Step : Register For Taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN for free through the IRS website, via fax, or by mail. If you would like to learn more about EINs and how they can benefit your LLC, read our article, What is an EIN?.
Learn how to get an EIN in our What is an EIN guide or find your existing EIN using our EIN lookup guide.
Small Business Taxes
Depending on which business structure you choose, you might have different options for how your business will be taxed. For example, some LLCs could benefit from being taxed as an S corporation .
You can learn more about small business taxes in these guides:
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
Writing Your Yoga Studio Business Plan
Once youve identified what makes your business unique and found the right location, youll need to start actually writing a business plan for your yoga studio.
Above we shared a list of the sections that might make up a typical sample yoga business plan. Those were:
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Executive Summary
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Funding and financial summary
Seeing as you’re here looking for help on how to write a business plan for a yoga studio, we thought wed go into a little more detail about what each section should include.
Stick with us because after that, well let you know where you can find a free yoga studio business plan template.
Step : Obtain Necessary Permits And Licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a silent retreat center business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBAs reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
For information about local licenses and permits:
- Check with your town, city or county clerks office
- Get assistance from one of the local associations listed in US Small Business Associations directory of local business resources.
Certificate of Occupancy
A silent retreat center business is generally run out of a large center. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy . A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
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How To Start A Retreat Business
Retreats
Planning a retreat is a lot of work more than you probably expect but doesnt have to be overwhelming if you know what to do. So, we created a step by step guide to make sure you know how to start a retreat business and what you need to do. In this blog, we give you a checklist for planning a retreat, but we have a full 7 week program that goes into detail of each and every step. Retreats made easy! We will teach you everything so you become a better retreat leader and make more money and add more value for you attendees.
Grow Your Wellness Business By Hosting Retreats

For all the spiritual or rejuvenating goals of a retreat, there are just as many practical reasons to host retreats as part of a long term business plan.
A retreat business can take you all over the world. Imagine the vibrant rainforests of Bali, the tropical blue waves and white sand beaches of Lombok, the whistling jungles of Costa Rica, and the jetting rocky mountains of the Andes. What if you could travel to these places throughout the year while earning a profit during each of your visits? What a life!
A retreat business can make you more money than youre earning from one-on-one sessions or classes alone. Plus, arent they an exciting complement to your other offerings?!
You get to work with amazing people. Retreats attract wonderfully conscious types. What wellness entrepreneur wouldnt want to work with lovely souls doing their work.
Retreats draw people from all walks of life from all parts of the world, so they let you share your passion and life-work with even more people.
One reason retreats can generate higher profits is because, although they require peak output during the retreat, its for a short period of time. Those bursts of intense value offered to a group over a few days can generate higher profits in a smaller window of time than what youd earn during the same period working one-on-one with your clients.
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Start A Silent Retreat Center By Following These 10 Steps:
You have found the perfect business idea, and now you are ready to take the next step. There is more to starting a business than just registering it with the state. We have put together this simple guide to starting your silent retreat center. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Check out our How to Start a Business page.
How To Start A Silent Retreat Center
Silent retreats give people a chance to disconnect from their hectic worlds by providing them with a peaceful place to commune with themselves. Guests are discouraged not only from talking but from making eye contact with one another. Silent retreats typically provide classes, meals, and reading materials to structure the guests’ time. Retreats serve to get people back in touch with themselves so they can be more effective when they return to their real life.
Learn how to start your own Silent Retreat Center and whether it is the right fit for you.
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2020-08-11
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Course Curriculum 21 Days
Designed on Hatha, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga Yoga Practice. Our Yoga School mixed the concepts of Yoga Philosophy, Yoga Anatomy, Breathing or Pranayama Technique, History of Yoga, Kriyas, Yoga Asana, Shatkarma, and ceremonies like Mantra Chanting, Homa, and Yajna. Regular practice of Theoretical and Practical classes is provided on a regular basis to improve the knowledge of Yoga. The syllabus of Yog Mantra Bali is:-
Pranayama, Chanting, and Meditation
This is one of the crucial parts of our 200 hours yoga TTC. It involves controlling breathing and filling the body with positive vibes and energy.
Asana
Practice of Asana and methodology is the main part of this subject. It eradicates all the defects in the Yoga Asana and renders the proficiency in Yoga Postures.
