Is it Time for a Studio Upgrade?

About six months prior to making the leap from running my studio part-time to full-time, I decided it was time for an upgrade. For the past three years, my studio had been located at the front of my house, meaning my students would enter through the front door and parents would wait in the living room.

This worked very well for a while, but as my teaching hours grew longer, this set-up interfered with my family. It was definitely time for a change.

So I made plans to turn the two spare bedrooms into a new studio and waiting room and add a dedicated entrance off of the garage. The next four months were spent turning my plans into a reality (with the help of contractors), and my new studio was ready just in time for the start of the summer 2011 session.

This upgrade completely changed the feel of my studio: my students and their families felt more comfortable, I now had more space for my business, and when I closed the door separating my studio from the rest of my house at night, I really felt like I was leaving work.

Making such a big change is not a light decision for any business owner. Upgrading my studio required a big investment not only financially, but time-wise as well.

There were a few things that I needed to consider prior to turning my plans into a reality, and I would suggest that anyone pondering a studio upgrade consider the following, too:

• Cost effectiveness (will the upgrade allow for more students, a greater tax deduction, etc.)
• Convenience (restroom, enough space for families, etc.)
• Improved working environment
• Ease of use and accessibility

The answer was “yes!” to all of those items in my case, which made the decision a no-brainer. Although my old studio was fine and I could have continued to use it, going through with the upgrade positively affected my overall business in a way that has made everyone happier (my husband and dog included!).