270. Your Pilates Classes Are Amazing - So Why Aren’t More Clients Booking?

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield sits down with industry pioneer Todd Kuhn, founder of The Core Collab, to unpack what it really takes to build a profitable and sustainable pilates business.

From running 40 classes a week in community halls to scaling a boutique fitness business into a 20-location franchise, Todd shares raw, behind-the-scenes insights into the evolution of the pilates studio model. Together, they explore the biggest mistakes studio owners make, why being a great instructor isn’t enough to grow a thriving pilates studio, and how systems, community, and smart leadership are the true drivers of long-term success.

If you’re a boutique fitness business owner feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or stretched too thin—this episode is your roadmap to building a studio that grows without burning you out.

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From 40 Classes a Week to 20 Studios: The Real Truth About Growing a Profitable Pilates Business

If you’re a pilates studio owner who feels like you’re constantly “on”… teaching back-to-back classes, answering emails late at night, and still wondering why your pilates business isn’t growing the way you hoped…

You’re not alone.

And more importantly?

You’re not doing anything wrong—you’ve just been missing a key piece of the puzzle.

In a recent episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, Seran Glanfield sat down with industry pioneer Todd Kuhn, founder of The Core Collab, to unpack what it really takes to build a profitable and sustainable boutique fitness business.

From running 40 classes a week in community halls to scaling a 20-location studio brand, Todd’s journey reveals a truth many studio owners don’t realize until it’s too late…

👉 Teaching more classes is NOT the path to growth.

The Early Days: Hustle, Passion… and No Playbook

Back in the early 2000s, when Pilates was still emerging as a mainstream fitness option, Todd and his team were running classes anywhere they could—community halls, scout halls, you name it.

There was no Instagram.
No Facebook ads.
No automation.

Just flyers, referrals, and a whole lot of hustle.

At one point, they were running 40 classes a week.

Sounds impressive, right?

But here’s the catch…

That level of output isn’t sustainable for most pilates studio owners—and it’s definitely not scalable.

And that’s where many boutique fitness business owners find themselves today:

✨ Fully booked schedules
✨ Constant demand
✨ But still feeling stuck

Because they’ve built a business that depends entirely on them.

The Biggest Mistake Pilates Studio Owners Make

One of the most powerful insights Todd shared?

“You might be the best instructor in the world, but the skills you need to run a studio are totally different.”

Let that sink in for a moment.

So many passionate instructors open a pilates studio because they love teaching.

They care deeply about their clients.
They deliver incredible classes.
They build strong relationships.

But when it comes to running a pilates business?

They’re figuring it out as they go.

And that’s where things start to break down.

Because growing a profitable boutique fitness business requires:

• Systems
• Leadership
• Marketing strategy
• Financial awareness
• Team management

Not just great teaching.

When You Become the Bottleneck

If you’re currently:

👉 Teaching most (or all) of the classes
👉 Handling admin, sales, and marketing
👉 Making every decision

Then your business has a ceiling.

And that ceiling is… you.

Todd shared a pivotal moment in his journey when he realized he could replace himself teaching classes for a relatively small cost—and redirect his time into growing the business.

That shift?

It changed everything.

Because when you step out of doing everything…

You create space to:

✔ Build systems
✔ Train a team
✔ Improve client experience
✔ Focus on growth

And that’s when your pilates studio starts to scale.

Systems + Community = Sustainable Growth

So what actually drives long-term success in a boutique fitness business?

According to Todd, it comes down to two key things:

1. Systems

Without systems, everything relies on memory, energy, and constant effort.

And let’s be real…

You don’t have endless energy.

Systems allow your business to run smoothly without you being involved in every detail.

Think:

• Client onboarding processes
• Class booking systems
• Staff training frameworks
• Sales and retention strategies

These are the foundations of a scalable pilates business.

2. Community

You can have the best studio, the best equipment, and the best marketing…

But if clients don’t feel connected?

They won’t stay.

Community is what turns a casual client into a loyal advocate.

It’s what keeps people coming back—even when competitors pop up nearby.

And in today’s competitive landscape?

That’s everything.

Is the Pilates Industry Too Saturated?

It’s a question many studio owners are asking right now.

“Is it too late?”
“Is there too much competition?”

But here’s the reality…

Pilates has been labeled a “fad” for over 25 years.

And yet?

It’s still growing.

In fact, it’s no longer just a niche within fitness—it’s an entire industry.

What’s changing isn’t the demand.

It’s the standard.

Today’s successful pilates studio owners are:

✨ More strategic
✨ More systemized
✨ More focused on experience

So instead of asking, “Is the market saturated?”

A better question is:

👉 “Am I building a business that stands out?”

The Future of the Pilates Business

One of the most exciting takeaways from this conversation?

The industry isn’t slowing down.

It’s evolving.

We’re seeing:

• New equipment innovations
• Modern class styles layered onto traditional principles
• Expansion into global markets
• Increased demand for boutique fitness experiences

But with that growth comes a challenge…

Studio owners must evolve too.

Because the businesses that succeed long-term won’t be the ones working the hardest.

They’ll be the ones working the smartest.

Final Thought: Build a Business That Supports You

If you take one thing away from this…

Let it be this:

👉 Your pilates business should support your life—not consume it.

You didn’t open your pilates studio to feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and stuck.

You opened it because you wanted:

✨ Freedom
✨ Impact
✨ Financial stability
✨ A thriving community

And that is possible.

But it requires a shift.

From instructor…
To business owner.
To leader.

So the real question is:

Are you ready to stop teaching more…

And start building smarter? 💫