How to Adapt to the Small Business Summer Slowdown

Updated: July 27, 2026

By Robyn Parets, Founder of Pretzel Kids

For some small business owners, summertime means taking longer vacations and extra days off. This isn’t just because the weather is nice.

It’s because the hotter months mark the slowest time of the year—the annual small business summer slowdown. ​

Fitness and yoga studios are particularly prone to a small business summer slowdown because customers and students tend to travel over the summer and often prefer to work out on their own outdoors and out of the studio.

Judy Hudson, former owner of Foxboro Pilates in Foxboro, MA, had come to expect this slower season. She prepared for it by running promotions, experimenting with new fitness classes and adjusting her expectations. She also used the time to gear up for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

When operating her business, Hudson offered group apparatus classes, Pilates mat and barre classes, semi-private and private Pilates sessions, wellness workshops, and myofascial release services. During a myofascial bodywork session, Hudson applies moderate pressure to soft tissue to release tension and enable muscles to stretch. It is generally considered a great compliment to Pilates workouts, she said.

To help others manage their small business summer slowdown, here are Hudson’s top five tips:

5 ways to manage small business Summer Slowdown

1. Promote new classes and market them on social media

For July and August, Foxboro Pilates dropped its class load down to four classes a week compared to its usual 12 during busier months. Even with a shoestring schedule, the fitness business runs promotional specials and new classes.

For example, Hudson offered a six-week poolside “Summer Shape Up” mat and barre class series—in her own backyard. She also offered two similar series at her regular studio location. The pricing was slashed in half for the summer months. The goal was to introduce new students to Pilates and barre and offer a discount to her loyal students who continued over the summer. To promote the program, Hudson blasted backyard paradise photos on Twitter and Facebook.

Even if she didn’t get an overwhelming response, the creative new poolside class series helped put Foxboro Pilates on the map for those looking for a fall fitness routine. 

2. Adjust your staffing needs

Hudson would sometimes add teachers to her roster if her student base expanded. In the summer, however, she ran classes solo as she didn’t have the student base to support another teacher. This way, she kept expenses down without worrying about depleting her cash flow.

3. supplement your income

Hudson, a board-certified therapist and fitness trainer for more than 20 years, picked up per diem physical therapy jobs at nearby hospitals to supplement her income. She also sold nutritional supplements and used the time to focus on her side business.

4. take a break when things are slow

Foxboro Pilates closed down for two to three weeks during the summer so Hudson could recharge without worrying about her business. Her wake-up call came many years ago when she hired a teacher to run things while she was in Italy. Four days before she boarded the plane, that teacher quit. She had no choice but to close. However, because students signed up and expected their Pilates, Hudson scrambled to film her classes and provide them with free filmed workouts in her absence. They loved it, but it proved to be a stressful few days. 

“Now I don’t leave anyone in charge over the summer when it’s so quiet anyway.”

5. gear up for the busy fall season

Summer is a great time to regroup and plan for the fall and winter, says Hudson. This is a ideal opportunity to market fall classes on social media, via email and even word of mouth.

Time to go back to School!

In addition to Hudson’s tips, summertime is also a great time for small business owners, teachers, mompreneurs, and yogis to learn new skills. For example, if you’ve ever thought about teaching kids yoga, the back-to-school season will be here before you know it and you will have tons of opportunities to teach children’s yoga classes. 

In fact, why not learn more about how to teach yoga to children?

Summer is a great time for YOU to go back to school! 

About Robyn

Robyn Parets is the founder and CEO of Pretzel Kids.