The Indoor Bungee Studio Opening Guide
(From Prep to Grand Opening · The Complete Process)

Ceiling height: the first hurdle

• Training-area ceiling 3.5–4.3 m all work; 4.2 m is ideal Industry standard
• Reject venues with insufficient ceiling height outright — don't compromise. Your movement space and safety both depend on it
• Look ahead: venues with 4 m+ ceilings (3.8–4 m+ of clear height) can later host aerial dance classes (hammock dance / silks / hoop and other aerial arts) — one venue, many uses, and a wider audience. Planning for course expansion at the site-selection stage is far cheaper than moving later

Floor area: enough is enough

• For bungee only: 150 m² of usable space is enough Industry average
• Typical layout: training area + changing area + front desk/reception lounge (for reference, studios already listed use 200 m² to fit every function comfortably)
• Adding companion classes (Chinese dance, flexibility training, etc.) needs extra classroom space — 150 m² is the starting point for bungee alone; to run several class types reliably, plan for 200 m²+, or start with 150 m² for a single program, get it profitable, then expand your lease or relocate (with careful time-slot scheduling, 150 m² can still squeeze in 2–3 additional classes — see Chapter 6)
• Industry trend to note: small, refined fitness studios are one of the clearest trends in fitness recently — a polished 150 m² single-program space is a direction many studios have proven. Don't be seduced by big-box spaces

Load bearing: must be verified

• Ceilings of 3.5–4.3 m all work (matching the standard above): for 3.5–4.1 m clear heights, use professionally engineered fixed anchor points verified by qualified personnel; 4.2 m is the sweet spot for experience and course expansion
• Complex ceiling with AC/structures → weld a load-bearing frame (reference drawings available from the platform)
• Verify the slab/ceiling structure before signing the lease, and solve load-bearing first, before renovation — otherwise it haunts you forever

Location and lease term

• Shopping district vs. residential community: it depends on your target students (districts pull new traffic; communities are closer for repeat visits)
• Elevator access and easy parking — students come "grab-a-bag and go"
• Renovation + equipment is a big investment, so sign leases of 3–5 years to avoid rent hikes or forced moves right after you break even

The three utility essentials (most overlooked — and the #1 cause of renovation rework)

• Electrical capacity: lights + sound + AC + equipment running at once in 150 m² is a real load — ask before signing whether the capacity is sufficient and whether it can be upgraded (upgrades in commercial zones are slow; don't discover tripping breakers after opening)
• Ventilation / air conditioning: a stuffy, hot studio is a top source of bad reviews — size cooling and ventilation for people doing intense exercise, don't skimp, since retrofitting after opening is the most expensive fix
• Water supply & drainage: showers, restrooms, and daily cleaning all need water — confirm the venue has it and the plumbing makes sense; without showers, student experience and average ticket size both suffer

Market reality: a blank market ≠ you'll survive

• "This city has no indoor bungee yet" doesn't mean you'll survive — what decides survival is the volume of local women's fitness demand and how far fitness awareness has spread, not whether the market is empty
• Indicators to judge: local women's fitness spending habits, the density and foot traffic of nearby gyms/dance studios, and the spending level of the shopping area — go look, go observe, then decide
• Target audience: women with spending power — especially today, women who are willing to spend on themselves and who care about fitness quality are the ones who will pay long-term for exercise that is "beautiful, comfortable, and high-quality"
• Lean toward busy areas: shopping districts, quality malls/office areas, and places where female customers gather; community stores can work, but busy areas + high-spending customers are the main battlefield

Floor mirror height (match it to your ceiling, so jumps look great)

• Mirror height depends on ceiling height: ceilings above 3.5 m → 2.4 m mirrors recommended; ceilings above 4 m → 3.3–3.5 m mirrors recommended
• Why it matters: a tall enough mirror lets students see their full aerial movement — jumps, swings, and air poses all in frame — so they have a reference for their form and actually want to film
• Mount the mirror too low and aerial moves fall out of frame — experience and shareability both suffer

Receiving and checking equipment (don't just sign and forget)

• Verify item by item: model / quantity / batch match the order, certificates of conformity and inspection reports complete
• Cord color marks: check each cord's weight tier against the color chart of the supplier you bought from, matching the order (color standards differ by manufacturer — follow that supplier's chart)
• Anchor points / load-bearing frame: inspect welds, anchoring, and torque records; run no-load + rated-load tests
• Each cord / carabiner / harness: assign a number and build an asset file (warranty start/end dates, retirement conditions)
• Handover training: the supplier/installer trains on site and signs off; only after acceptance passes, all issues are closed, and the responsible person signs may you open for business

How to choose equipment (for investor decisions)

• Budget: sets range from a few hundred to a few thousand yuan — decide by what you can invest
• Lifespan & warranty: pricier = longer life + longer warranty — do the long-term math
• City competition: in competitive cities, members compare equipment — good gear pulls customers directly, so use good gear
• Member experience: better equipment feels better to train on, and repeat purchases go up

The correct order

1. Step 1: Ceiling — weld anchor points / load-bearing frame (the space is empty, so work is easiest now)
2. Step 2: Mirrors / flooring — finish the ground and mirrors after the ceiling is done
3. Step 3: Lighting / sound / front desk and other finishing
4. Step 4: Equipment installation & calibration → pre-opening safety inspection

Why ceiling first?

• Safer & easier: ceiling work involves welding/rigging — an empty space is the safest to work in
• No rework: if you lay flooring and mirrors before welding the ceiling, sparks will scorch them
• Saves space: locating the ceiling first lets anchor layout, training area, and mirrors line up in one pass — no wasted space

How should the flooring be installed? Define the site before the system

An indoor-bungee floor is not simply “one layer of flooring.” A professional system must balance cushioning and support, slip resistance, landing-impact management, joint-friendly use, and long-term training comfort, while drawing on mature international sports-flooring principles.

