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- ⚖️ FTC Negative Option Rule for Martial Arts Schools: What You Must Know & Do
⚖️ FTC Negative Option Rule for Martial Arts Schools: What You Must Know & Do
Stay compliant, lead with integrity, and tighten the systems that protect your school and fuel your growth.
Adam Kifer
May 20, 2025
Hello, kickers!
🚀 The Kick is Here: Compliance, Conversion, and Clarity That Moves Your School Forward
This week’s edition is all about tightening the systems that protect your business and increase your impact. In our feature article, we break down what every school owner needs to know about the FTC’s Negative Option Rule—and how to stay compliant, avoid massive fines, and build more trust with your community.
You’ll also find quick-hit leadership insights in What’s Kickin’ on Social, smart wins in Relentless Results, and a mindset-shifting read in Think Again by Adam Grant.
💥 PLUS: The Impakt Mastermind Live event just wrapped in Nashville this past weekend, and we can’t wait to share the highlights with you in next week’s issue. Stay tuned—it was incredible. 👊🔥
⚖️ FTC Negative Option Rule for Martial Arts Schools: What You Must Know & Do
🚨 Why This Matters:
The FTC is cracking down on businesses that auto-bill customers without:
Clearly telling them it’s recurring
Making it easy to cancel
Getting their clear permission
Martial arts schools that use monthly memberships, free trials, or auto-renewals are directly affected.
Failure to comply can lead to:
Fines up to $50,000 per violation
Refunds for past customers
Loss of payment processing (Stripe, Square, etc.)
Class-action lawsuits
✅ Step-by-Step: How to Stay Compliant (and Avoid Huge Fines)
1. 🧾 Clearly Tell Parents They’re Enrolling in a Recurring Membership
What to do:
Add this line to your agreement in big, bold text near the signature:
“This membership will automatically renew each month until canceled in writing with 30 days’ notice.”
Why:
The FTC says recurring charges must be “clear and conspicuous.”
2. ✍️ Get Written Consent for Auto-Billing
What to do:
Add a checkbox or line above the signature that says:
☑️ I agree to recurring monthly billing and understand I must provide 30 days’ written notice to cancel.
Why:
You need proof they gave permission to bill monthly. This will also help fight chargebacks.
3. 🛑 Make Cancellation Simple
What to do:
Allow cancellations in writing
Have them fill out a short cancellation form
Keep a copy for your records
✅ Good: “You can cancel in person at the front desk or by mail with 30 days’ notice.”
❌ Bad: “You have to call, email, meet with an instructor, and send a certified letter.”
Why:
The FTC says canceling must be “as easy as signing up.”
4. 📧 Send a Confirmation Email After Sign-Up
What to include in the email:
Monthly billing amount
First payment date
How to cancel
Link to full agreement or policy
Why:
This is required by the FTC under the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act. Even if you enroll in person, it shows transparency.
5. 🔁 Remind People Before Annual Renewals (if you do yearly memberships)
What to do:
If someone’s membership renews once per year, send a reminder 30 days before it renews.
Why:
Required in many states and keeps you out of hot water.
⚠️ Common Mistakes That Can Cost You
Mistake | Why It’s Risky |
|---|---|
Hiding billing terms in small print | FTC requires clear, upfront disclosure |
Requiring in-person meetings to cancel | Considered a “barrier to cancellation” |
Not sending a confirmation after enrollment | Could trigger fines or chargebacks |
Charging after cancellation without notice | Grounds for lawsuits or investigations |
🛠️ What to Do This Week
✅ Review your current membership agreement
✅ Add clear monthly billing & cancellation language
✅ Add a checkbox for billing consent
✅ Create a simple cancellation form
✅ Start sending email confirmations after sign-up
🧠 Pro Tip: For Current Members
You don’t need them to re-sign a full agreement—but have them sign a 1-page acknowledgment that says:
“I understand I am enrolled in a monthly recurring membership that continues until canceled with 30 days’ written notice.”
This gives you proof of updated consent moving forward.
📌 Summary
Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
Clear Terms | Tell them it’s recurring and how to cancel |
Consent | Checkbox or signed statement |
Easy Cancellation | Simple written process (not a hassle) |
Confirmation | Send a receipt or email after sign-up |
Reminders | Send renewal notices for annual memberships |
⚖️ Teach This:
“If you bill monthly, you must tell them clearly, get their OK, make canceling easy, and confirm it in writing.”
