How To Set Up A Paddle Board

20 TIPS on how to start a stand up up paddle lath SUP business

Do y'all beloved paddleboarding or SUP yoga and want to brand some side income or even a living doing information technology? It is a sport growing in popularity effectually bodies of h2o all over the globe and even in indoor pools. Anywhere yous can get a lath on the water, there volition be SUP before long. If it hasn't come to yous withal, why non offset it yourself?

Before you dive into building a SUP business organisation, know that it is a business and businesses tin have time and money to build. To assistance you lot through the process, we are outlining the key kickoff steps to take before jumping on your board to teach a lesson.

Lookout man this video on the 5 ESSENTIALS you lot want to consider when condign a standup paddle board or SUP yoga instructor.

>> Click here toDownload YOUR Gratis CHECKLIST on How To Kickoff A SUP Concern HERE<<<

1 – Get certified or trained in your SUP specialty (flat water, fettle, yoga)

v years ago, I was teaching all my friends to paddle board and getting certified wasn't something that was easy to find. Now, there are stand up up paddle board yoga, fettle, flat water and master trainer certifications on all coasts. Look into what certifications you demand to take someone out on the water.

Giving a private 1:1 apartment water lesson may require much less in certifications than teaching a SUP yoga class on the water, where it is recommended to accept yoga and grouping fitness certifications as well.

Education SUP yoga, you will probable have your clients paddle to your SUP yoga destination so having some SUP technique training is primal to keeping your clients rubber on the water.

Certifications comprehend non merely the basics, but also include water safe and rescue techniques….a must-accept when you are taking people out on the water!

Annotation: Brand sure your instructor is certified by one of the major associations like WPA, ACA, BCU, ASI, etc. There are people "certifying" and charging money who aren't really certified themselves. So do your research first before you choose your certification program!

ii – Where will you teach or go?

Are you familiar with the bodies of water well-nigh you lot? Where is your ideal place to go paddleboarding? Where will y'all launch from and where volition you agree your classes?

Partnering with a shop that is on the waterfront may assistance you in many ways to get going on your business journeying. They may even be looking for someone to rent out to assistance teach their rentals or students.

If you are thinking indoor pools, scope out nearby pools that don't already have SUP yoga classes and start conversations with them, like yesterday.

iii. Proper noun your business

Coming up with a concern proper noun can exist easy or cumbersome. You want something unique that isn't already being used past someone else. Never skip the step of looking up your proper noun for filings and trademarks in your country.

In the United States, you tin can do a proper name search on TESS. Also make sure that the URL and social media usernames are bachelor.

>>>Use Namecheckr.com to lookup name availability on .com and social media accounts in 1 shot.

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iv. Lock downward your URL and social media logins

In one case you decide on a proper noun and determine it'southward available, purchase upwardly and lock downwardly the URL, and then create accounts with that username across social media accounts. You can buy your URL on sites similar Namecheap.

Do this immediately even if yous aren't set up to start using them.

If y'all are using a proper name and it's being used by someone else in a not-competitive manner, be cautious. For social media accounts, you lot can consider adding a "co" or "official" to the cease the proper noun for your username. For URLs, if you don't own "yourbusinessname".com, realize that as you advertise your business organisation you lot volition lose traffic to people who get direct to the .com website.

5. Get your business hat on

Whether you are working for a local store or running your own tours or classes, you will need to put your business hat on. Setting up a business can exist daunting in itself.

If you lot are looking for aid and forming a business concern in the United States, nosotros recommend checking out our Sole Proprietorship checklist or LLC checklist and A Summary of U.S. Business Types.

Then think about insurance, waivers, and business licenses!

Get help when needed and don't let the admin bog you lot downwardly. Sites similar LLCUniversity.com provide gratuitous education for LLCs by country and LegalZoom will gear up your business entity for you lot.

6. Banking and how you volition get paid

How will you receive payment? Once you get your business setup, yous'll desire a split up banking company account for merely your business organisation transactions.

Add to that a Paypal business relationship and any other manner you programme to accept payment. Stripe for credit cards or Venmo? People will want to pay yous, don't allow the payment method stand up in your mode to collecting money.