Every venue differs in existing subfloor, class use, training intensity, and budget. The material build-up, number and thickness of layers, fixing method, seams, and edge details must therefore be site-specific. To prevent unsafe copy-and-paste construction, the detailed installation standard is not published on the public page.

Need a flooring proposal? Just like the load-bearing-frame drawings, it's provided free of charge — submit your venue information first and the platform can help map an appropriate solution. (Scan to get it free →)

The safety chain: four links, not one step may be skipped

[Load end] Anchor points / load-bearing frame (install ceiling first, build to drawings)
　　↓
[Connection end] Primary carabiner + backup carabiner (double safety — neither may be missing)
　　↓
[Elastic end] Bungee cord (tiered by student weight)
　　↓
[Human end] Full-body harness (snug fit — two fingers of slack is right)
　　↓
[Landing] Crash pads (full coverage of the training area)

The four pre-class checks

• Look: anchors/frame free of looseness and rust; cords free of wear and tears; confirm the cord's color mark matches the student's weight tier (read cords by the supplier's color chart)
• Lock: both the primary and backup carabiners fully locked
• Adjust: harness snug to the student's body
• Test: student stands still for a gentle bounce test — only start if everything is normal

Frequency: visual check before every class · full inspection weekly (keep records) · deep inspection monthly (load-bearing parts, cord elasticity loss)

People & student-data compliance (don't let marketing turn into complaints)

• Staff: sign employment or service contracts stating pay, commission, and confidentiality; hand over cleanly on departure (student records belong to the studio, not the coach)
• Filming consent: this guide recommends before/after videos and class footage — you must get separate portrait authorization (revocable at any time); for students who decline, use alternative filming approaches — don't push
• Minors: enrolling minors requires written guardian consent (covering filming and activity participation)
• Health information: collect a pre-existing-conditions declaration at enrollment (low blood sugar / heart disease / high blood pressure, etc.); collect only what's necessary, state the purpose, restrict access, and keep it only as long as needed — improper collection is a risk; for declared conditions, decide participation and frequency based on assessment

A real precedent that says it all (legal liability in aerial sports)

• Relevant cases show: aerial-sports operators who fail their duty of care may bear civil compensation liability (the share of liability depends on the facts and the court's ruling — every case differs) — grounded in the safety-duty provisions of the Civil Code
• Bungee dance and hammock dance are the same family of aerial sports, and the logic is identical: equipment checks, crash pads, and safety procedures aren't "optional" — they're the legal floor — one accident can wipe out years of profit
• Don't assume a signed waiver lets you off the hook: operators cannot use waivers to exclude the safety duty imposed by law; for personal injury caused by intent or gross negligence, advance waivers are usually void. Risk disclosure, health declarations, and informed consent cannot replace equipment maintenance and on-site protection — a waiver is not a get-out-of-jail card; the protection still has to be done
• So don't skip anything this chapter says (double carabiners, crash pads, pre-class checks, insurance, certified teaching): what you save is money — what you gamble is lives and your studio
• Real industry lessons (2025–2026): at one bungee attraction, staff forgot to attach the safety rope and a 21-year-old visitor fell to their death; at another, a damaged safety rope went undetected and a visitor died — both were "human negligence + equipment checks not done." This isn't scaremongering; it's the industry's hard-learned, blood-stained lesson: the double carabiner, visual check, and proper training before every class save lives

Compliance you must handle

• Business license + fire acceptance: be compliant before opening. List your business scope fully (fitness services / dance training / sports instruction, etc. — select all related items when licensing to avoid operating outside scope); coordinate fire filing with your landlord (property owner/management) — in many venues, fire safety is filed for the whole building/floor, so as a tenant you simply file through them — no separate filing needed; some venues do require your own filing. Ask how filing works before signing and put it in the lease — don't discover the fire process isn't done after opening
• Venue liability insurance: mandatory — at least ¥1,000,000 per incident is recommended (per your insurer). Note: sports law sets operating conditions for high-risk sports — whether bungee counts as a local high-risk activity, and whether a permit or liability insurance is required, must be verified with your local sports / market-regulation authority. Even without a uniform mandatory requirement, buy venue liability insurance that matches the risk. And keep it straight: accident insurance is bought by students; venue liability insurance is what the studio must buy — don't mix them up
• National standards: China has the "Requirements and technical specifications for sports venue operation" series covering bungee venues (GB 19079.3, current version and scope per the national standards information platform) — usable as technical references for equipment, venue, and safety facilities, but they don't replace administrative approval / fire acceptance / professional structural assessment — don't open on the strength of "self-checked against the standard" alone
• Coach credentials: teach certified (system certification); newcomers train before taking classes
• Music licensing: use licensed commercial music for class background tracks (commercial libraries / legit licenses), or have coaches bring their own licensed playlists — gyms and dance studios have already been sued over unlicensed background music. Don't ignore this
• Ask about pre-existing conditions at enrollment: low blood sugar, heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. — ask proactively and confirm in writing — those with such conditions are not recommended to participate, or not frequently (the impact can strain the heart or cause sudden discomfort); pregnancy and 90 kg+ body weight are likewise not recommended — front desk and coaches hold that first gate
• Safety records: keep inspection records — it's both a standard and your own protection

Anchor-point layout calculator (calculate first, then arrange — genuinely useful)

How should anchor points be arranged? What's the safe distance between points and between people? It depends on the venue's length, width, and anchor height. Core rules: minimum 1.5 m between people (two people standing with arms outstretched must not touch fingertips — wider is better); stagger rows (offset placement, like a plum-blossom grid — 5 in the first row, then 6 or 4 in the second), so the same area fits more points, more safely and efficiently.

