The Cheer Biz Podcast

10-Minute Tactic: Raising Prices the Right Way

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton breaks down a 10-minute tactic that every cheer gym owner needs to master—how to raise your prices without losing clients.

If you’ve been putting off adjusting your tuition or class fees, this episode will show you why now is the perfect time to do it—and exactly how to do it strategically.

Dan shares step-by-step insights from his book, Charge What You’re Worth: A Cheer Pricing Handbook, and explains how to evaluate your current rates, set prices using proven psychology, and communicate increases with confidence and integrity.

You’ll learn:

How to calculate the right price for your classes

When and how often to raise your prices

How to add perceived value to offset price increases

The right way to notify current clients

Why pricing impacts your gym’s long-term health

Whether you run a cheer gym, tumbling program, or youth sports facility, this episode gives you the exact pricing strategy to grow your revenue and stay profitable year after year.

Beating Burnout: The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

In this powerful episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton opens up about one of the hardest seasons of his entrepreneurial journey—burnout.

Just five weeks ago, Dan hit a breaking point and seriously considered walking away from everything. But instead of quitting, he rebuilt his mindset, energy, and focus—and he’s now more excited about the future than ever before.

In this episode, Dan shares the exact steps he took to beat burnout, reignite his passion, and find balance again. You’ll learn how to:

Recognize when burnout is creeping in

Reconnect with your purpose and perspective

Rebuild healthy habits that fuel your energy

Prioritize family, fitness, and efficiency

Fall back in love with your business again

If you’ve ever felt tired, overwhelmed, or ready to quit your cheer gym or business, this episode will give you the tools and mindset shifts to push through, reset, and come back stronger than ever.

Perfect for cheer gym owners, coaches, and entrepreneurs who need a reminder that burnout isn’t the end—it’s just a signal to rise again.

The Hidden Reason Owners Avoid Delegation (and How to Fix It)

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton breaks down the real reasons cheer gym owners and entrepreneurs struggle with delegation—and how to finally get it right.

Drawing from 13+ years of business ownership, Dan shares the most common traps owners fall into, including confusing delegation with abdication, believing no one can do the job as well, and even facing an identity crisis when they hand off tasks. You’ll hear practical strategies for deciding what to delegate first, building systems, and training your staff to take responsibility without losing consistency.

If you feel stuck doing everything yourself—billing, coaching, admin, marketing—this episode shows you how to reclaim your time, empower your team, and step into your true role as a CEO, not just an operator. Perfect for cheer gym owners, coaches stepping into leadership, and entrepreneurs ready to scale.

The 10-Minute Marketing Tactic

In this quick-hit episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton breaks down one of the most powerful — yet overlooked — tactics for cheer gym owners: building your email list.

Over 13 years of owning multiple businesses, Dan has proven that the tactics you execute daily fuel real growth. In under 10 minutes, he explains why email lists are the foundation of a profitable cheer gym marketing strategy, how to capture leads effectively, and what to avoid when setting up your systems.

You’ll learn:

The best tools to capture and track emails

Why your website must be built to convert leads

How to create irresistible offers that grow your list

The mistakes gym owners make with newsletters

How to re-engage warm leads and turn them into paying clients

If you own a cheer gym, tumbling program, or youth sports facility, this episode gives you an actionable strategy you can implement immediately to start filling your programs and growing revenue.

The Truth About Free Speech and Your Business

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton explores the complex balance between freedom of speech and business ownership. While the Constitution protects free expression, business owners quickly learn that words carry consequences when customers, staff, and the public are watching.

Dan shares real experiences from his time in law enforcement and as a gym owner, explaining why business leaders don’t truly have unlimited freedom to say whatever they want online. From social media posts that caused professional fallout to the realities of customer perception, this conversation is a powerful reminder that what you say impacts how people choose to spend their money.

If you’ve ever wondered how outspoken you should be about politics, faith, or social issues while running a gym, this episode will help you understand the risks, the responsibilities, and the importance of choosing your words strategically as a business owner.

