Avoid these 5 mistakes when starting your school

Opening a school, such as a dance studio, comes with several key requirements that must be considered to avoid future problems. We’ve previously discussed this topic in our article about 5 essential requirements for starting a dance studio. Moreover, running your own school offers numerous professional and personal development benefits for both the institution and those involved.

However, deciding to start a school is no easy task. It requires a lot of effort and courage. Even with proper planning and control, unexpected challenges and mistakes can arise, disrupting everything. But don’t worry—many of these issues have solutions!

The most common mistakes when starting a school

Now, you might be wondering: What are these mistakes? How serious can they be? And most importantly, how can they be solved?

1) Lack of Planning and a Flexible Curriculum

One of the most frequent mistakes is failing to plan clearly when starting a school, along with creating a curriculum that isn’t adaptable to changes.

A lack of clarity in defining a business plan, objectives, and vision can lead to serious issues. Additionally, failing to account for costs and expenses can have severe financial consequences.

Furthermore, we live in an ever-changing world where education is becoming more personalized. A rigid and overly structured school may hinder student learning and academic progress.

The solution?

Research the market and develop a detailed plan. Implement teaching strategies that allow educators to adapt their classes, content, and teaching methods to meet student needs.

2) Poor Choice of Location and Space

Choosing the right location for your school is crucial. If it’s in a hard-to-reach area or far from your target audience, achieving success may be difficult. Additionally, the physical space itself matters—choosing an inadequate, small, or poorly maintained facility can negatively impact your school’s development.

The solution?

Conduct market research on the area where you want to establish your school. Analyze:

• The presence of other schools and their specializations.
• The target audience and the demographics of the local population.
• Accessibility and location advantages.

Additionally, choose a facility with quality infrastructure, appropriate flooring, restrooms, changing rooms, and necessary equipment.

3) Inefficient Administrative Management

Managing daily processes and tasks can be overwhelming. Common challenges include:

• Relying on manual administrative methods.
• Poor payment and debt tracking.
• Inefficient time management for teachers and classes.

The solution?

Use digital platforms and management software to streamline operations. For example, Kydemy provides an all-in-one management platform tailored for artistic schools and dance studios, reducing errors and offering tools to optimize the business.

4) An Unattractive Academic Offering

Education should equip students with practical skills they can apply in the real world. Essential competencies include creativity, digital literacy, critical thinking, and clear communication.

A school with poorly structured courses, unclear objectives, and outdated teaching methods (such as excluding technology) may struggle to:

1. Help students progress academically.
2. Attract young learners, who expect modern, engaging education.

The solution?

Integrate technology to enhance learning and gather feedback from students and teachers to continuously improve the curriculum.

5) Poor Hiring Decisions

A common mistake when launching a school is hiring the wrong staff. This includes:

• Recruiting teachers with limited experience or inadequate skills.
• Offering a limited selection of disciplines.
• Failing to comply with legal and labor requirements.

Moreover, internal workplace culture plays a crucial role in a school’s success or failure. A positive work environment fosters collaboration, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

The solution?

Conduct a thorough hiring process aligned with the school’s vision. The key to success is building a strong, passionate, and well-trained team.

Finally, if you’re planning to launch a school, implementing marketing and promotional strategies is essential—especially in the early stages. Using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, as well as paid advertising (Social Ads), can boost visibility and attract students.

To wrap up, here’s a reflection from artist Carlos Martínez León on the state of arts education today:

“Looking to the future, art educators must reimagine arts education in an ever-changing world. This means integrating new disciplines, adapting to labor market demands, and preparing students for a globally competitive environment. Educators must equip students with broader artistic skills while promoting sustainability and social responsibility—ensuring that art remains a force for positive change in society.”

The tools and strategies to help you build and grow your school are readily available! At Kydemy, we offer a specialized management platform for artistic schools and dance studios. Want to learn more? Book a free demo today—no commitments, no fine print! 😉