⚠️ This tool is a rough estimate (staggered layout, row spacing ≈ spacing × 0.87); the actual layout must be confirmed by a professional using anchor height and equipment specs.

Have these ready before opening: emergency & incident plans

• Fall / suspected injury: stop class immediately → secure the scene (don't move the injured) → first aid / call 120 → notify family → file the insurance claim → keep image/video records → review
• Equipment fault (cord / anchor / carabiner): immediately seal that station, forbid use, and don't return it to service until it passes repair and inspection
• Sudden illness / fire / blackout: define the evacuation route, first-aid kit/AED locations, and an emergency-contact list (fire 119 / ambulance 120)
• Full-team drills: one before opening, then quarterly; keep drill records (a standard and a protection)

Monthly fixed costs (by city tier)

Industry cost-structure note: labor usually eats 50%+ of costs, rent second (a general industry pattern; specifics vary by studio) — so don't under-budget wages, and don't let coaches sit idle; when the schedule isn't full, labor is your biggest sunk cost.

Capacity: what one coach can produce

• 1 coach: 6–8 classes/day × 26 days ≈ 160–200 classes/month
• 4–6 students per class (of the 150 m² usable area, the training zone is about 90 m², the rest is front desk/changing/lounge; estimated by training-zone capacity)
• Monthly capacity ≈ 700–1,200 student-visits → roughly 60–120 active students (8–12 visits each per month: visits ÷ frequency)

Profit/loss & payback

• Break-even formula: monthly fixed cost ÷ average monthly spend per student. Estimate average monthly spend as a mix (¥800–1,200) — some students buy monthly passes (¥1,500–3,000), others only class packs or trials; blended, the average lands in this range. Don't mistake the "monthly pass price" for "average spend" — they're two different numbers
• Apply by city (at ¥800–1,200 average spend): tier 3–4 with ¥12k–20k fixed → about 10–25 students to break even; tier 2 with ¥21k–36k → about 18–45; tier 1 with ¥34k–63k → about 28–79
• Stable profit = 1.5–2× the break-even line (e.g. tier 2 break-even of 18–45 → stable profit at ~27–90 active students); tier 1's break-even ceiling is high (28–79), and stable profit may need 80+ — when that exceeds one coach's capacity ceiling (~120 active students), add a second coach or raise scheduling density (cross-reference the "Capacity" card below)
• Payback: total investment ÷ monthly net profit ≈ 6–18 months (median 8–12 months; a baseline model, not a promise)
• Pricing reference: trial classes ¥39–99 to attract; single classes ¥150–300; monthly passes ¥1,500–3,000 (varies by city)
• Package design: class packs (8 classes) as the entry point, monthly passes as the workhorse, quarterly/annual passes to lock in long-term, duo/parent-child packages to widen the audience — price single classes a bit higher so packages look like a bargain (an anchoring effect) and steer students toward them
• Conversion path: trial at ¥39–99 → class pack (low-barrier first step) → monthly pass (main) → quarterly/annual (retention) — don't push annual passes on day one; you'll scare people off
• Price endings: 88/188/288 read as "better value" than round numbers; notify existing students before raising prices and give them a grace period

Important: payback time isn't fixed — it's a function of your operating ability. It depends on your course design (is the matrix built?), marketing plan (can you recruit?), competitive edge (are the six dimensions in place?), and how well you prepared — in the rare optimistic scenario of full preparation and real competitiveness, payback can be as short as 4–8 months (a sensitivity test, not a promise); open unprepared and you may slide straight into "0–6 months to failure". The same investment can end up worlds apart — the difference isn't the money, it's the person running the studio.

Marketing fundamentals first (without the foundation, every tactic is wasted)

• Foundation 1: right location = half your marketing done. As Chapter 1 said: pick the right city (women's fitness demand + spending power) and the right spot (busy area with high-spending customers), and your acquisition cost is naturally low — site selection is your biggest marketing investment
• Foundation 2: emotional value = the best retention. Students don't come just to work out — they come to feel good, to be noticed, encouraged, and to belong. Does the coach chat with them, remember their names, send a caring word after class? Is the space comfortable? Get the service right and students will spread the word for you — more effectively than any ad
• With the foundation in place, the tactics below work double. Without it, every marketing yuan you throw is water into a leaking bucket

Cold start: surviving the first 3 months (the most practical part for new studios)

The first three months are the hardest — no name, no regulars, tight cash flow. Don't panic; follow the rhythm:

• Before opening (starting during renovation): warm up — post short videos of renovation progress, equipment arrival, and coach introductions so locals know "a bungee studio is opening here"; pre-sales: collect a ¥99 pre-sale card early (credited toward future class fees — locks in the first customers and tests market response; note it's different from the "¥39–99 single trial class": the pre-sale card locks in would-be students, the trial class pulls new traffic). ⚠️ Before taking prepayments, verify local prepaid-consumption rules with your market-regulation / sports / commerce authorities (some places require filing, escrow, or deposits); don't collect until verified
• Opening week: detonate — low-price/free trial classes + an opening event (photo check-ins earn bonus classes); book every pre-sale customer in and convert them to monthly passes on the spot; film and photograph everything during opening week — this week's content is next month's advertising
• Months 2–3 (normalization): let pre-sale and opening prices gradually return to regular pricing; focus on member referrals (both old and new students get bonus classes); post class content daily to stay visible locally

Remember: cold start isn't about spending on ads — it's pre-sales locking customers + content keeping you visible + word-of-mouth referrals — repeat those three things relentlessly in months 0–3.

