In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton sits down with Alli Doiron and Jordan Arsenault, the co-owners of 506 Elite, to talk about what it really looks like to build a cheer gym from the ground up. From joking about opening a gym together to actually creating one of their own in New Brunswick, this conversation dives into the real story behind their journey. Alli and Jordan share how they built a program centered on culture, inclusivity, hard work, and athlete support. They talk about opening a gym when their previous program was closing, building a coaching staff that is fully aligned, creating individualized coaching systems for athletes, and balancing fun with accountability in a way that actually works. They also break down how they structure their elite and premier programs, why they bring in guest coaches, how they handle smaller team sizes intentionally, and what they are most excited about heading into the next season. If you are a cheer gym owner, coach, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with real insight on partnership, leadership, staff development, gym culture, and building a program that reflects your values.

What should cheer gyms be posting on social media in 2026? In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton sits down with Sara Walsh to talk about cheer gym marketing, social media strategy, content creation, branding, and how gym owners can use modern marketing to grow their programs online. Sara shares her perspective as a longtime cheer industry professional, marketing expert, former coach, cheer mom, and the current marketing and social media manager for CheerSport Sharks. They break down what gym owners should look for when handing social media off to a staff member, how to build systems that make content creation easier, and why posting constant promotional graphics is not enough anymore. Sara explains the difference between content that builds connection, content that builds trust, and content that drives conversions, along with why cheer gyms need all three if they want to grow. Dan and Sara also talk about the biggest social media mistakes cheer gyms are making, how to create more authentic content, why organic posts outperform overly polished content, and how AI can help with marketing without replacing a real human voice. They also discuss SEO for cheer gyms, keywords in captions, Facebook and Instagram strategy, and what gym owners need to know about social media trends in 2026. If you are a cheer gym owner, all star cheer coach, gym director, or marketing staff member trying to get more leads, increase enrollment, improve your brand, and create better social media content for your cheer gym, this episode is packed with practical advice you can use right away.

What makes a coach toxic, and why do toxic coaches exist in all star cheer? In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton breaks down one of the most important leadership conversations in the cheerleading industry: toxic coaching. He explains what toxic coach behavior actually looks like, how it differs from strong or demanding coaching, and why some coaches in youth sports and all star cheer environments end up leading from ego, pressure, fear, and poor training instead of healthy leadership. Dan dives into the real causes behind toxic coaching in cheer gyms, including lack of staff training, weak coaching standards, poor accountability, social media influence, pressure to win, fear of failure, parent expectations, and gym owner pressure. He also talks about how coach burnout, competition stress, and unrealistic performance demands can create unhealthy coaching behaviors that hurt athletes, damage team culture, and take the joy out of the sport. This episode is for cheer gym owners, all star cheer coaches, program directors, and youth sports leaders who want to build better coaching systems, stronger staff culture, healthier athlete relationships, and a more positive gym environment without lowering expectations or sacrificing competitive success. If you care about coach development, leadership in cheer, athlete experience, gym culture, and long-term success in the cheer industry, this is an episode you need to hear.

What should you actually pay your coaches, and how do you know if that number makes sense for your gym? In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton breaks down coach pay in the cheer industry and explains how gym owners should think about compensation, payroll, profitability, retention, and employee value. He talks through why there is no one-size-fits-all answer, how minimum wage and cost of living affect pay rates, and why gym owners have to look beyond emotion when deciding what a coach is truly worth to the business. Dan also explains how to measure employee value through time saved and dollars made, why great coaching does not automatically equal great employment, and how staffing costs impact the health of your gym. He covers W2 vs 1099 classification, compensation for competition days, private lessons, benefits like health insurance and retirement, annual reviews, and what it really looks like to take care of good coaches without putting your business upside down. If you are a cheer gym owner, all star cheer coach, or business leader trying to build a stronger staff and a more profitable gym, this episode offers practical insight on coach pay, employee retention, payroll strategy, and sustainable staffing in the cheerleading industry.

Varsity’s new Small Gym Summit announcement has the all star cheer world talking, and in this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton breaks down what gym owners and coaches need to understand. Dan shares his perspective on why Varsity likely created the Small Gym Summit, why large brands and franchise locations are still eligible, and what he believes will happen as the event evolves over the next few years. He explains the business strategy behind the timing, the revenue opportunity, the likely impact on D1 and D2 Summit attendance, and why this new end-of-season event may not play out the way many people expect. If you own an all star cheer gym, coach competitive cheer, or follow changes in the cheerleading industry, this episode will help you think more strategically about Small Gym Summit, Varsity events, gym growth, brand structure, and how competition options may continue to shift. Dan also shares an important reminder for gym owners about how to make the best decision for their athletes, families, and business.

Thinking about selling your cheer gym someday? Or buying one instead of starting from scratch? In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton sits down with Matt Becker from Gym Lawyers to talk about gym valuation, buying and selling a cheer gym, legal strategy, profitability, seller financing, and what actually makes a gym sellable. Matt breaks down how gym owners can determine what their business is worth, why profit matters more than revenue, how owner involvement impacts valuation, and why many gym owners wait too long to sell. They also unpack the difference between building a gym and building an asset, what buyers should know before purchasing a cheer gym, and why buying an existing gym may be smarter than opening one from the ground up. If you own an all star cheer gym, want to improve your business valuation, or want to understand exit strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and gym ownership at a deeper level, this episode is packed with practical insight.

What makes a great youth coach stand out from everyone else? In this episode of the Cheer Biz Podcast, Dan Cotton breaks down five essential traits the best youth coaches demonstrate every single day. From reteaching skills without frustration to building real relationships with athletes, adapting coaching methods, creating stronger team culture, and balancing accountability with fun, this episode is packed with practical coaching insight for anyone leading kids in all-star cheer or youth sports. Whether you are a cheer coach, gym owner, or program director, this conversation will help you identify what great coaching actually looks like and how to develop it inside your program. Dan also shares how these coaching habits impact athlete progress, retention, team trust, skill development, and long-term success in a youth sports environment. If you want to improve your coaching staff, train better coaches, and build stronger teams, this episode gives you a clear framework to start with.

“All-star cheer doesn’t make money.” Gym owners hear it constantly—especially when they’re starting a gym. And in this episode, Dan Cotton calls it what it is: a bold-faced lie. Dan breaks down why people believe all-star isn’t profitable, why class programs do matter (higher margins, lower barrier to entry, easier enrollment), and the real reason many gyms lose money on all-star: pricing and budgeting mistakes. He explains how pass-through fees, uniforms, events, scholarships, and “adding one more competition” without adjusting costs can quietly turn teams into a financial drain. Then he lays out the bigger truth: all-star can absolutely be a net positive when tuition and assessments are built correctly—and when you understand the long-term value of an all-star athlete’s length of engagement and additional revenue opportunities. If you’re a cheer gym owner trying to build a profitable all-star program, set tuition correctly, stop bleeding money on teams, and create a system where classes feed into teams the right way, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you a smarter path forward.