The Cheer Biz Podcast

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, Ch...

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 s...

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...

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 str...

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 busine...

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: Launch...

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 y...

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 str...

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 wi...

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 c...

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton unpacks the three biggest lessons he learned during his gym’s annual staff training and retreat. From discovering that even experienced coaches don’t know the score sheet as well as they think, to uncovering how structured conversations unlock hidden problems, to realizing the untapped potential of younger staff members — these lessons can...

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton sits down with Alicia Shaffer, the owner of GPX Cheer in Gillette, Wyoming. Alicia shares her inspiring story of launching a gym in a small community and growing it into a program that gives athletes big opportunities on major stages. Listeners will learn how to build a cheer gym in a small market, use sideline and half-year programs as pow...

What do you do when an athlete quits right before choreography? In this raw and timely episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton shares his real-life experience of losing a team member just hours before starting choreo. Dan opens up about: ✅ How to stay calm when athletes leave unexpectedly ✅ Strategies for keeping your team focused and motivated ✅ Recruitment tips to quickly fill key r...

Mental blocks, performance anxiety, and “hit zero” culture are some of the biggest challenges facing cheer coaches and gym owners today. In this episode of The Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton sits down with sports performance expert Jeff Benson, author of Unblocked: The Walls Come Tumbling Down. Together they dive into how to build a healthier gym culture, coach with psychological safety, and help a...

After 15 years of running businesses, Dan Cotton reflects on the hard-earned lessons he wishes he could share with his younger self. In this continuation of his popular “10 Things” episode, Dan dives into 10 more powerful insights—covering money, space, failure, culture, profitability, and more—bringing the list to 20 essential truths for gym owners and entrepreneurs. Tune in to learn from his mis...

AI isn’t the future—it’s the present. In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton walks you through how to go from casually using ChatGPT to leveraging it like a true expert. You’ll learn practical strategies like building master prompts, organizing project folders, using canvases for better outputs, creating custom GPTs, and unlocking the power of GPT Agents to automate real business tas...

In this emotional and unfiltered episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton opens up about the real struggles and heartfelt truths that coaches and gym owners wish parents understood. From the sacrifices made behind the scenes, to the financial realities of running a cheer gym, to the tough decisions that weigh heavily on coaches, Dan shares the raw side of the industry. Whether you’re a pa...

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan sits down with the one and only Jalani Keo to talk all things cheer. Jalani shares his journey from cheering at Oregon Dream Teams, Trinity Valley, and Weber State to becoming an NCA national champion and now an All-Star coach. They dive into what it really takes to make it in collegiate cheer, how to build winning culture, and the balance between athl...

After 15+ years as a business owner, Dan knows the sinking feeling of looking at your bank account and wondering where the money went. In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, he breaks down the real difference between gross revenue and profit, the hidden expenses that eat away at your bottom line, and the traps gym owners fall into—like overstaffing, underpricing, and neglecting owner pay. Dan s...

In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton dives deep into one of the hardest decisions leaders face—should you invest in training an underperforming employee or decide it’s time to part ways? Drawing from years of business ownership and his background in law enforcement training, Dan shares a practical framework for evaluating employee performance, assessing willingness to grow, and nav...

In this no-nonsense episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton breaks down the five biggest reasons your gym isn’t growing — and why fixing them could change everything. From underutilizing social media to crafting weak offers, clunky enrollment processes, and the harsh reality that most people don’t even know you exist, Dan delivers tough love and practical solutions. If you’re serious about sc...

Choreography season is here, and in this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton shares his top tips to help gym owners and coaches get the most out of their choreography sessions. From prepping your athletes and communicating with your choreographer to avoiding last-minute changes and catching legality issues early, this episode is packed with practical advice to ensure you walk away with a...

In this powerful episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton shares 10 of the most important — and sometimes painful — lessons he’s learned from 15 years of owning a cheer gym. From the hidden cost of scholarships to promoting the wrong people, Dan delivers honest, actionable advice that today’s gym owners (and future ones) can learn from. Whether you're just starting out or years into your journ...

In this unique solo episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, host Dan Cotton dives deep into the powerful leadership lessons found in Legacy by James Kerr. Kicking off a new multi-part series, Dan explores Chapter 1—“Character”—and unpacks the All Blacks’ core principle: "Sweep the Sheds." He shares how this idea of humility, ownership, and pride in the small things has impacted his gym, his coaching, an...

In this insightful episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton sits down in person with attorney Matt Becker to discuss the critical legal considerations every gym owner should understand. Whether you're running a gym solo, working with a partner, or considering a sale or acquisition, this episode offers essential advice for protecting your business and avoiding costly mistakes. Topics include: W...