Influence = competitiveness (get your name into local minds)

Beyond the six dimensions of hard power, there's one invisible but more valuable weapon: influence. Competitions, honors, affiliations, personal branding, coach branding, events — they all feed one chain: effective online presence → influence → competitiveness.

• Compete and win: enter students and coaches in competitions — results are the hardest content there is, and they can attract local attention and organic sharing
• Personal & coach branding: founders and coaches need a "business card" — experience, certifications, work — so people remember you the person, not just the store
• Run events, create moments: opening events, anniversaries, charity trials, holiday-themed classes — events generate talk, and talk generates sharing
• Effective online presence: not random posting, but consistently sharing content people want to see (student transformations, class highlights, educational nuggets) — only effective presence builds influence; the more influence, the more people choose you

In one sentence: being remembered matters more than being seen — and being remembered consistently is competitiveness.

Holiday marketing calendar (don't just wait out peaks and troughs)

• Four annual peaks: after Chinese New Year (refresh season), May Day (long weekend), summer break (student surge — the biggest of the year), National Day (golden week) — start warming up 4 weeks ahead
• What to do at each peak: themed classes (holiday themes / friends' sessions / parent-child sessions) → limited-time packages → local channel partnerships → add coach shifts → pre-book classes to prevent absences
• Rule red lines: price protection for existing students (never make regulars feel overcharged); no stacking discounts; state quotas and validity clearly
• Post-holiday carryover: turn holiday traffic into long-term students with "refresher camps + stage assessments + referral campaigns" — don't let holiday momentum die
• Off-season warning: every peak is followed by a dip — keep 1–2 months of cash reserve in advance; run member referrals and cross-industry partnerships in the off season; don't just wait

Course design: use a course matrix to drive traffic and revenue (this is marketing, not teaching)

Honest truth: bungee dance alone still has a small market share — lean on a single program and traffic wobbles and revenue hits a low ceiling. So design your course offering like a product matrix — sensible combinations attract more people and grow revenue:

• Lead classes (trials / low-barrier): ¥39–99 — get people in the door first; don't care if they profit — they're your acquisition cost
• Core classes (bungee dance / monthly-pass bundles): your core revenue — protect quality and frequency
• Companion classes (Chinese dance, flexibility, posture, etc.): the key to widening your audience — people who don't only want bungee can come too, take different classes across the week, and frequency and stickiness both rise; each extra class a student takes is another revenue line for you. Note: companion classes need extra classroom space and staff (see the area notes in Chapter 1); at the start you can share one space with staggered scheduling, or expand your lease later. Note: 150 m² only fits limited companion classes via staggered sharing — you can't run several at once; for a stable course matrix or aerial dance, you need 200 m²+ or separate space (see Chapter 1's area notes)
• Aerial expansion (when ceiling allows): studios with 4 m+ ceilings (3.8–4 m+ clear) can later add hammock dance, silks, hoop, and other aerial classes — bungee dance and aerial share space and their audiences overlap heavily; one venue, many uses, and both average ticket and repeat rates climb. That's the long-term dividend of choosing a tall venue
• Advanced classes (aerial moves, performance, competition squads): high ticket, retain veterans, and give long-time students a reason to keep learning

The logic: lead classes bring new people → core classes protect revenue → companion classes widen the audience → advanced classes lift the ticket. With a proper matrix, a student can take several class types per visit — you stop earning "one class per person" and start earning "several class lines per person."

🎯 What classes pair well with bungee dance? (choose by your venue)

• Same space, zero conversion — 150 m² with staggered scheduling is enough: flexibility class (hip/shoulder opening — bungee students need it anyway), posture class (postural correction — a need for the female audience), sculpting class (mat Pilates / core), Chinese / classical dance (elegance-focused, heavily overlapping audience with bungee dance), jazz / contemporary (attracts younger students) — none of these need anchor points; roll out mats in the off-peak slots
• Aerial (for 4 m+ venues): hammock dance / aerial yoga, silks, hoop — they share the anchor space with bungee and serve almost the same crowd: an upgrade play of "one venue, two experiences" (see Chapter 1's tall-venue dividend)
• High-ticket / event (doesn't occupy the regular schedule): private training, corporate team-building / annual-party trials, parent-child classes, performance squads — you earn event fees, not class fees; one event can equal several classes

Remember three selection criteria (to truly get "one space, many uses"): ① low wear on the venue — no major conversion, no damage to floors or anchors; ② easy switching between classes — pack up the mats after one class and bungee is ready for the next; fast transitions that don't disrupt the schedule; ③ quick to learn and broadly appealing — new students feel achievement within a few classes and stay. Screen by these three: flexibility classes are the current hot pick — big demand, zero barrier, and they double as bungee students' fundamentals; hammock dance is quick to pick up — simple, a sense of achievement within a few classes, and the easiest aerial to start with. Classes that wear little, switch smoothly, and learn fast are the ones that deserve a place in your schedule.

⏰ Staggered scheduling: turn dead slots into money

• Prime slots (18:00–21:30 weeknights, all day weekends) → bungee dance: the office-worker core audience; trials and monthly-pass classes live here
• Off-peak slots (weekday days, noon 12:00–13:30) → flexibility / posture / Chinese dance / private: this is prime time for moms and freelancers — don't let the studio sit empty during the day
• Share one space with staggered scheduling: 150 m² can run "bungee + 2–3 companion classes"; only after the schedule fills up and runs stably consider expanding the lease or a separate classroom (200 m²+, see Chapter 1's area notes)

Cross-conversion is where the profit is: a flexibility/posture student who tries bungee once may convert into a core student; a bungee student adding aerial or Chinese dance becomes multi-line — broadening courses isn't just adding to the schedule, it's giving every student a reason to "add to cart," lifting richness, emotional value, and renewals together.

