Launching Your Saddle Fitting Business: Step-by-Step Guide

Choosing the independent route when it comes to setting up your saddle fitting business is growing in popularity. Once people have learned how to become an independent saddle fitter, they’re no longer as interested in going the traditional route. Instead of joining an existing saddlery business or yard as an in-house assistant with expertise in saddle fitting, we’re seeing many people with the drive to go it alone. And that’s who we want to help with this saddle-fitting business setup guide. 

Understand What It Takes to Become a Professional Saddle Fitter

The prospect of being an independent saddle fitter as opposed to one who works within a shop or yard for an already established business poses different challenges. Before you start launching your saddle fitting business, make sure you’re fully aware of the challenges you might face.

The Difference Between Training and Running an Independent Business

The theory of learning how to become a saddle fitter can differ from the reality of actually running a saddle fitting business. This is not to say that a proper saddle fitting education isn’t incredibly important, but you may find challenges running your business, as there will be with any business, that no textbook or course can teach you how to react to.

For example, after learning how to become a saddle fitter, you may feel equipped with the right knowledge, but you may come across issues such as cash flow, dwindling leads or faulty equipment. But it is now on you to build your resilience and independence to succeed. Establishing your own professional standards and keeping to them ensures your business continues to be profitable.

Skills and Responsibilities of a Professional Saddle Fitter

There is a range of skills and responsibilities that every professional saddle fitter should have. Beyond the basic education on saddle fitting, horse conformation and rider dynamics, business skills such as communication, ethics and accountability are essential for building and maintaining a positive business reputation. 

It is also important to brush up on your record-keeping skills. We recommend establishing a system early on in your career to neatly file away your accounts so when it comes to doing your tax returns, you can easily access them. Saving you plenty of stress, allowing you to focus on growing your business and delivering your service.

Step 1: Complete the Right Saddle Fitting Training

The first step to learning how to become an independent saddle fitter and launching your own business is to attain the correct knowledge and certification.

Why Professional Education Is Essential

There are plenty of reasons to become a certified saddle fitter. It builds trust between you and your clients, gives you credibility in the eyes of prospective clients and is now considered the industry standard. Of course, it also gives you confidence that you know what you’re doing when it comes to risk management and horse welfare.

Ongoing Learning and Professional Development

It is essential to continually strive to improve your service. The same goes for saddle fitting. Ongoing and professional development ensures your business stays at the forefront of industry expectations. It means you can adapt your service, get ahead of competitors and ultimately drive new clients to your business.

Step 2: Register Your Saddle Fitting Business

When setting up your business, you need to ensure it is registered with the appropriate legal bodies.

Choosing a Legal Business Structure

There are two ways to structure your business. You need to decide whether you want to go down the sole trader route or register as a limited company. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to do your research before opting for one over the other.

In short, the advantages you want to consider are how tax and liability implications impact you. Whether you want that to fall on you or the company, while being aware of the trade-offs.

Registering Your Business Name and Finances

Once you’ve chosen how you want to structure your business, you need to come up with a name and register it. This doesn’t have to be fancy; it just needs to be memorable and easy for clients to recall. 

Now is a good time to start setting up your accounts and financial records, before you become inundated with work and don’t have the time to retrospectively implement. 

Step 3: Get Insurance and Liability Cover

Insurance is vital for you and your business. It protects you from all eventualities.

Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance

When becoming an independent saddle fitter and setting up your own business, there are two types of insurance you want to ensure you have. Public liability insurance protects your business from claims by the public, such as clients, for injury, death, or property damage caused by the business's activities. This is essential.

Indemnity insurance is also another form of insurance you will require. This protects you and businesses from financial loss by covering legal costs and damages from claims of negligence, errors, or omissions.

Protecting Yourself, Your Clients, and Their Horses

Having the right types of insurance sends a positive sign to clients that you are a professional outfit and take your job seriously. It reduces the risk from your end, as well as easing any apprehension they may have about choosing your services.

Step 4: Purchase Essential Saddle Fitting Equipment

Of course, to operate as an independent saddle fitter, you need the right equipment. The next step is to purchase the right saddle-fitting equipment for your business.

