Karate Studio
Here’s a story about a woman who became hooked on a hobby and turned it into a profitable business.
When Dawn’s two boys dragged her to a family-style karate class in 1984, a passion was born. “I got the hang of things quickly,” she says. Soon the single mom was taking private karate lessons. Four years later, she became a freelance instructor as a first-degree black belt. In 1995, Dawn was ready to open her own shop. So she borrowed money on her credit card, rented a 1,000-square-foot-studio, and started her own karate studio.
Because Dawn had made calls to former students, the club already had 60 members when she to parents. Within months, enrollment almost doubled. After six months, the business became profitable and she hired an instructor and a desk attendant to help out.
In 2006, revenue reached $3 million. But she still finds the time to teach classes and says the real reward is helping kids.
“I don’t just teach them kicks—I teach them about mind, body and soul” she says.
There are few things as rewarding as turning a hobby you already enjoy into a successful business. Who wouldn’t want to get paid doing what they love all day? And chances are, if you love something, there are others who do too. Many parents are willing to pay a lot of money for their kids to take lessons to learn a new hobby or skill.
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