Fair Pricing, Real Value, and Why Discounts Work Differently in a Small Studio

At Spring House Pilates of Ohio, transparency matters. As we enter a new year and plan for 2026, I want to share a little-spoken reality of boutique fitness: fair pricing isn’t just a number on a screen — it reflects the real investment required to provide a high-quality experience, maintain a beautiful space, purchase world-class Balanced Body® equipment, and deliver thoughtful instruction tailored to every client who walks through our doors.

Why discounts aren’t the same for small businesses

Most of us would never walk into a big-box retailer and ask the cashier for a discount. We intuitively understand the price is the price.

Yet when it comes to small, service-based businesses — especially personalized services like Pilates — people sometimes expect exceptions or one-off adjustments.

But here’s the difference:

- **Box stores operate on massive volume.**

They’re built to absorb discounting because they profit through scale: thousands of customers per day, automated systems, and low labor costs per transaction.

- **A small studio operates on precision, not volume.**

We offer individualized attention, high-touch service, and expertise that cannot be mass-produced. Every appointment is a one-of-one experience.

Your session includes far more than the 60 minutes you see

When you reserve a session, you’re not just booking the hour on the schedule. You’re supporting everything that makes that hour possible:

- Planning and programming

- Equipment maintenance and inspection

- Cleaning and studio preparation

- Administrative time

- Training, continuing education, and certifications

- Rent, utilities, insurance, and professional services

Large companies build these overhead costs into giant budgets. Small studios must build them into fair session rates — otherwise the entire ecosystem that supports your sessions becomes unsustainable.

A modest fee increase is coming in 2026

To keep providing the level of service you expect — and deserve — a modest rate adjustment will take effect in 2026. It’s not sudden, and it’s not profit-driven. It simply reflects the real cost of doing business responsibly, ethically, and sustainably as a small, specialized practice.

Loyal clients deserve loyalty back

Many of you have been with me through seasons of growth, healing, and change.

Because of that, I am offering bonus credits through Monday as a thank-you to those who maintain or begin a monthly auto-renew plan before rates adjust. These bonus credits:

- Reduce the impact of the upcoming increase

- Reward the clients who support the studio consistently

- Help ensure we can keep the small-studio model strong

After Cyber Monday, the bonus credit opportunity closes — this is your chance to lock in the best value before 2026. Visit our Studio Offers page for details.

Fair pricing supports everything you love about the studio

Choosing Spring House Pilates means choosing:

- A non-mass-market experience

- Highly trained instruction

- A clean, safe, welcoming environment

- Personalized attention and programming

- A community that values quality over quantity

If what you’re seeking is a high-volume, discount-driven model, there are plenty of mass-market options.

But if you value a calm, intelligent, intentional movement experience with real expertise behind it — then you’re in the right place.

Thank you for choosing a small business that chooses you back.

If you’d like to review your current plan or add bonus credits before Monday, just reach out — I’m here to help. If you are working with a different, independent instructor teaching at Spring House Pilates of Ohio, continue to support their transitional pricing. They, too, are all small business owners with their own costs to consider.

-Cathy

Cathy Ward (that’s me) is the administrator for Fusion Fit, LLC, the parent company for Spring House Pilates of Ohio and is the provider of this information, pilates service delivery, the website, studio cleaning services, social and print media, appointment assistance, lesson planning, sock supplies, holiday decor, and more….