Double the Locations, Double the Stress? The Real Cost of Dance Studio Expansion

In this week’s episode, Nathan and Bec go deep on a question a lot of studio owners wrestle with: should you expand (open a second location) or lean into optimising what you’ve got first? They share stories from their own journeys, cautionary tales, and strategies you can use now to grow smarter - not just bigger.

We talk about why expansion isn’t always the answer, what “fullness” really means in your studio, how your timetable could secretly be holding you back, and when (and if) a second location actually makes sense.

Key Takeaways:

• Expansion is expensive - fit‑out, extra staff, marketing, more admin time
• Many studios who open a second location might not be ready - headspace & risk are often underestimated
• What does “bursting at the seams” actually mean? Look beyond just one busy evening
• How to audit your studio’s capacity: class fill rates, age distributions, under‑utilised slots
• The power of optimising your timetable - getting students into more classes without needing more students
• Back‑to‑back scheduling (e.g. circus + acro) and designing it for what’s easiest for parents (not teachers)
• Watch demographic trends and local growth cues before choosing a new location
• It’s okay (and smart) to focus on maximising what you already have before chasing “more”

If this episode got your wheels turning and you’d love more support, don’t forget: podcast listeners get 1 week free in our Dance Principals United Tribe. Hit the link in the show notes and come see us inside: https://danceprincipalsunited.com/dpu-tribe/