It costs about $300 for BwP to set up each new member location, enter their historical Boxer information, and provide a new 10 inch tablet and welcome kit.  Your cost is about $30.  BwP has received grants from Rotary and Kiwanis clubs and from Rock Steady Boxers that make it possible for BwP to cover your costs to get started with a Sweat It Forward grant.  All you pay is the cost to ship your Boxer folders to BwP, about $30. 

Once you are BwP operational and introduce Sweaty Bucks to your Boxers, their first cause is to give back by helping the next Rock Steady location get started by Sweating It Forward.  This strategy allows you to get started for $30... a pretty good deal!  

You may charge for intake assessments already.  We hear from affiliates that charging for intake assessments is a necessity in order to pay the coach for their time more than it is a reflection on the value of the assessment to the Boxer or the coaches.  You probably tell perspective Boxers that an assessment is required at intake and the Boxers don't object. 

But when the coach shoves the assessment paperwork into a manila folder with little feedback and nothing to take away, the Boxer is left wondering what did they just pay for.  And when it is time for reassessments, I wondered what they were paying for.  Some RSB affiliates don't do reassessments and many are very lax in the time between assessments or the low quality of the reassessments.  The lack of a valuable deliverable contributed to the affiliate's lax commitment to the recommended 6-month reassessments.  And so everyone loses out.

BwP Assessments are a valuable service to your Boxers they cannot get anywhere else.  Not from their neurologist, not from their PT, and certainly not from their Yoga instructor or their Tai Chi guy.  If you have not been charging for assessments, time to start.  If you have been charging, now you have professional deliverables for your Boxer:  A comprehensive consultation tool during the assessment and a printable detailed assessment report waiting in their email when they get home. 

If you have 30 Boxers receiving 2 assessments per year, that is 60 assessments per year.  At $50 per assessment, that is $3,000 income.  Paying your coaches $25 each leaves a $1,500 margin.  If your BwP membership dues are $36 / quarter ($12/month), $144 annually, you net $1,356.  If you want to just break even, charge $30 per assessment and your coaches are paid plus your BwP association membership is covered.  Consider building your BwP membership dues right into your Boxers monthly dues.  A $12 / month membership divided by 30 Boxers is just 40 cents / month each!  You, your coaches, and your Boxers all get so much for less than a half dollar!

Consider two additional options to generate additional assessment revenue.  1)  Some Boxers (me!) would like to have 3-month assessments believing that 6-month assessments are too far apart to stay on top of the fight.  And, they (I) would be willing to pay for them.  In the example above with 30 Boxers, if half want 3-month assessments, that is 30 additional assessments... net $1,500 additional dollars after paying you coach.  And, 2)  If you don't want to charge for on-going assessments, build the cost into your monthly fee.  Two assessments / year at $50 each is $8 / month.  If you currently charge $100 / month for workouts... at $108 / month the Boxer's assessments are covered.  You can double your assessment income and enhance your Boxer's engagement in the process by building in 3-month reassessments at $116 / month.

Soon BwP will offer valuable marketing support with the annual marketing calendar.  Each month, January through October, Bwp will help you market to Parkinson's emphasis groups such as support groups, physical therapists, senior centers, etc.  BwP will provide tips and marketing materials to elevate your story and gain more referrals. The program will launch in July, 2021.

Here is our preliminary marketing calendar.

• January:  Parkinson’s Support Groups month
• February:  Partners in Parkinson's month:  American Parkinson's Disease Association, Parkinson's Foundation, Brian Grant Foundation, Michael J Fox Foundation
• March:  Open House month:  YMCA PD programs, Cycling for PD; Music for PD; BIG; Silver Slippers, YMCA, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.
• April:  Boxers with Parkinson’s And Family Appreciation Month.
• May:  Physical Therapy month:  Physical Therapists & University Physical Therapy programs
• June:  Neurologist & Movement Specialist month
• July:  Senior Residence / Assisted Living Homes month
• August:  Rotary / Kiwanis month
• September:  VA month
• October:  Senior Center month (Sweaty Bucks)

When showcasing your program to perspective Parkinson's candidates, tell your favorite anecdotal success stories and then back them up with statistical proof from an independent third party, the BwPP, increasing your recruiting effectiveness.  Once they join your program, with every assessment, give them personalized statistical proof that their money, time and sweat are paying off.  Boxer retention is important to your business and keeping Boxers in the program is key to their fight against Parkinson's. 

Your Boxers will get hooked on the BwP Boxer Assessment Report.  They will share it with family.  They will take it to their neurologist and physical therapy appointments.  They are proud of how they are doing.

Remember, they can't get it anywhere else!  

Sweaty Bucks will change everything.  Sweaty Bucks become part of your gym's culture.  With boxing for Parkinson's, the a great part of the culture is built on the relationship between the coaches and the boxers... the relationship between the boxers, the friendships and camaraderie.  Sweaty Bucks create an even shared community connection between the Boxers. 

