The 3 Financial Goals Every Studio Owner Needs to Set in 2026

Before you set a single goal for 2026, I need you to pause.

Not to plan.
Not to push forward.
But to reflect.

Because you cannot set meaningful goals for your studio without first understanding what actually happened last year.

And I don’t mean skimming your P&L and moving on.

I mean asking yourself:

• What worked?

• What drained me?

• What lit me up?

• What do I not want to repeat?

This episode exists because I see the same mistake every year.

Studio owners set one big revenue goal — and forget the two numbers that actually determine freedom.

So today, I want to simplify this.

There are three financial goals you need to set for your studio in 2026.
Not ten.
Not a complicated spreadsheet.
Just three.

Why Reflection Comes Before Goal Setting

Most people rush straight into goal setting.

But without reflection, your goals are just guesses.

One of the most powerful (and simple) things you can do is review your year month by month:

• Look at your calendar

• Look at your energy

• Look at what you enjoyed vs what you endured

For me, one of the biggest wins last year was doing in-studio visits with private clients.
It reminded me how much I love being in physical spaces with teams.

That information matters.

Your goals should be built around what you want more of, not just more money for the sake of it.

Goal #1: Profit (Not Revenue)

Let’s start with the one most studio owners avoid.

Profit.

Profit is what’s left after:

• Expenses

• Payroll

• And your salary

Profit is not “whatever happens at the end of the year.”
It’s not optional.
And it’s not selfish.

Profit is:

• Your safety net

• Your growth fund

• Your buffer for slow seasons

• Proof your business model actually works

If you want to build a business that is sustainable — or sellable one day — it must be profitable.

What Should Your Profit Goal Be?

• Newer studios: 1–10%

• Established studios: 10–30%

• Long-term healthy target: 20–30%

Profit tells the truth.

If you can’t generate profit:

• Revenue may be too low

• Expenses may be too high

• Or your model needs adjustment

You don’t wait to see if profit happens.
You decide it matters.

Goal #2: Your Salary (Yes, Yours)

This is the one I will say louder:

You are not the last priority in your business.

Too many studio owners say:
“I’ll pay myself more once we hit X.”

And X keeps moving.

Your salary should be:

• Consistent

• Predictable

• Livable

• Planned

Not leftovers.
Not random owner’s draws.
Not business credit cards covering personal expenses.

You deserve a real income.

What This Actually Looks Like

You decide:

• What you need to live comfortably

• What you want to take home monthly

• How that money flows from your business to you

This may include:

• A W-2 salary (especially if you’re an S-Corp)

• Monthly owner’s distributions

If this feels confusing — that’s normal.
This is exactly the kind of thing you loop a CPA or coach into.

But the decision itself?
That’s non-negotiable.

Goal #3: Revenue (The Fuel)

Only after profit and salary do we talk about revenue.

Revenue is:

• The total money coming in

• Before expenses

• Before payroll

• Before profit

Revenue tells you what’s possible.

More revenue = more options.

But revenue alone does not equal success.
You can have high revenue and still be exhausted, underpaid, and stressed.

How to Set the Right Revenue Goal

Work backwards.

Ask:

1. What salary do I want?

2. What are my operating expenses?

3. What profit do I want to keep?

Add those together.

That total is your revenue goal.

Example:

• Salary: $5k/month

• Expenses: $15k/month

• Profit: $3k/month

➡️ Revenue needed: $23k/month
➡️ Annual revenue: $267k

Now you’re solving the right problem.

Why Tracking Monthly Is Non-Negotiable

Goals don’t work if you only look at them once a year.

Every month, you should know:

• Revenue

• Expenses

• Profit

• Salary paid

• Where money is coming from

This isn’t about micromanaging.
It’s about clarity.

Money tells the truth.
You just have to listen.

When Goals Feel Uncomfortable (That’s the Point)

If your brain says:
“That’s too big.”
“I’ve never done that before.”
“Who do I think I am?”

Good.

That’s your comfort zone talking.

Your goals should stretch your identity, not just your math.

They should change:

• How you prioritize

• What you say no to

• How you lead

• What you invest in

Goals aren’t about pressure.
They’re about alignment.

The Simplicity Most Studio Owners Miss

You don’t need 15 goals.

You need three numbers:

• Profit

• Salary

• Revenue

Track them monthly.
Make decisions from them.
Let them guide your year.

This is how you run a business in 2026.

🎧 Listen to the Full Episode

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why revenue alone isn’t enough

• How to decide what to pay yourself

• What profit actually tells you

• How to set financial goals that support your life

• The most common mistake studio owners make every year

👉 Listen to the full episode of the Studio CEO Podcast here

🚀 Want Support Doing This?

Inside the Studio CEO Program, we:

• Set these numbers together

• Track them monthly

• Adjust strategy when needed

• Build businesses that actually support your life

You don’t need more hustle.
You need clearer goals.