Cheer gym owners are some of the hardest-working business owners out there, yet many are running packed practices, full seasons, and nonstop schedules while still feeling broke at the end of the month. In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton breaks down why so many cheer gyms look successful on the outside but struggle financially behind the scenes. We talk about the financial mistakes that quietly drain profit, including incorrect pricing, not paying yourself as the owner, messy books, relying on the wrong CPA, and allowing past-due accounts to pile up. Dan also explains why being “busy” is not the same as being profitable, how cheer gym owners accidentally turn themselves into the most underpaid employee in the business, and why hoping to “sell the gym someday” isn’t a real exit strategy if the gym still depends on you for everything. If you want a cheer gym that’s profitable, sustainable, and capable of growth without burnout, this episode will help you see exactly what needs to change.

Every cheer gym owner gets hit with opinions. The problem is, most of those opinions come from people who don’t understand your business—and taking their advice can cost you money, create chaos, and slow your growth. In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton breaks down exactly who you should be careful listening to when making decisions about your cheer gym, pricing, marketing, culture, and leadership. Dan explains why well-meaning biological parents tend to push safe, conservative choices, why staff input can accidentally create slow decision-making and entitlement, and why one loud unhappy customer can pull you into knee-jerk decisions that upset your happy majority. He also calls out the internet at large, ChatGPT as a “business coach,” and business gurus who aren’t actively running cheer gyms—plus the real-world consequences of taking generic advice that doesn’t fit the cheer industry. If you’re a cheer gym owner, director, or coach, this episode will help you build a smarter “advice filter,” choose the right mentors, and make confident decisions based on proven experience—not noise.

If you want to be a stronger leader in your cheer gym in 2026, you need better questions—not more hustle. In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton shares seven questions every leader should ask themselves to level up leadership, strengthen staff performance, and build a team that can operate without constant supervision. Dan breaks down how to evaluate whether you’re actually growing as a leader, whether your team is rising with you or falling behind, and whether you’ve provided the tools, systems, and clarity your staff needs to succeed. He also explains the difference between developing leaders versus managing doers, how to delegate at the level your business requires, and how to identify whether your team is getting better because of your leadership—or in spite of it. This episode is a must-listen for cheer gym owners, program directors, head coaches, and managers who want better staff accountability, smoother operations, and a culture where people take ownership. You’ll walk away with a simple leadership framework you can revisit annually to improve your communication, delegation, systems, and team development.