Convenience: make it easy for students to learn (the invisible retention edge)

Many overlook this: whether a student renews is half about experience and half about "how easy it is." Get these aspects right and students won't want to leave:

• Timing: evening classes (for office workers), weekend classes, midday classes — cover different schedules; don't only schedule daytime
• Booking: online booking (booking groups / mini-programs / off-the-shelf booking tools) — the smoother the booking flow, the higher the attendance; no need to build your own, ready-made booking tools exist (mini-program schedulers, studio management systems)
• Progress: jump in anytime, make up missed classes, and stage assessments that make progress visible — students only keep going when they "can learn it and keep up"
• Review: send class videos / move breakdowns after class so students can review at home — faster learners feel more accomplished and renew more willingly
• Environment: changing & storage, parking, a waiting area — the details decide "whether they're willing to come"

In one sentence: students who "can get there, can book, can learn, and can keep going" — convenience is your renewal rate.

Class marketing: how to attract and keep students (the industry's biggest pain point — worth explaining well)

Above the fundamentals come the actual plays. Many people only discover after opening that the real bottleneck isn't the space or equipment — it's how to make more people know about you and come learn. No students, nothing else matters. Three steps:

• ① Attract (make them know): low-price trial classes (¥39–99, get them in once); local content (Xiaohongshu/Douyin videos of students in class and the joy of "taking off from a standstill" — video is this industry's most effective ad); member-referral rewards; listing on the platform (locals searching "indoor bungee" can find you); publishing trial classes on local life platforms (Dianping / Meituan / Douyin group-buying) — people searching "bungee/dance" see your studio directly; one of the most reliable acquisition channels for a new studio; cross-industry partnerships (gyms and dance studios referring to each other)
• ② Convert (make them stay): the standardized four-step trial — before class: confirm the booking, guide them in, remember their name; during class: engineer a "wow moment" (let them feel flight once) and shoot photos/video; after class: contact them the same day (strike while the iron's hot), send the photos/video, and offer a first-purchase plan; a limited-time offer creates urgency (but don't fake it). How high your trial-to-sale rate goes depends entirely on these four steps
• ③ Retain (make them come back): visualize results (before/after videos that make progress obvious); community upkeep (booking groups, check-ins); leveled classes (beginner / advanced / choreography, giving students a growth path); word-of-mouth virality (happy students bring friends)

In low-awareness cities, educate the market first: publish explainer content on "what is indoor bungee and is it safe" — get the category understood before you talk about selling classes.

Core competitiveness: make it your top priority (new studios will keep appearing)

Let's be blunt about one belief: the point of opening a studio is to make money; money comes from market position; market position comes from core competitiveness. So building core competitiveness must be your top priority — because new bungee studios will keep appearing, and whoever understands how to build and refine competitiveness becomes the market's main force while the rest get squeezed out. That's not scaremongering; it's how this industry evolves.

How to arm yourself? Six dimensions — each one ahead of the market, and together they're the reason more people choose you:

• Environment: clean, comfortable, quality-feeling — students photographing and posting is free advertising
• Equipment: good gear simply feels better (in competitive big cities it pulls traffic) — and keep upgrading it
• Teaching staff: verifiable coach credentials (certifications, experience, results) — verifiable staff is your hardest signboard
• Honors: competition results and teaching outcomes — putting results on display is proof of strength
• Affiliation: affiliate with a legitimate system/brand/association (authorized-studio status) — it tells students "you're the real deal, not a wild card." Which system to affiliate with — judge by Chapter 7's criteria; the choice is yours
• Endorsement: verifiable credentials, industry recognition, platform listings — any third-party endorsement is proof that speaks for you

Remember: one strong dimension isn't strength — all six combined, each able to survive a "compare with the neighbor next door," is complete core competitiveness — copying one of your strengths is easy for others; copying all six takes time.

Week-one SOP (the week new studios most easily fall apart)

• Daily open/close: pre-open equipment first-check + environment inspection → pre-class roll call + health confirmation → post-class disinfection / gear reset → daily cash reconciliation → sign off at close
• Trial-class hosting: remember names → guide changing & storage before class → engineer the "wow moment" + shoot photos during class → contact the same day after class with photos + a first-purchase plan
• Special handling: set late/absence rules in advance; refunds and complaints go through an escalation flow (soothe first, then solve); filming requires student consent
• Data logging: record daily — visitors, trials, conversions, revenue collected. Week one's data is the basis for every decision after

Weekly operating metrics you must watch (run on data, not feelings)

• Acquisition: qualified leads (how many asked / left contact info), trial attendance rate (booked vs. showed up)
• Conversion: trial-to-sale rate (of those who tried, how many bought — target 30%+)
• Retention: attendance rate (booked vs. attended), class-consumption rate (prepayments recognized as classes are consumed — track actual usage)
• Health: renewal rate, refund rate (investigate abnormal spikes), acquisition cost / per-person efficiency (how much class consumption each coach produces monthly)
• Spend 10 minutes a week logging these and you'll see trends within a month — metrics don't lie to you; feelings do

The referral loop (members bring members — the cheapest acquisition)

• Triggers: three moments are best to ask — after a satisfied first class, at stage-result showcases, and after renewal
• Mechanism: give every student a unique referral code (or register the referrer); once the new student completes a first class, both sides get a reward (bonus classes / benefits — not cash)
• Rules: rewards expire; if the new student refunds, claw back the reward; prevent self-referral farming (same phone / same address doesn't count)
• Data: track weekly — invites → arrivals → sales → cost → refunds — and check whether "referral cost per sale" is healthy (it should be well below ad acquisition)
• In one sentence: a satisfied student is your best salesperson, and the referral mechanism turns that satisfaction into growth

Months 0–6: a quick reference to common problems (exactly what new studios need)