The Kick’s pick of the hottest headlines in social this week:
This week’s scroll is packed with practical tips, mindset shifts, and leadership reminders that hit hard for school owners working to build stronger teams and smarter systems.
🔥 John C. Maxwell – Trust Is Built in the Small Choices
Integrity over image. Truth over convenience. Maxwell reminds us that trust is earned every day, in every decision.
👉 Read Here (Facebook Post)
🔥 Alex Cattoni – Stop Making These Email Mistakes
Alex breaks down the exact email habits that are costing you clicks, replies, and conversions—and how to fix them.
👉 Watch Here (Facebook Reel)
🔥 Gino Wickman – 8 Ways to Rewire Your Brain
Want better habits? Better thinking? Gino lays out a quick list to start retraining your brain for clarity and execution.
👉 Read Here (Facebook Post)
🔥 Adam Grant – Burnout Is Not Just Your Fault
Feeling fried? Grant reminds us that burnout is often a systems issue, not a personal weakness. Leaders fix the environment.
👉 Read Here (Facebook Post)
🔥 Jordan Belfort – Mistakes Are the Path to Mastery
Belfort’s reminder: every mistake gets you closer to being great—as long as you learn from it.
👉 Watch Here (Facebook Reel)
⚡ Take what hits hardest, drop it in your team chat, and keep the momentum rolling.
😂 Martial Memes
These memes hit home for all of us martial artists and gave us a good chuckle. Click on the image to view the original account that posted each meme. Enjoy!
Have a MEME that you want featured? Send them to us at [email protected] or tag our instagram account @thekicknewsletter.
📖 What We’re Reading: Think Again by Adam Grant
Most people pride themselves on being confident in their opinions. The smartest leaders? They’ve mastered the art of rethinking them.
In Think Again, organizational psychologist Adam Grant challenges us to let go of being right and instead focus on getting it right. It’s a must-read for martial arts school owners who want to lead better, solve problems faster, and build teams that can grow with them—not against them.
💡 Key Takeaways for School Owners:
✅ Strong leaders rethink often – The best decision-makers aren’t stuck in “the way we’ve always done it.” They’re curious, adaptable, and willing to challenge their own assumptions.
✅ Culture matters more than ego – Creating a school where staff feel safe questioning ideas leads to stronger systems, better solutions, and long-term growth.
✅ Let go of “proving” and focus on “improving” – Whether it’s pricing, program design, or staff structure, Grant’s insights help you step back, reevaluate, and make smarter moves.
This book is a masterclass in staying open, thinking flexibly, and leading with humility.
📖 Grab your copy here: Think Again on Amazon
📈 Relentless Results: Success Stories from Relentless Media Agency
Every week, Relentless Media Agency helps martial arts school owners grow smarter with done-for-you campaigns that bring in real leads, at real results, with zero guesswork. Here are two recent wins from clients who are already seeing momentum build fast:
🎉 Welcome Win for @Liborio Vargas – 12 Leads at $12 Each!
Liborio just joined the Relentless Family and launched his first ad campaign last week—and the results are already 🔥.
📊 12 leads
💰 $12 per lead
That’s what happens when strategy meets execution. This is just the beginning—and we can’t wait to see how this campaign continues to scale.
💥 Amber’s Campaign = $8 Leads in 7 Days!
In just one week, Amber’s campaign brought in:
📊 8 leads
💰 $8 per lead
Talk about cost-efficient. This is proof that when the messaging hits and the targeting’s dialed in, great results follow quickly.
👉 Ready to see what RMA can do for your school? Book a discovery call and let us help you build your next win.
📬 Have Something That Is Kick Worthy?
We know our readers have great ideas, insights, and stories to share! If you’ve got something that’s "kick-worthy"—whether it’s a success story, a marketing tip, or something that’s helping your school thrive—submit it to us at [email protected]. Your content could be featured in an upcoming edition of The Kick and shared with martial arts school owners around the world!
🔥 That’s a Wrap for This Week!
From keeping your agreements FTC-compliant to rethinking the way you lead and follow up, this issue was about protecting what you’ve built and refining how you grow. Whether it’s the fine print in your contracts or the mindset behind your marketing, small shifts lead to massive wins.
Keep executing with integrity, thinking critically, and leading from the front. Until next time—stay sharp, stay compliant, and keep kicking forward. 👊🔥 #TheKick