you’ve actually lived through late fee payments, concert chaos, and team burnout.
💬 Questions to ask yourself:
- Have they ever been a studio owner?
- Do they really get the day-to-day?
✅ In my case: I owned and ran my studio for over 30 years—so when I talk about staff meetings or Term 4 prep, I’m not guessing.
🟥 Red Flag #3: They don’t have a real process
A few inspirational quotes and a Canva template don’t equal strategy. If there’s no roadmap… it’s hard to get where you want to go.
💬 Questions to ask yourself:
- Do they have a clear framework or model?
- Can they explain what working with them actually looks like?
✅ In my case: I guide studio owners through the Studio Business Academy Framework, built on 5 pillars: Systems, Team, Attraction, Retention, and Trust. It’s not set in stone—we adjust it to you—but it’s there to keep us grounded. Plus, we’re not just a coaching program—we’re a government-accredited training organisation, which means everything we do is backed by quality standards and designed for real impact.
🟥 Red Flag #4: They haven’t been recognised by the industry
While awards and features aren’t everything, they do show that others in the field trust and respect them.
💬 Questions to ask yourself:
- Have they been recognised for their work?
- Do others speak highly of their results?
✅ In my case: I’ve been lucky enough to receive a few industry awards, been featured in some great spaces, and built partnerships with respected orgs. That visibility is nice—but what matters most is the real change I get to see in the studios I work with.
So What Should You Look For? If you’re considering getting a coach for your studio (or any big investment really), my biggest tip is:
📌 Find someone who gets it. Who’s walked in your shoes. Who’s got the training, the tools, and the empathy to help you figure out what’s next.
And no, it doesn’t have to be me. But it should be someone who:
- Understands our industry
- Knows how to teach and lead
- Isn’t just trying to sell you a dream—they’re ready to build with you
If you are curious about what working with me looks like, you’ve got options:
Join the Studio Business Academy now and start building your next chapter
Or book a discovery call if you’d like to chat it through first
Plus, you can grab a free checklist here: “5 Things to Ask Before Hiring a Studio Coach”