• A student wants a refund?: First ask why; if you can keep them, offer alternatives (swap classes / postpone / transfer). If a refund is due, give it — reputation is worth more than one payment — but strictly follow the contract and keep refund records. The more transparent your refund policy, the fewer disputes
• Handling a bad review online?: Don't delete it, don't fight it (that only escalates); respond within 24 hours — apologize first, then solve; after resolving offline, ask them to update the review. Handled well, one bad review becomes proof that you're accountable
• Losing coaches?: Fair pay + room to grow (training / promotion); standardize the curriculum (lock down lesson plans and processes so it doesn't depend on one person); keep student relationships with the studio, not the coach's personal WeChat
• Tight cash flow in the off season?: Every peak is followed by a dip — reserve ahead; recognize prepayments only as classes are consumed (prepaid = liability); run promos / referrals / cross-industry partnerships in the off season; don't just wait
• Students stop renewing?: Usually it's "no visible progress" or "no connection" — visualize results (before/after) + emotional value (being remembered and encouraged); get both lines right and renewals naturally rise

Run the numbers for your city

Enter your monthly rent and 2-person monthly payroll (yuan) and the model estimates total investment and break-even students automatically:

Hidden costs not to miss (the ones people forget when doing the math)

• Taxes / social insurance: differs for sole proprietors vs. companies — reserve 5–10% of revenue
• Payment fees: WeChat/Alipay collection runs ~0.6%; group-buying platforms take commission too
• Bookkeeping & tax filing: both sole proprietors and companies must file on time (VAT / individual income tax / business income tax) — use an accounting service or tool; don't miss filings, because fines and late fees cost far more than the bookkeeping
• Consumables / cleaning / repairs: routine wear on crash pads, mirrors, and equipment
• Equipment depreciation & replacement: cords have a lifespan — budget yearly for replacements
• Refunds / complimentary classes / bad debt: reserve 2–5% of prepayments
• Add these into your monthly fixed cost, or your break-even/payback numbers aren't real — miss the hidden costs and your books are fiction

In plain terms: what is bungee dance? (the industry's common definition)

• Bungee dance: a movement form in which dancers perform choreography on the ground and in the air using the tension and rebound of an elastic cord (the bungee). It fuses dance's rhythm with elastic resistance — it tones and shapes the body while looking like dance, and complete beginners can pick it up (which is exactly why it suits the general public)
• How it's categorized (industry-common definitions):
• By teaching system: ground system (floor bouncing, beginner fundamentals) + aerial system (air moves, advanced levels)
• By style: classic, Chinese classical, EXOTIC, and others — some international competitions have separate style categories (classic, Chinese classical, etc.)
• By purpose: fitness & shaping / performance & showcase / competition — decide which purpose your studio leads with, and point your courses and marketing that way

Distinguish two kinds of "system": movement systems, equipment, and flooring standards are public industry knowledge — owned by no one, learnable by anyone; teaching systems, however, belong to each school — each has its own materials, learning paths, and emphases. The public knowledge this guide covers, you can take and use.

First, one concept: bungee dance broadly splits into the "ground system" and the "aerial system"

• Ground system: floor bouncing and fundamental moves — required for entry, the foundation ("learn to bounce first")
• Aerial system: air moves and advanced technique — the advanced track ("then learn to fly," from bouncing to flight)
• The industry offers things like "bungee dance aerial technique intensives" that follow exactly this "bounce to flight" progression — the split is industry-standard
• What it means for you: level your courses and design student progression along this logic — beginner classes teach ground fundamentals, advanced classes teach air moves; a clear curriculum gives students a reason to "keep learning" (and that means renewals)
• Different systems weight the two tracks differently — one concrete way "every system differs" shows up

The state of the industry

• There's no unified standard in this market — different studios/organizations use their own materials and systems
• The same move may have different standards, names, and teaching paths across systems
• Almost everyone claims "my system is the best" — that's a normal phase of an industry maturing; you don't need to pick a side or take it personally

Core insight: the system wars don't matter — these three things do

• Who's better can't be settled by argument, and it doesn't matter. What matters is whether the sport itself fits you:
• ① Student experience — does it feel good to train in, feel comfortable to load, and look good when performed? With great experience, students come back on their own and bring people. This is the root of your business, and every system must pass this test
• ② Value for money — weigh the tuition, time, and effort against the teaching ability, sellable class hours, and profit room it gives you. What fits you is good; don't pay for "brand halo"
• ③ Operational proof — can this system support a profitable studio: does the syllabus fill the schedule? Do the class hours sell? Do students want to keep learning after finishing? If it helps you run a great, profitable studio, it's a good system
• Don't study every system — it's expensive, the movement standards clash, and the more you learn the more confused you get. Pick one direction, master it, teach it well, and build your own reputation on it

What it means for studio owners

• Choosing a system = choosing materials = choosing your coach-training source, and it shapes your teaching quality — but don't let the system wars pull you off course
• Decide before opening: which system will your studio use? Where do coaches train? How are class hours designed?
• Judge any system (including ours) by those three things: student experience, value for money, and whether it helps you profit. Vote with your feet — the choice is entirely yours
• You can also join industry conversations (the platform runs an anti-scam community group), hear from people who already opened, then decide

Pitfall warnings

• Beware "complete system" crash courses with no syllabus, no levels, and no certification
• Beware teaching with muddled standards — the same move taught in several versions leaves students lost

Partnerships & leases: two things that must be in black and white

• Partnership agreement (if you have partners): capital shares and payment milestones, dividend order, decision rights (who decides major matters), exit/transfer valuation, loss allocation, non-compete and confidentiality — all in a written agreement, never just verbal
• Lease negotiation points: rent-free fit-out period, rent-escalation caps, property fees / utility rates, cancellation & refunds if renovation or fire acceptance fails, subletting & renewal priority, and restoration obligations
• Before signing, get the landlord's written confirmation that the intended use (fitness/training) and fire-safety conditions are permitted