Yoga Anatomy
Our professionally experienced and trained Yoga teachers help in learning and understanding the Yoga Anatomy.
Shatkarma
It is comprised of Yoga Practicum and Methodology which helps in the sanctification of the body by various Yoga Postures.
Yoga Philosophy
Yoga philosophy includes History, concepts, and philosophy of Yoga.
Offer An Incredibly Clear Plan Of How Time Will Be Spent
This helps show that you know what you’re doing on the front end, and helps people know if the event will be for them in terms of how they prefer to learn and how they are comfortable spending their time.
It avoids mismatches in style and offers you a very clear checklist of what to do to meet attendee expectations.
Here’s a sample schedule that we use for very small retreats that combine group sessions with one-on-one coaching:
Friday:Afternoon: Optional additional coaching time or free time to work in the house or make use of the library.5:00 pm: Guests arrive, tour the property and amenities reception with cocktails and snacks.8:00 pm: Dinner, introductions. Module 1.
Saturday:
10:00 am: Second round of one-on-ones12:30 pm: Lunch2:45 pm: Coffee and bathroom break3:00 pm: Module 84:00 pm: Departure for guests not staying for additional retreat days
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Avoiding Costly Mistakes On Your Yoga Retreat
There are a number of ways that your profits can be severely hindered on a yoga retreat or may even cause you to lose money by hosting it. Obviously, losing money isnt the name of the game for hosting a yoga retreat so avoiding costly mistakes needs to be a priority.
The number one rule with booking a venue is to negotiate for a better rate. Youre bringing a whole group of people to their resort. That means more people for the hotel, restaurants, shops, and other activities around your retreat, as well. Connect with these entities to negotiate the best rates for everything.
A good rule of thumb is to always get at least three different bids on any particular activity so you have something to compare to. It never hurts to ask for a discount and the most they can say is no. Overpaying for something that you could have easily negotiated for is the number one way to eat into your profits.
Starting A Health And Wellness Business In 2021
2021 is the year that we need to start thinking more outside of the box about wellness. It is time to take a more serious approach to alternatives available in the healthcare industry while finding new ways to serve our communities. Creating a personal wellness business in 2021 is also a great way for many to find fulfillment in their lives as they continue to grow.
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What Do You Think Is The Most Important Thing A Yoga Teacher Should Look For When Choosing A Location
From my experience, the location can be a ramshackle hut as long as the spirit is right and the teachers are able to deal with the expectations of their participants. This is even more important when students have unfulfilled expectations and emotional issues. In terms of successful destinations, I would choose always a country where retreat centres are still rare.
What Exactly Are You Looking For

You should be looking for answers to these key questions:
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What kind of business do you want to run?
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More importantly, what kind of business do your target market want?
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What kind of studio or business is missing in your area?
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How can you offer something different from your competitors?
Yoga lovers is not a specific enough target market for your yoga business plan, so before you do anything else, you’ll need to think of a more niche demographic of people.
At the same time, there is no point in having a specific target market and the perfect yoga business plan if theres already a studio in the area doing exactly what you want to do.
The same goes for freelance yoga teachers.
If there are already a couple of home-based teachers working in your area, then youll need to do something to stand out.
The purpose of market research is to establish what will make your business different from your competition.
Then when it comes to writing your yoga business plan, you can clearly state what problems your business will solve.
Your market research should aim to identify these problems and find any new and upcoming trends that you can jump on to set yourself apart from the competition.
As a starting point, you should start with a target market in mind and then research what they want that other yoga professionals in your area dont currently offer.
You should choose a specific age, gender, and even consider targeting people based on their budget.
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Get Help With Tedious Retreat Details
If you thought you could escape tedious administration work by becoming a yoga teacher, then think again! You need to be on top of the administration involved in retreat planning, although that doesnt mean you need to do it all yourself.
Consider a platform like WeTravel which allows you to create your trip for free, , communicate with trip attendees and use the WeTravel payment system to collect and keep track of payments.
Adopt A Business Mindset From The Beginning
To become as successful as you can be, you need to transform from hobbyist to business owner. Yoga teachers are really entrepreneurs, and the most successful ones know they need to treat instructing and retreat leading like a business. Adopt the right mindset from the beginning, and combine it with your passion for really making a difference.