7. Booking methods

How will you have bookings? If you are just starting out, you can stay basic and have a phone number or email that people can use to contact you directly. Note that by not having an easy "book now" blazon of pick, you lot may lose people who don't desire to pick up the phone.

….or you tin can utilize one a recommended online booking software like PeekPro, SimplyBook.me, FareHarbor or schedule through sites like AirBnB.

8. Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping can but be a notebook when you lot start out or automated with online accounting software. Which ever method you cull, the key is to make sure you lot record all your money coming into your business and all the money going out.

Quickbooks Online has a self-employed app that keeps it all simple and records only tax deductible expenses. If you are a pen to paper kinda person, that is fine too. Just make an effort to reconcile your business accounts, keep receipts and track your income and expenses. Ever easier said than done. For online bookkeeping software, checkout Quickbooks Online, Xero and Waveapps (free).

Note: Keeping receipts and records of your expenses tin salvage you lot money when it comes to file your taxes. If you are running a business in the United States, you can likely deduct a large portion of your business expenses.

9. Equipment

Are you planning to run classes, lessons or tours where you can employ someone else's equipment or practise you need to invest in a armada of boards?

If you are running indoor pool classes, volition you get floating yoga mats vs total SUP boards? If yous are purchasing a armada of boards, know that near board companies will give you bulk discounts.

How will yous afford buying a armada of boards before yous even go started?

If you don't have $10k lying effectually, expect into getting a small business organisation loan. Again, getting started and being able to partner with a shop that lets you lot use their equipment is a huge money saver at the beginning of your biz journey.

x. Insurance

If you lot are taking people out on the water, make sure to protect yourself with liability insurance specific to the water. You don't want to lose everything yous worked for over a lawsuit. Most venues and shops that you work with volition crave information technology anyways.

>>> Cheque out my podcast episode #14 with Outdoor Insurance Group owner for more info on insurance in the SUP and SUP yoga biz.

11. H2o Access

You would think you could simply drop your boards into any body of h2o and start teaching a grade. Simply nearly cities and bodies of water require water access permits to behave concern on the h2o.

Does everyone running a business on the water accept these water admission permits? No, and they run the risk of existence fined if information technology is required.

Not having a water access let where its required tin result in hefty fines.

Getting permits can be costly. If y'all are only starting out, think about partnering with a store or location that already has this covered. They will likely require you to provide proof of insurance. (See #8)

12. Condom

Knowing the rules of the trunk of water you will be working on is critical, as is having the right numbers to call if you or someone else gets in trouble. Program them into your phone and put a sticker on your boards with your number on it.

What age do kids require PFDs, is a PFD required on board every vessel? Know the rules and safety measures. Are there areas that take currents, shallow areas, areas with obstacles in the water, wildlife, common changes in wind?

Know how to assess your h2o and be able to adapt your class or tour based on conditions.

How can you lot help someone who has been separated from their lath, can't go back on, is struggling with paddling in the wind or is fatigued?

H2o rescue and safety techniques, including knowing how to tow is essential when taking others out on the h2o. Yous should learn this in your certification program!

thirteen. Marketing

Who are you going to attract to your clases and tours and who is your ideal customer? Showtime building social media accounts and a website …and brainstorm on WHO your ideal customer is and WHERE they spend their fourth dimension so that you lot tin focus your marketing efforts to reach them.

Define who you volition be serving. Now, y'all can have multiple client types or avatars in your customer base of operations. Maybe you run indoor sup yoga classes in pools so have kids summer SUP camps or a SUP tour. Each of these avatars look different, so outline characteristics of each as their own "ideal person". You will want to target your marketing to that ideal persona and talk to that persona in your marketing re-create.

Identify what social media you lot will apply (Facebook / Instagram) and get a website setup. A bonus tip here is collect your client emails from the offset. Y'all will always have a way to reach your customers if you accept their email.

>>>Mailchimp is a recommended e-mail management and is free for email lists with less than ii,000 people.

Don't skip over traditional marketing. Identify flyers with your data in local shops and tourist areas, if you are serving tourist clients. Post on message boards and beaches where you offer classes. Get your promotional flyers washed correct. Look online at Vistaprint or visit your local Staples or Fed Ex for promotional printing options.

fourteen. What classes will you offer?