• Forcing a low ceiling → limited moves, poor experience, safety hazards
• Ignoring load bearing → an anchor failure is a major accident — verify before signing
• Bargain-hunting equipment → short life, short warranty, poor member experience, low repeat rates
• Opening without insurance → running naked into risk; one incident resets you to zero
• Ignoring fire safety / licensing → shut down by inspections, and your early investment evaporates; remember to coordinate fire filing with the landlord (owner/property) — many venues file as a whole and you don't file separately; some require separate filing — ask before signing and put it in the contract
• Too short a lease → forced to move right after breaking even
• No operating reserve → cash flow breaks in the first three months
• No written partnership / equity terms → disputes from day one
• Reading only the rent, not the fine print → traps in property fees / utilities / penalty clauses
• Judging renovation by total price only, not line items → endless add-ons and inferior materials after work starts; demand an itemized quote (brands / models / techniques written out), require written approval before any add-on work, and pay per milestone with inspection
• Ignoring seasons → winter/summer breaks are peaks, and the off season strains cash flow (hence the reserve)
• Spending prepaid class fees as profit → prepaid = liability; until students take the classes, that money isn't yours; the industry's "sell cards then vanish" scandals are exactly this trap — honest operators shouldn't copy it; write clear refund rules and recognize revenue as classes are consumed — it's both compliance and reputation
• Crash-course training that "guarantees job placement" → a three-to-five-day course teaches "a taste," not "how to teach"; a "job placement" promise spoken aloud counts for nothing — get it in the contract, ask which studios they place people at, and check for real success cases before paying. Remember: no skill has a shortcut — crash courses only teach theory, and whether you can reach the standard depends on the coach's requirements and your understanding of the standard; for any course advertising "fast qualification," think it through first (who sets the standard, how it's verified, what level you'll reach) before enrolling
• Organizations that "sell the opening dream" → some schools/organizations run studios with very few members that don't make money, and earn instead by "teaching others to open studios" — they profit from your desire to open. Judge them with Chapter 6's "three questions" (operating data / how they make money / whether they teach operations); if they fail, don't pay
• Don't invest lightly → investment must be for a bigger return, not to pay for "the desire to open." Think through marketing, curriculum, staff, and core competitiveness and set them in place before putting money in — "open only after you truly understand the business; open on impulse and you'll most likely sink with it"

1. Is this guide just a lead magnet? Will I get pitched after reading?

The guide is completely free, and the core knowledge is right here in the open. One-on-one site selection, equipment, and on-the-ground support is a separate service — you can absolutely follow the guide on your own first, and skip anything you don't need without contacting anyone.

2. I've never danced or taught. Can I still open one?

Yes. Opening a studio and teaching are two different things: you can learn a system yourself first (courses exist for complete beginners), or simply hire certified coaches. The studio owner's core job is site selection, budgeting, and operations — exactly what this guide covers.

3. You say ¥150k–200k, so why do others say several hundred thousand?

Because the bases differ. Our ¥150k–200k is the standard estimate for a 150 m² single-program studio (the full breakdown is in Chapter 2 — checkable). Dual programs, luxury fit-outs, or prime tier-1 districts naturally cost more. Lay the numbers out and compare yourself.

4. Where do I buy equipment? Will I get ripped off?

The equipment list is public (Chapter 3); choose by the "price = lifespan + warranty + experience" logic. The platform offers a standard configuration list as reference — the final call on who to buy from is yours.

5. How long until payback?

Formula: total investment ÷ monthly net profit. Per the model, 6–18 months (median 8–12), depending on your city, rent, and acquisition ability. The guide gives you the method — plug in your own numbers.

6. Where do coaches come from? What if I can't teach?

Two paths: learn a system and teach yourself (there are leveled certification tracks), or hire certified coaches (the platform's coach directory can connect you). Newcomers train before taking classes.

7. Isn't this just self-promotion for your system?

There are objective criteria for judging a system (Chapter 7): syllabus / levels / certification / competition recognition / verifiable staff. Apply them to any system, including ours. We won't decide for you.

8. My city has never heard of indoor bungee. Can it work?

The core answer is in Chapter 1's "market reality": if local women's fitness demand and spending power meet the bar, a blank market is an opportunity; if they don't, an empty market doesn't mean you'll survive. How to test: run trial classes and read local reaction (¥39–99 to attract), let data speak. Don't underestimate smaller cities — "niche sports taking root in small towns" has real precedents; indoor bungee is also quietly rising in cities like Kunming — the industry is spreading from tier-1 outward, and tier-3/4 cities have lower costs, less competition, and a clearer first-mover advantage.

9. Can one person run this alone?

One person can handle the prep phase (scouting venues, licensing, overseeing renovation), but plan for at least 2 people in operations (coach + front desk / manager), or time off, classes, and reception will all collide.

10. Where do these numbers come from? Are they reliable?

The models and ranges come from industry practice and public information from studios already listed on the platform (e.g. 4 m ceilings, 200 m² — you can verify against studios in the platform's city directory); the page marks when it was compiled, and actuals depend on real-world measurement and site talks. Every number is checkable — we welcome the audit.

11. Is indoor bungee really safe? (students and parents will ask)

It's every beginner's first reaction. Safety comes from three things: compliant equipment (weight-tiered cords, double carabiners, crash pads), certified coaches, and an inspection system (pre-class visual check / weekly / monthly). Get that system right and safety becomes your selling point — showing students your safety process beats a hundred spoken assurances. Special note: 90 kg and above is not recommended for bungee — the impact can strain the heart, and the studio should hold that gate at enrollment and before class. Also ask proactively about pre-existing conditions (low blood sugar, heart disease, high blood pressure, etc.) at enrollment — those with such conditions are not recommended to participate, or not frequently. That protects both your students and your studio.