What Every New Cheer Gym Owner Needs to Hear

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton sits down with Jenna Wolf and Alyssa Mendoza, the sister owners of Tri Cities Edge in Washington. Founded in 2022 with just 13 athletes, their gym has skyrocketed to more than 100 enrollments by building a strong recreational cheer program, implementing systems that scale, and creating a community-first culture.

You’ll hear how they:

Launched one of the first fully recreational tumbling and cheer programs in their area

Balanced competitive all star with high-retention rec classes

Grew to 12 staff and a thriving 14,000 sq. ft. facility in just three seasons

Leveraged community events, school partnerships, and grassroots marketing to fill classes

Kept churn under 3% with systems and customer experience

If you’re a cheer gym owner, all star coach, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical strategies on how to grow from scratch, scale with intention, and serve your community while running a sustainable business.

The Birthday Party Booking Playbook

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton shares how Oregon Dream Teams booked 17 birthday parties in only 14 days, generating more than $6,000 in new revenue. He breaks down the strategies that worked, including the email and text marketing campaigns, Facebook ads, follow-up systems, and adjustments that turned interest into bookings.

If you run a cheer gym, tumbling program, or youth sports facility, this episode gives you the step-by-step approach to filling your calendar with profitable birthday parties. Learn how to create promotions that convert, leverage your lead lists effectively, and build systems that consistently bring in new revenue streams for your gym.

From Coach to Gym Owner

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton sits down with Carli Jordan, owner of North Dakota Cheer Tech, to unpack her inspiring journey from coach to gym owner. Carli shares how she purchased her gym right out of college, navigated the challenges of running a cheer business in a small market, and grew her program to eight competitive teams and 200 athletes.

You’ll hear how she structured her gym purchase, balanced a full-time career with gym ownership, expanded programs to meet family needs, and used modern marketing strategies to grow cheerleading in North Dakota.

This conversation is packed with actionable insights for cheer coaches and gym owners on financing, systems, staff training, retention, and building culture. Whether you dream of owning a gym someday or want to improve the one you already run, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes.

Breaking the “That Won’t Work Here” Myth

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton tackles one of the biggest myths in the cheer industry: the belief that successful systems only work for large, well-established programs like Oregon Dream Teams. Dan shares how ODT started with just 43 all star athletes and no tumbling program, and how the growth to hundreds of athletes came from consistent systems, smart changes, and a willingness to challenge limiting beliefs.

You’ll hear why excuses like “our families won’t accept that” or “that only works at big gyms” are holding you back, and how you can implement the same strategies in gyms of any size. From restructuring private lessons to setting athlete expectations and building a recognizable brand, Dan explains how proven systems can be adapted to any program.

If you want to stop relying on excuses and start creating real growth in your cheer gym, this episode will show you exactly how to make it happen.
Dan shares why speed-to-contact dramatically increases conversion rates, how to build a reliable follow-up system, and what mistakes gym owners make when managing their lead lists. You will learn how to identify qualified leads, nurture interest, and close more sales without wasting time on the wrong people.

This episode is designed for cheer gym owners and coaches who want to grow enrollment, increase revenue, and create systems that ensure no opportunity is lost.

The Growth of Canadian Cheer: Nick Verburg’s Journey

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton sits down with Nick Verburg, co-founder of Vision Cheer Company in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Vice President of Cheer Canada. Nick shares how Vision Cheer grew from a small garage space during the pandemic into a thriving nonprofit gym with more than 300 athletes and a flagship Worlds-level program.

You’ll hear about the challenges of growing cheer in Canada, the benefits of running a nonprofit structure, and the strategies that helped Vision Cheer achieve nearly 99% athlete retention. Nick also explains how focusing on athlete experience, community involvement, and sport-first values can create sustainable growth and build a positive gym culture.

This episode is packed with insights for cheer gym owners, coaches, and entrepreneurs who want to grow their programs, retain athletes, and learn from Canada’s rapid cheerleading success.