The Boxers learn that they still matter..  They still make a difference.  They are a vital part of their community.  Sweaty Bucks is their program.  It is their money.  They choose the charities and they deliver the cash.  Food banks, children's services, veteran's services, domestic violence, addiction, special Olympics, school robotics, plays or sports, Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas families. 

Some opportunities to do good can also be a marketing opportunity.  If a charity your Boxer's nominate has a golf tournament or auction as its annual fundraiser, use your Sweaty Bucks to sponsor the tournament.  They receive financial support and you receive recognition on their website, in their tournament or auction program, in their silent auction catalog or as a golf hole sponsor.  Win. Win.

Because they are delivering "Your Gym Name Sweaty Bucks", they are building community good will for your business.  Your gym gets the credit along with the Boxers, and it doesn't cost you a thing.  Community good will is precious and goes a long way cementing your gym as a caring neighbor.  

Are you debating whether you should operate as for-profit or nonprofit?  Does it seem natural for your boxing for Parkinson's programs but Pilates, Yoga, Kickboxing and all your other programs don't really fit.  Do the legal hurdles and the cost scare you?  When a Boxer passes, do you have a way to accept donations in their memory that is tax deductible?  Are there grants you want to apply for that require you to be 501c3?

BwP is working with a CPA and tax specialist (Enrolled Agent and US Tax Court Practitioner) to establish a Boxers with Parkinson's Chapter program where you can become a BwP chapter and operate under our IRS 501c3 designation.  You just have to track donations and the use of funds and we do the rest!

Operate your gym for-profit and accept donations or apply for grants as a nonprofit Boxers with Parkinson's Chapter.  Easy Peasy and affordable.

Apply for more grants:  Many foundations and Rotary and Kiwanis clubs have qualifying rules for their grant programs which include the receiving organization must be a 501c3 nonprofit.  As a Boxers with Parkinson's Chapter, you can now qualify.  You will be able to show the good work we do on a national basis, the purpose for your grant request, and even point out your Sweaty Bucks Community Giving program.  

Qualify for matching corporate donations:  Thousands of corporations have a matching donations program for their employees.  They use a donation administration service called Benevity.  Boxers with Parkinson's is a member of Benevity.  And as a BwP Chapter qualifying donations by boxers, family members and friends of your program who work for any of these corporations can make donations and apply for matching funds.  Each corporation has their own rules so check with us for details.  Over 600 companies use Benevity including ADP, Microsoft, Starbucks,  Google, Coca Cola, Merck, Pfizer, and Prudential.

Qualify for technology donations and discounts:  Tech Soup is a nonprofit who negotiates great prices for hardware and software technology for nonprofits!  BwP is a new member of Tech Soup and will learn more about how you can take advantage of Tech Soup's great deals!  Watch for more details.

You may realize tax advantages:  Here is a theoretical 2020 tax scenario based on a real boxing for Parkinson's program.  The owner reported a profit of $3,103 from his boxing programs.  That included $9,029 in donations from his boxers, friends, family and Rotary.  If the BwP Chapter program had been available, that $9,029 could have been to Boxers with Parkinson's, Covington Chapter and that income would have not been on his business books resulting in a business loss of $5,925.  A taxable difference of $9,029 which in this case as a LLC would have passed through to the owner's personal return as a loss resulting in about a $2,000 difference on his personal taxes.  It would have also been exempt from a state 1% B&O tax, about $90.

There is no waiting time to become a BwP Chapter.  Apply today and accept tax deductible donations tomorrow.  No long application and no legal fees.  Annual accounting and IRS reporting is included!  And to your primary business, the Chapter dues are a deductible expense!  Win.  Win.  Win.  Win!

BwP will have strict guidelines on what type donations are eligible to pass through the BwP Chapter and what types of expenses qualify.  The IRS has very specific rules to maintain the 501c3 umbrella program.  

Pre-PARS, when I meet a new boxer prosect, I had very few tools to support my image, professionalism and expertise. I don't have a bunch of letters after my name like my neurologist.  I don't have medical posters on my gym wall.  I basically walked out to greet the boxer and their spouse/friend with a handshake and a manila folder.  And, when the assessment is over, I put the papers in the manila folder, as for $50, sake their hand and send them away with nothing to show for their money and time.  I don't know how they felt but I felt like something was wrong with this picture.

With PARS, everything changes.

• I walk out with a tablet in my hand looking like something important is about to happen.
• As I start the assessment, I am focused and in control.
• The assessment process is professional, comprehensive and complete.
• At several points during the assessment, I stop to show the Boxer and their spouse/friend what the assessment is uncovering about them.  This is more information than they have every received from their neurologist who has them do a task, says, "Ummm", makes some notes on their computer and moves on.
• Upon finishing the assessment, the coach can go over the results, make a plan for the boxer, and
• I email their personal assessment report to them so it is waiting for them when they get home.

PARS makes me very smart.  in real time, PARS graphs results setting a baseline for their next assessment.  This is where I talk about the EiW! principle and challenge them to work towards staying even!