12. What if members worry you'll vanish? (the trust crisis from the industry's closure wave)

There have been too many "sell cards then vanish" cases at gyms and dance studios in recent years, so members are naturally wary of you. Build trust proactively with three things: ① put refund rules clearly in the contract and never promise non-refundable fees; ② recognize prepayments only as classes are consumed — never treat prepaid money as profit; ③ display your business license, insurance, and inspection records. Legitimate operators aren't afraid of scrutiny — the more transparent you are, the more people trust you. Also: China's Supreme People's Court has published typical prepaid-consumption cases (covering gyms, beauty salons, and training institutions) — you can look up how courts rule on prepaid-card disputes; some regions also require deposits/escrow (tighter for the training industry). As a fitness-training venue, a bungee studio should standardize contracts, refunds, and fund management early, and self-check against the Court's position.

13. What if I can't recruit students? (low awareness is a common pain point)

Indoor bungee is still new in most cities — "never heard of it" is the norm, not your fault. Four breakthrough moves: ① low-price trial classes (¥39–99) to get people in once; ② local content (Xiaohongshu / Douyin) — film students in class and the joy of "taking off from a standstill" — video is this industry's most effective ad; ③ member-referral rewards; ④ let students film and post themselves — you become a walking billboard.

14. How do I get a coach certification?

The industry has professional qualification certifications (e.g. aerial dance professional certification — verifiable) plus in-system level/coach certifications. Recommendation: first check whether the issuing body is legitimate (traceable, has a training syllabus, and runs examinations), then decide which to pursue. A legitimate certification backs your studio's teaching quality and is a trust credential when recruiting members.

15. How do I avoid pitfalls when buying equipment?

Three easily overlooked details: ① don't look only at unit price — factor in lifespan and warranty, and "cheap" can cost more; ② safety components (cords, carabiners, anchors) must come with inspection reports / certificates — never buy unbranded, untraceable goods; ③ clarify installation and after-sales — who installs the anchors/frame and who you call when something fails. Ask all three before ordering.

16. Should I pay for a "marketing course"?

The universal methods are already public in Chapter 6 (fundamentals + course design + attract / convert / retain) — no need to pay for them. If you really want to spend, run the "three questions" first: are their own studio numbers public? Do they earn from running a studio or from selling courses? Do they teach universal tactics, or does it only work if you buy their stuff? Fail the three questions, don't pay.

17. Can I become a coach after a "3–5 day crash course"? Is the promised job placement real?

Honest answer: a crash course teaches "a taste," not "how to teach." A real coach must know how to teach, lead students, and handle safety procedures — that takes systematic training and hands-on accumulation, so don't fully believe "a few days and you're a coach."
About "job placement": make the organization put it in the contract, ask which studios they place people at, and ask for real success cases; a verbal promise counts for basically nothing. Legitimate studios hire on teaching ability and credentials, not a few-day certificate.
If you want to become a coach after training, the realistic path is: system training → certification → studio internship / teaching accumulation → becoming an independently teaching coach. Don't expect a crash course to do it in one step.
More fundamentally: no skill has a "shortcut" — a crash course only teaches you theory and what you "should" do, but it's very hard to actually reach the standard yourself; whether you can teach standard moves depends on the coach's requirements and their understanding of the standard. So for any course advertising "fast qualification" or "a few days to mastery," think it through before enrolling — ask three things: who sets the standard, how it's verified, and what level you'll reach — then decide whether to pay.

18. Should I franchise someone else's brand/system?

Franchise/authorization models do exist in this industry, but the judging criteria stay the same: is the system verifiable (syllabus / levels / certification), are there real success cases, and does the cost-benefit math work? Run your own independent numbers with this guide first (Chapter 2 budget + Chapter 6 operations), then decide between franchising and going independent — franchising buys "peace of mind," but peace of mind has a price; whether it's worth it depends on whether it truly helps you profit (Chapter 7 has the complete system-selection criteria).

19. What do I do when the off season / winter-summer break passes and students drop off?

Winter and summer breaks are the peaks, and every peak is followed by a dip — that's just how this industry runs; don't panic. Do three things in advance: ① keep 1–2 months of cash reserve (start before the peak ends); ② in the off season run member referrals, cross-industry partnerships, and refresher camps + stage assessments (turning holiday traffic into long-term students); ③ start warming up themed classes 4 weeks before holidays (the four big nodes: post-Chinese-New-Year / May Day / summer / National Day — Chapter 6 has the full marketing calendar) — don't just wait; the off season is when you train your internal game and build reputation.

20. If they sign a waiver, am I off the hook when something happens?

No. Operators cannot use waivers to exclude the safety duty the law imposes; for personal injury caused by intent or gross negligence, advance waivers are usually void. Risk disclosure, health declarations, and informed consent cannot replace equipment maintenance and on-site protection — a waiver is not a get-out-of-jail card; the protection still has to be done (Chapter 5 has the full explanation and real precedents).

21. What weight can do bungee?

Cords are tiered by weight: specs step up roughly every 10–15 kg, with three common tiers (light / standard / heavy) each split into 3 weight specs — 9 in total (covering about 35–40 kg up to 90 kg); cords are color-marked by weight, identified per your supplier's chart (see Chapter 3). 90 kg and above is not recommended — the impact can strain the heart; those with pre-existing conditions (low blood sugar / heart disease / high blood pressure, etc.) are also not recommended to participate, or not frequently (see Chapter 5).