How to Start a Gymnastics Business 1 2 How to Start a Gymnastics Business 2015 Edition How to Start a Gymnastics Business by Michael A. Taylor Published by USA Gymnastics © 2015 USA Gymnastics. All rights reserved. $19.95 How to Start a Gymnastics Business 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Disclaimer ....................................................................... 6 SECTION II - OPERATING A GYMNASTICS BUSINESS Acknowledgements ......................................................... 7 Chapter Five – Policies and Procedures (Organizing your Business) Preface ............................................................................. 7 Policies and Procedures Principles .......................... 37 SECTION I - STARTING A NEW BUSINESS How to Get Started ..................................................... 37 Chapter One – Business Basics Employment Issues ................................................... 38 Why do you want to start your own business? ......... 11 Operational Issues ..................................................... 38 You are the critical factor ........................................... 11 Manual Dos and Don’ts .............................................. 39 What kind of business should you start? ................. 11 Unwritten Rules ......................................................... 40 Will your business succeed? ..................................... 12 Documentation ........................................................... 40 Becoming a USA Gymnastics Member Club ............. 12 Preservation and Retention of Documentation......... 41 Chapter Two – Choosing the Right Legal Business Structure Chapter Six – Human Resources (Staffing your Business) The Main Legal Business Structures ........................ 13 Employment Interviews ............................................. 45 Sole Proprietorship .................................................... 13 Employment Principles ............................................. 47 Pass – Through Taxation ............................................ 14 Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce............... 47 Partnerships ............................................................... 14 Organizational Leadership ........................................ 48 Limited Liability Company (LLC) ............................... 15 Employee or Independent Contractor ....................... 49 Corporations............................................................... 17 Safety Practices in Hiring Staff .................................. 51 LLCs vs. Corporations ................................................ 18 Preventing Child Abuse .............................................. 51 Choosing the Best Structure for Your Business ....... 19 USA Gymnastics Background Checks ....................... 52 Analyzing Your Risks .................................................. 19 US Olympic Committee Safe Sport Program ............ 52 Government Requirements USA Gymnastics We Care Campaign ........................ 53 – Federal, State, & Local ........................................... 20 TB Testing ................................................................... 53 Free and Low Cost Legal Resources ......................... 20 Post Hiring Orientation and Training ......................... 53 USA Gymnastics University ....................................... 54 Chapter Three – Business Planning Employee Overtime .................................................... 54 A Business Plan is Essential .................................... 23 Vacation and Time Off Requests ................................ 55 Outline of a Typical Business Plan ............................ 24 Employee Evaluations ................................................ 56 Vision, Mission, and Values for your Business ......... 25 Positive Coaching Your Staff ...................................... 56 Facilities Planning ...................................................... 25 Mentorship in Gymnastics Organizations ................. 58 Equipment Planning .................................................. 30 Characteristics of a Good Mentor .............................. 59 Chapter Four – Sound Financial Planning Employment Rules and Policies Manual .................. 61 Start Up Financing ..................................................... 33 Staff training ............................................................... 61 Small Business Administration Programs ............... 35 Staff Responsibilities ................................................ 62 Establishing Fees for Your Programs ....................... 35 Performance Management........................................ 64 4 How to Start a Gymnastics Business Anti-Harassment and Workplace New Student Risks ................................................... 105 Violence Prevention ................................................... 65 Insurance .................................................................. 106 Easy Ways to Reward Your Staff ............................... 65 USA Gymnastics University Safety and Risk Professional Memberships and Networking ............ 66 Management Certification ....................................... 107 Conducting Effective Staff Meetings ........................ 68 Administration Operations Risk .............................. 107 Employee Performance Evaluations ......................... 69 Facility Considerations ............................................ 108 Seven Habits of Highly Effective Gymnastics Equipment Considerations ...................................... 108 Professionals .............................................................. 70 Participant Considerations ...................................... 112 Chapter Seven – Gymnastics Operations (Running your Accident Prevention ................................................. 112 Business) Specific Safety Concerns ......................................... 113 USA Gymnastics Programs ....................................... 79 Emergency Action Plans .......................................... 114 Gym Culture ............................................................... 80 Incident Reports ....................................................... 115 Improving Operations Checklist ................................ 81 Dealing With the Media After a Crisis ..................... 115 Post-Registration Customer Service ........................ 82 Employer Risk Management ................................... 116 Teaching Gymnastics ................................................. 82 Managing Social Media Risks .................................. 118 Benefits of Participation in Gymnastics .................... 82 Blood Borne Pathogens ........................................... 118 Statistical Benefits of Gymnastics ............................. 83 Contagious Disease Exposures ............................... 120 Coaches Role in Developing Assets in Youth ............ 84 Ergonomics for Coaches .......................................... 120 Five Best Practice Things to Say When You Coach .. 85 Keep it Safe .............................................................. 122 Core Teaching Principles ........................................... 86 Lesson Planning ........................................................ 86 Chapter Nine – Developing your Business (Helping your Teaching DON’T list .................................................... 89 Business Grow) Points of Good Supervision ....................................... 89 Programs .................................................................. 128 Class Management .................................................... 90 Equipment ................................................................ 128 Five Step Approach to Services .................................................................... 129 Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution ................. 93 Aesthetics ................................................................. 129 Positive Coaching a Competitive Gymnast ................ 94 Student Responsibilities ........................................... 94 Fees ......................................................................... 129 Parent Responsibilities .............................................. 96 Expanding your Business ........................................ 129 Conducting Parent Booster Club Meetings .............. 97 Branding your Business .......................................... 129 Communications Technology .................................. 131 Chapter Eight – Risk Management (Protecting your Social Media Marketing ........................................... 133 Business) Press Releases ......................................................... 134 Legal Responsibilities .............................................. 101 Annual Program Reviews ........................................ 136 Risk Assessment ...................................................... 102 Dealing with Mistakes .............................................. 137 Risk Control Selection ............................................. 102 Risk Control Implementation .................................. 103 References & Resources ............................................. 141 Waivers and Hold Harmless Agreements ............... 103 Appendix ...................................................................... 143 How to Start a Gymnastics Business 5 DISCLAIMER This publication is intended for reference information only, and presents tools for consideration in establishing a model of operations