As your own boss, youll need to know how to do many things and figure many of them out on your own. Youre in charge of , accounting, sales, and many other aspects of a business while doing what you actually want to, which is teaching yoga!
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How To Start A Childrens Yoga Business
Now more than ever our kids are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Like us, they need tools to help them cope.
If youve ever thought about teaching childrens yoga, Bhavatrees Sheryl Puckering shares why now is the time!
In this video youll learn:
- Why its a great time to be a childrens yoga teacher
- How to start small in your businessand grow
- How over-thinking can keep you stuck
- How to work with another system in your business
- How Sheryl incorporates mindfulness into her childrens classes
Being with Sheryl reminds me that showing up and doing what we love makes all the difference. This world needs your love! How are you sharing your love with the world? Id love to hear from you, in the comments below.
Namaste,Carolyn
In 2008, the HeartRise Childrens Yoga Teacher Training was born in the Jungles of Costa Rica. Its currently offered once a year in London, Ontario, and directed by Carolyn Burke. The next training begins September 19, 2019.
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How To Build A Successful Yoga Retreat Business With Dagmar Spremberg
Are you dreaming about traveling the world, offering yoga retreats in the most beautiful places like Ibiza and Italy, and building a community of dedicated yogis from all over the planet?
Then you need to listen in on this weeks episode on the Blissful Biz podcast. Im joined by Dagmar Spremberg who runs a yoga center in Montezuma, Costa Rica, and also offers yoga retreats in locations like Ibiza, Iceland or Italy.
Shes living her dream and shes sharing what it took to get there, and what to look out for when youre planning your first yoga retreat. Were talking about her journey and experiences offering yoga retreats, how Dagmar plans her retreat calendar, how to stay in the flow when things go wrong and so much more.
If youve been feeling like you want to offer yoga retreats, dont miss this episode.
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Communicate With Your Group
Now that people have signed up for your retreat, you need to communicate with them so they know exactly what to expect. You also may need information from them either for your own records or to pass onto the retreat center. When people register for your yoga retreat, have a registration form for them to fill out. Ask about injuries, dietary requirements, an emergency contact, and relevant yoga experience. When you plan a trip with WeTravel, anyone who registers will be required to supply all of the information you need. As for the information you need to give your retreat-goers, we suggest sending these three group emails when you organize a yoga retreat:
- 1st email Travel and packing tips. The travel experience of your students will vary, so give them key information like what to pack and things to remember.
- 2nd email Retreat guidelines. This will help set firm boundaries with your students
- 3rd email Retreat schedule and itinerary. This builds buzz and gets people excited for the retreat. Create a Facebook Page so your retreat goers can connect with their fellow travelers ahead of time.
Lets Close With A Personal Wish What Is The Biggest Wish You Have Regarding Your Business And Maybe Personal Life
I very much enjoy running seminars that are influenced by the tantric philosophy of life. I would like to invite more Osho therapists to Chez Zen. Right now, I feel more than blessed that Klaus Eibach, author of Philosophie der Gefühle, found his way to me. He belongs to the community now and accompanies many retreats as a tutor or wise soul.
Sometimes, reality can be more magical than dreams.
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Find A Business Mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
How To Start A Successful Retreat Center

We established Gaia Retreat House 4 years ago in a small village at the heart of Germany, with a vision, faith, and determination to fulfill our dream. Today Gaia Retreat House, against all odds, is a successful international Retreat Center for Yoga, Meditation, and Mindful living training, that people from all over Europe are visiting and enjoying an exceptional experience, both on spot and online.
In this post, I would like to share with you some insights, that we got along the way and our personal experience of the process.
Location To buy or to Rent?
For us it was no question, it was clear we would like to buy a house with accommodating rooms for up to 20 beds. More than we found the house, the house founds us, after traveling all over Germany spreading our vision to friends.
When you buy a venue, it gives you the freedom to set things the way you want, in the timing you want with no conditions from others. It reduces the risk of renting a place, paying for it, publishing a retreat, and having no response or participants at the beginning = loss of capital.
So, choosing this route, means that you should have a starter capital, which will be enough as well for the establishment period and for difficult times.
In our case, we choose a venue that was operating as a seminar house for 27 years and had already a good reputation. This fact was helping us at the beginning of our journey.
Opening a Business
Building a Website & Social Media pages
Home Page
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