Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Gretchen Wagoner, Owner of BREATHE PILATES Miami, located in Miami, FL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

BREATHE PILATES Miami is a small, boutique-style Pilates studio in Miami, FL. Our customers are those who are serious about intelligent movement with very highly trained Pilates Instructors. We specialize in not only Pilates for fitness but also Pilates for post-rehabilitation.

Tell us about yourself

Opening BREATHE PILATES Miami came to be quite organically. I was teaching at other studios around town and also seeing some private students out of my home studio at the time. It got to the point in which I was so busy at home and also a bit tired of driving around to the other studios that I decided it was time to open a brick-and-mortar location.

I find my motivation in our students! To see them finally "get" or "feel" a movement or exercise is quite fulfilling. As is helping them achieve their goals, for instance, it's extremely rewarding for someone who can't get up and down from the floor to be able to accomplish that movement that others may take for granted.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Establishing and maintaining a strong team of diverse but equally well-trained Pilates professionals. We all may have slightly different styles, but at the end of the day, our core values are the same, and that is to make sure our students are progressing safely.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

When you are a business owner, you are always "on call." Even if you are on vacation, there may be something that comes up which needs your attention. That is why it's so important to set up systems and have people on your team who you can hold accountable so that everything doesn't always fall into your hands.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Make a business plan and stick to it.
  2. Create systems in the beginning.
  3. Pay yourself at the start, even if you think it's not a lot.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Being a business owner is very risky but also incredibly fulfilling! It's not for someone who wants to feel "comfortable" all the time. Sometimes I'm jealous of my friends who have corporate jobs and more stability, but at the end of the day, I don't think I could ever work for someone else again.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://breathepilatesmiami.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breathepilatesmiami
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breathepilatesmiami/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-wagoner-3a03382/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.