Picture this with me, you’re flying back from an incredible four day weekend...

You were able to be in the space of like minded women to rest, recharge and refocus your mind for the next season ahead.

You’re journaling about all the breakthroughs, the “ah-ha” moments from the event. Then the idea hits you, “could I do this too?”

Now the gears are turning in your mind and you’re beginning to dream:

-Where would I host a retreat?
-What kind of food would I have?
-What would the format be?
-Who would I want to be there?

Before you know it, you have pages and pages of ideas of different things you’d love to have at your own retreat for your business.

But then you ask,

“Am I even ready for this?”

Now before you start picking dates and creating the ultimate Pinterest board, let’s pause and figure out if you’re ready to create it.

 

4 Questions to Ask Before You Create Your Dream Retreat for Your Business

Do you have the foundations of your business setup?

You need to start here. Starting with the foundations of our business is going to be essential before you can ever take the next step into creating a full-scale retreat.

Let’s take a look at a quick checklist to see if the foundation has been built:

✓ Do you have a website?
✓ Do you have a social media presence?
✓ Do you have a group of people who are loyal to you?
✓ Do you have an email list?
✓ Do you have an offer for your clients to work with you?

If you answered “yes” to each of the questions above, then you’re on the right track. If not, now you know where your starting point is.

Now, you don’t have to have the fanciest website on the block. Or an email list of thousands and thousands, but these core foundations of your business are going to help you fill the seats of your retreat faster and easier than without.

Side note: Do you need support with any or all of the above? Come join me in Blooming Business Inner Circle and you'll get the support you need to make any or all of these happen!

Do you have content to teach or lead discussion on that creates a transformation for your clients?

You’ve probably heard it said, “events change lives.” Most of us attend events because of the person who is hosting or speaking at the event. Are you that person?

I want you to think about, “what kind of transformations have your clients had after working with you?” Do you have success stories from your customer base? Do you teach a step by step system or have a proven framework you use with your clients?

Your clients won’t sign up for a retreat if they’re not guaranteed to transform or walk away with something in some way. They will pay YOU for the transformation. Before you begin taking the next steps in planning your retreat, ask yourself, “what is the transformation I offer my clients?”

Is a retreat something your clients actually want?

There’s nothing worse than putting all the time, money and energy into a new offer, only to have NO ONE want it. The same happens with retreats and live events!

Are your clients asking for ways they can work deeper, closer and more intentional with you?

Do your customers have the capability to be away from their homes for an extended period of time? Or are they stay at home new mom’s who couldn’t imagine going a day (let alone three) without their baby?

A simple way to find out if a retreat is the answer to what they’re wanting from you is to ask them! Send an email, ask a question on Instagram Stories, or do a poll in your Facebook group asking if you were to offer it, would anyone want to come? What kind of experience would they be most interested in attending?

People love to be a part of something they help create and shape. So, how can you enroll them in making it something THEY want and would truly love attending.

Does your business have the finances to make the dream a reality?

Now that you've established the foundations, gained credibility and your clients are BEGGING for it. You need to ask yourself, “is my business financially ready for a retreat?” 

Now, sister, let me be the first to say that the Inspired Retreat you see today is NOT what it was when I started 15 years ago. It’s been an evolution like any new idea.

My first iteration of Inspired was hosted in a small, 100 year old building in the not-so-cute part of Nashville. It was a one day workshop for $200 that a little over a dozen women attended.

 

Many years and hundreds of women later, I’ve hosted over 16 retreats and my signature experience is now a 4 day, 3 night all-inclusive experience at a gorgeous historic bed and breakfast in a peaceful, magical setting.

Want to dive in deeper to how it all began? Listen to this throwback Bloom & Grow Show podcast episode from the archives: Inspired Retreat: How It All Began.

In the beginning, I didn’t have the budget I have now, but I made it work. Some things that I dreamed of didn’t happen right away but some things did.

Retreats should be a blessing to the business, not a burden. If the finances are not there this year to make it a reality, that’s okay!

How can you start saving now to make it happen next year? What is the next best step you could make in your business today to bring it to life in the future?

Or what smaller scale production can you do to be the first baby step toward the retreat you would love to create and host some day?

 

If, after this blog, you're answering yes to after these questions, I’m working on something exciting for you.

I’ve taken the best of what I’ve learned from the past two decades of creating retreats, workshops, and live events for businesses and brands and I am hard at work packaging it up for you!

So if you’re ready, then join the waitlist for Invite & Delight. You’ll also get access to my new Facebook Group: The Front Porch Club: a place where we chat all about creating themed events, experiences + retreats for your customers! Grab a glass of sweet tea and come join me on my digital front porch!