Lessons from Episode 52 of the Black Belt Business Podcast with Eliot Marshall and Mike Tousignant

In martial arts, it’s easy to focus on teaching great classes, building a strong culture, and serving the community. But there’s one topic that makes many school owners uncomfortable: money.

In Episode 52 of the Black Belt Business Podcast, Easton Training Center co-owner Eliot Marshall sits down with CEO Mike Tousignant to have the honest, no-BS conversation that too many people in the martial arts industry avoid: how to understand, talk about, and manage money as a business owner.

Whether you're running a school now or planning to open one, this episode is a reality check on what it means to build a sustainable business, not just a passion project.

Why You Have to Talk About Money

Eliot opens the conversation by naming the problem: in martial arts, people often treat financial success like a dirty word. But as he points out, you can’t help your team, your students, or your community if your business is falling apart.

Mike drives the point home: your martial arts academy is a business, and that means it needs to make money, not just to survive, but to grow, pay staff well, reinvest in your product, and reward your hard work.

Ignoring money doesn't make you noble...it makes you vulnerable.

Know Your Numbers: The Basics of Financial Literacy for School Owners

Mike breaks down what every academy owner should be tracking:

• P&L (Profit & Loss Statement): Your snapshot of monthly income, expenses, and profitability

• COGS (Cost of Goods Sold): Not just inventory, COGS includes staff payroll, especially for instructors

• Depreciation & Cash Flow: Understanding that what looks profitable on paper might not be healthy in practice

• Margins & Benchmarks: Knowing where your money should go and how much should be left over

Easton shares these numbers monthly with general managers and department heads, giving everyone visibility and accountability.

Teaching Your Team to Think Like Owners

One of the most powerful lessons in this episode is about financial transparency and empowerment. At Easton, leaders are given real business data and taught how to read it.

Mike and Eliot argue that if you want your staff to care about the business, they need to understand how the business works. That means:

• Teaching basic financial principles

• Showing them the impact of decisions on revenue and margin

• Giving them ownership over their department’s success

You can’t expect buy-in if your team is operating in the dark.

Build a Business That Supports Your Mission

This episode isn’t just about numbers, it’s about what money makes possible. When your school is profitable:

• You can pay your team better

• You can upgrade your facility

• You can offer scholarships or free community programs

• You can take time off without the business falling apart

As Mike says, “Money is not the point but it is a tool. And if you don’t learn how to use it, you’re going to lose.”

Final Thought: Get Help If You Need It

Not everyone grew up learning how to read a balance sheet. That’s okay, but it’s not an excuse to avoid learning now. If you don’t know your numbers, get a bookkeeper, a coach, or a mentor who does.

Because at the end of the day, knowing your financials is just another form of training—and it’s one every martial arts business owner needs to commit to.

Want more help running your academy like a business?
Visit Easton.Online  to learn about our programs and resources for school owners.