How to Prepare Your Yoga Studio for Summer Slumps

Editor’s Note: This post was written by Mike Michalowicz, the author of Profit First, Get Different, and many other bestselling books.

When fewer people walk through your door, it’s easy to start worrying. Will you make rent? Should you cut staff? Can you still pay yourself?

It happens every year. But here’s the good news: just like you plan for the busy season, you can plan for the slow one too. You just need a system. That’s where the Profit First method comes in. It’s a refreshingly simple approach to business finances that works for small, service-based businesses like yours.

Why summer slumps hurt – but Profit First helps

Most traditional accounting looks like this:

Revenue – Expenses = Profit

But in Profit First, the formula is flipped:

Revenue – Profit = Expenses

This shift matters because it forces you to treat profit as a priority, not an afterthought. You take your profit out first, then use what’s left to run the business. It sounds small, but it’s a big mental and behavioral change. And it works.

With Profit First, you divide your income into separate bank accounts. Each one has a purpose:

• Income – All money flows in here first.
  
• Profit – Your reward for running the business.
• Owner’s Pay – Your paycheck (you deserve one!).
• Taxes – No more scrambling come April.
• Operating Expenses (OpEx) – What you can afford to run your studio.

Over time, you’ll add one more important account: Seasonal Reserve.

The summer-proof plan for your business

Here’s how you can use Profit First to protect your peace as well as your business during the slow season: 

1. Add a “Seasonal Reserve” account

Don’t let summer sneak up on you. Look at your average revenue in slower months (June–August) and compare it to busier ones (January–May). If you’re short by $6,000 per month in summer, set a goal to save $18,000 across the high months.

Start small. Even allocating 3–5% of revenue into this account adds up. When summer hits, you won’t panic. You’ll pull from your reserve with confidence.

2. Use the “Small Plate” approach

Think of your OpEx account like a smaller dinner plate: you’ll naturally take smaller portions (or make wiser decisions) when your spending space is limited.

This encourages smart, lean operations like:

• Scaling back under-attended classes
• Delaying non-essential purchases
• Using low-cost or free marketing strategies
• Testing flexible formats (pop-up classes, online offerings)

To streamline your operations and manage these offerings efficiently, consider an all-in-one platform like OfferingTree. It helps integrate scheduling, payments, website building, and email marketing, giving you more time to focus on your students and less time juggling tools. It’s not about cutting corners, it’s about cutting waste.

3. Forecast seasonally, not monthly

Yoga studios don’t follow a flat calendar. They pulse. You know January booms, summer dips, fall steadies. So stop thinking month-to-month and start forecasting quarter-by-quarter.

A seasonal lens helps you:

• Anticipate cash flow needs
• Time promotions or new offers intentionally
• Use your Seasonal Reserve wisely (instead of guesswork)
• Reduce mental clutter by planning in advance

Clarity leads to calm and better decisions.

4. Get creative without getting desperate

When you’re not worried about paying the bills, you can innovate from a place of joy, not fear. Try things like:

• Outdoor yoga in the park to draw in foot traffic
• Short summer series for travelers or parents with limited time
• On-demand video bundles for people who’ve stepped out of their routine

Having a safety net lets you experiment without the pressure.

5. Stay consistent, even when you’re feeling confident

The temptation during high-revenue months is to relax. But that’s exactly when you need to stay committed to your allocations:

• Don’t skip your Profit transfer.
• Keep growing your Seasonal Reserve.
• Still pay yourself from Owner’s Pay, not what’s “left over.”

Consistency through the highs is what cushions the lows. That’s the secret rhythm behind sustainable businesses.

You deserve peace in and out of your studio

Running a yoga studio isn’t just about teaching classes. It’s about holding space for others and yourself. And that’s hard to do when money is tight, or worse, uncertain.

By implementing Profit First and building new money management habits, you create more than financial order. You create peace. You take care of yourself the way you take care of your students; intentionally, patiently, and with love.

PS: To run your business with clarity and confidence, you must have peace of mind about your personal finances, too.  The new book, The Money Habit, will guide you to financial peace.

Preorder The Money Habit: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9781774586433

Get on The Money Habit weekly newsletter for intel before the book release in January! https://mikemichalowicz.com/the-money-habit/

About the Author

By 35, Mike Michalowicz (mi-‘kal-o-wits) had built and sold two multi-million-dollar businesses—then lost it all. That collapse sparked his mission: to simplify success for entrepreneurs through systems that create lasting profit, freedom, and impact.

He’s the creator of Profit First, used by over a million businesses, and author of nine bestselling books including All In and Clockwork. His upcoming release, The Money Habit (2026), brings his approach to personal finance.

Mike runs two companies, partners in many more, and tests everything he teaches. With humor, heart, and hard-won wisdom, he helps people build lives they’re proud to live.

Streamline Your Operations and Manage Your Classes  with OfferingTree’s Seamless Booking Software

To streamline your operations and manage these offerings efficiently, consider an all-in-one platform like OfferingTree. It helps integrate scheduling, payments, website building, and email marketing, giving you more time to focus on your students and less time juggling tools.

With OfferingTree, you can easily set up those pop-up classes, create on-demand video bundles, and even run targeted summer promotions, all from one dashboard. This kind of efficiency is exactly what the “Small Plate” approach encourages.

To help you make the best choice for your wellness business, check out the buyer’s guide, which outlines everything you need to know about selecting yoga studio software.

Start your 7-day free trial today or explore our demo video library to explore features like automated reminders, membership management, and more.