LOOK SHORT & LONG TERM!

Be careful that you don’t lose focus on the long term while searching for a short term “band-aid” for issues. Invest in opportunities that have the most potential for both the short AND long term.

	Todd Becnel, Tiger Elite (LA)
	Make sure you have plenty of room to grow (space-wise) Invest time in school teams – they can bring in extra revenue
	Kevin Hooker - Elite Cheer Nebraska (NE)
	We spent 5 years saving for perfect facility and 3 years finding a place.  It is VERY important that you take the time to make the right decision for the LONG RUN!
	Matt Cremers - Thunder All- Stars (GA)
	“Reboot” your company every couple of years.  “Rebooting” is reevaluating your business approaches and instruction techniques.  Getting stuck on “your way” can lead to a stagnant company.  “If you always do what you’ve always done… then you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.”  One important element of rebooting is to be humble and to truly listen to what people are saying about your product and the competition.  You’ve got to be objective when consulting with others and decide what is truly best for your company.  Rebooting not only improves your product but can also invigorate and recharge your staff.
	Stan & Patrice Stec - Allstar Athletics (IL)
	Have parents form a non-for-profit booster club to raise funds and make uniform and related item purchases sales tax free, saving them money Buy/Build your own building which is less expensive than renting Tumbling classes are more profitable than cheer teams Offer choreography, camps and clinics to school and rec teams Rent practice gym time to rec and school teams All of this earns revenue and brings parents and athletes into your gym to be future team members
	Karrie Tumelson - Spirit Elite (MO)
	Build relationships with parents – this is key! Invest in quality coaches and images.  Make sure your image is ‘wholesome,’ and don’t skimp on image because it matters in the end.
	Bill Yeates & Nicky Terrase - Spirit Professionals (LA)
	Buy inflatables for birthday parties Use everything in the gym for multiple purposes Ex: Air track for tumbling and birthday party bounce house Choose a good city to start your gym in Try to be the only gym in a large radius Location is important! Lower prices to get kids in the door
	Stacy Stith - Funtastic Flyers (FL)
	Focus on each decision is how it will affect the survival of the gym, such as how their classes and programs offered, formation of teams, events attending, etc. will affect their gym this year, next year, and five years from now.
	Morton Bergue - Cheergyms.com (CA)
	All-star cheer has changed in the past couple of years.  Adapt your program to fit the changing industry.
	Jason Mitchell – Arizona Heat (AZ)
	Put a big emphasis on future projections. It gives us a better perspective of what’s coming in the future and also forces us to really analyze and recognize our down numbers.  We are being conservative with our projections to make sure we never get behind.
	Aaron and Joelle Scott - Universal Kentucky Cheer (KY)
	If you can own your own facility – OWN IT!               New facility is 2 ½ times larger than the previous facility and it is MUCH more cost-effective to own instead of rent!