Core Tools Every Independent Saddle Fitter Needs

There are a million different tools you could use to effectively fit saddles. But there are a few core tools that are needed by every saddle fitter. These include a flexible curve, gullet gauge, flocking irons, and cleaning/maintenance supplies.

For more information on our recommended tools needed by every saddle fitter, please get in touch. Our courses cover the required equipment to run a saddle fitting business, along with an optional kit that can make your life easier.

Step 5: Define Your Service Area and Working Model

Mobile Saddle Fitting vs Fixed Locations

The mobile saddle fitting model allows you to reach a range of markets and customers, but has the main drawback of spending a lot of time travelling. It does make you more accessible to your customers, especially if needed in an emergency. If there are no other mobile saddle fitters in your area, work out why this is and if it’s your opportunity to stand out.

Working in a fixed location will save you plenty of time spent travelling, but comes with the fees of rent and utilities. With that being said, you can use your location as your base, home to more tools and tech that would otherwise not be feasible if you were a mobile saddle fitter.

Managing Travel Time and Client Appointments

You will find that travelling takes up a lot of your time, especially if you brand yourself as a mobile saddle fitter. If this is the case, be sure to factor this time into your day. It is time you can’t be working, but are losing out on money. This is why many saddle fitters factor this time into their client visits and factor it into the cost. The further afield you cast your service radius, the more time you will spend travelling.

Step 6: Set Your Pricing and Business Policies

Setting the right pricing structure and business policies will ensure you’re fairly compensated for your work. Spend time getting it right, but don’t be afraid to revisit it after 6-12 months. 

Researching Local Saddle Fitting Rates

Analyse local saddle fitters (your competition) and establish what their rates are. This will give you an idea of what level of experience is charging what amount. It may seem easy to underprice to get more clients than your competitors, but this is a race to the bottom. Let the quality of your work decide your pricing structure.

Communicating Value as an Independent Saddle Fitter

Establish your business policies early to ensure you don’t miss out. For example, if you want to include a call-out charge or travel fee, make sure this is in your agreement before taking on a booking. This way, it is clear to both the client and you that it is expected. In the early days of your saddle-fitting business, you may want to waive some of these fees to win more clients, but it will negatively impact you in the long run.

Step 7: Market Your Saddle Fitting Business

One aspect often overlooked by people wanting to become independent saddle fitters with their own business is marketing. Essential for growing your business, make sure you pay it enough attention.

Creating an Online Presence

Building a presence online is vital to surviving as a business. Set up a website, create social media profiles and ensure you post regularly. You will find prospective clients will check these before choosing whether to book with you. 

There are plenty of website builders that are easy to use. Set up a homepage, contact page and a single page for each of your services.

Building Referral Networks in the Equine Industry

Having a strong referral network is one of the best ways to build your reputation in the equine industry. Being helpful to vets, physios, and those working at riding schools will soon have them recommending your services to those they speak to about saddles.

Step 8: Build Systems for Long-Term Success

Building these systems early on in your career as an independent saddle fitter will save you time, stress and money in the long run.

Client Records, Follow-Ups, and Rebookings

Keeping your client records in a safe and logical place can save you time in the future if you need to quickly reference them. Spreadsheets are good if you’re looking to store them digitally, but an efficient filing system also works for those who prefer physical records. 

Setting up reminders to follow up on clients can increase rebookings, turning clients into repeat customers. Loyalty like this can help businesses thrive for years.

Planning Growth as an Independent Saddle Fitter

As an independent saddle fitter, you should always be on the lookout for services and tech that could make you stand out from competitors. Diversifying your service offering can drive revenue from a range of channels, making your business less reliant on a specific service.

Consider getting new qualifications and staying up to date with industry standards. These are essential for long-term growth and vital for sustainable business practice.

Start Your Journey to Becoming an Independent Saddle Fitter

If you’re interested in kickstarting your saddle fitting career and want to make the first step, sign up for one of our saddle fitting courses here at IASF. We have trained hundreds of professional saddle fitters, helping them get their foot in the door in the industry and giving them the tools to confidently work towards their dreams. To find out more, please get in touch.