Will all your classes be the aforementioned? Drop in ane-off basis? Will yous offer a series of classes with the aforementioned students in the series of class. Will you have sunset paddles, sunrise paddles, fitness, deep stretch, etc.

Remember of the different classes you tin can offering and what they will be called. Naming your classes can be as important as offering a variety. SUP yoga is SUP yoga, simply I've seen it called Paddleboard Fit, Paddle Fit, SUP yoga fusion, Period Yo, Power Yo, etc. Recollect of witty names that speak to your platonic customer.

xv. When will you lot offer classes day/time?

Offering an 8 am grade to moms volition non end well for you as that is when they are probable dropping off their kids for school. 4:00pm classes volition exist hard for working professionals to go to.

Knowing who yous are targeting for each class and what time slots piece of work for that market place might be the difference in having a full class and no 1 showing up. Be strategic in your class times and test them out. Be willing to motion them around and so that it works for yous and your customers.

xvi – Cancellation policy and Programme B

What is your plan B when you lot have bad weather? Think in terms of WHAT IFs, if you cancel the class as well equally if your clients cancel a class. Maybe yous refund money or provide form credit.

For client cancellations, call back by way of how a hotel handle cancellations. Maybe if a customer cancels inside 72 hours of the class, they get a refund. Otherwise, only class credit or no refund …or a full refund always…what do y'all want to practice?

17. Knowing and planning for your seasons

Every location has a decorated flavor and an off season. Fifty-fifty in areas where it is warmER year-round like Florida and San Diego, the mindset of a local during winter months is not i to enter the h2o unless they are a passionate paddleboarder.

Fifty-fifty still, the idea of winter and cold water volition keep customers away. Know what'due south coming then y'all can plan for it.

18. Off season strategies for gaining and nurturing your customers

Making coin in the off season is not unheard of, in fact there are many stand up paddle board businesses doing just that. But to practise and so, you may accept to remember outside the box or even outside the h2o if yous will. How To Start A SUP Business: Become A SUP or SUP Yoga Instructor

Indoor pool SUP yoga classes are a Hit, can be alot of work, merely fruitful for getting new clients comfortable on the board in a prophylactic and warm surroundings and turn them into outdoor clients come up busy season.

Indoor classes tin likewise be held on INDO rest cushions, exterior of the pool.

Another pick is building your social media channels and do production reviews. Various affiliate acquirement opportunities may exist for your business by reviewing and promoting products through your website and social media channels.

Off flavour is a great time to nurture your clients through email, social media videos and posts. Utilise this time to strategize and plan for your next busy flavor, which is always but around the corner.

nineteen. Find a mentor or coach

Seriously, being part of a community of like-minded business owners or finding a mentor can aid you lot avoid mistakes and skirt past other's lessons learned.

>>> Check out the UNLEASHED customs on Facebook to collaborate with other business owners in the industry in a promo-free zone.

20. Get out in that location and have action

Most people have an thought and don't brand information technology happen. If it was easy, everyone would exercise it. Put your actions where your mind is and leap alee. Start small, partner, teach, get certified and take baby steps towards your large goals. Just brand something happen every 24-hour interval.

MORE INFO

Looking for more than help? Download our SUP and SUP Yoga Instructor: Business 101 eBook and our SUP Business Budget Template at http://www.thepaddleboardingpa.com/shop

Interested in some 1:1 assistance?

Book a Strategy Call with Julie and become assistance through your challenges today.

>>> Need concern and marketing resources for your ain master grooming? <<<

Interested in checklists and resources to provide during your main trainings? Or have Julie provide alive training almost or in-person during your instructor certification class? Add together another layer to your teacher preparation past helping your students have the next steps to being a successful business possessor. Contact julie@paddleboardingcpa.com or message Julie @paddleboardingcpa for opportunities and more data.

About Julie Merrill, aka The Paddleboarding CPA:
Julie Merrill has a background in business and marketing and a passion for h2o sports. By combining these passions, she unleashes an free energy and ambition that guides agile sports entrepreneurs in creating, growing and running their businesses. Julie is a podcaster, active sports business organization and marketing coach, entrepreneur, CPA (inactive), owner of SUPchic, certified SUP teacher, mom and war machine spouse. To find ways to work with Julie, click here.

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