On the surface, running a retreat with another leader can sound like a dream: you split the workload, have someone to lean on if things go sideways, and maybe even get to spend a week in Bali or Tuscany with someone you adore. Bliss, right?

Well… maybe.

Before you start packing your bags with a bestie or someone you “totally vibed with on Instagram,” let’s talk real talk. Because while co-leading a retreat can be magical, it can also be a fast track to confusion, resentment – and yes, even a broken friendship – if you’re not crystal clear on the partnership from the get-go.

Let’s dive into the pros and cons of co-leading a retreat so you can make the best decision for you.

🌟 The Upside: Why Co-Leading Can Be a Win

1. You share the load.
From teaching sessions to handling logistics, it can be so nice not to be the only one steering the ship. Having someone to bounce ideas off of and tag-team responsibilities can help you avoid burnout and keep your energy high throughout the retreat.

2. You bring in different strengths.
Maybe you’re the queen of transformation and deep dives, and your partner shines with logistics, group dynamics, or healing work. When the skills are complementary, your retreat can feel beautifully rounded and more powerful for participants.

3. You potentially double your audience.
If each of you brings in your own community, you expand your reach and may be able to fill your retreat faster (in theory – more on this in a sec!).

4. It’s just more fun (sometimes!).
Running a retreat solo can get lonely. Having a co-leader can make the experience more joyful and keep things light when challenges arise.

⚠️ The Downside: When It All Goes Sideways

1. Expectations not clearly defined = disaster.
Here’s the #1 issue I’ve seen: both leaders assume things will go one way, but no one has actually written anything down. You think you’re both bringing 8 people? She brings ONE! Now what? If there’s no contract that spells out responsibilities and compensation, someone’s going to feel taken advantage of.

2. Unequal contribution.
One person may be doing most of the marketing, organizing, or leading—and the other just shows up. If you’re splitting profits 50/50 but the work is 80/20, resentment will creep in quickly. (And resentment is a killer of both retreats and relationships.)

3. Different working styles = friction.
You might love flexibility and flow; they might be all structure and schedules. Or maybe you’re ultra-prepared and your co-leader wings it. These things matter—especially when you’re managing a group in a high-touch environment for days on end.

4. Your reputations are now linked.
If your co-leader handles something poorly—whether it’s a travel hiccup, a participant conflict, or a teaching gone sideways—it reflects on you too. You share the credit and the blame.

📝 How to Protect Yourself (and Your Friendship)

If you’re seriously considering co-leading a retreat, don’t rely on vibes and goodwill alone. Here’s what you must do before saying yes:

• Get everything in writing.
  Create a contract that outlines each person’s roles, financial contributions, how income will be split, who’s responsible for what (especially marketing!), cancellation policies, and how decisions will be made.

• Have the hard conversations up front.
  What happens if one of you can’t attend last-minute? If someone underperforms? If the retreat doesn’t fill? How will refunds or payments be handled?

• Set clear financial expectations.
  If you’re both expected to bring a certain number of participants, make sure the pay reflects performance. For example, if one person brings 10 people and the other brings 2, a 50/50 split might not be fair unless that was pre-agreed based on other responsibilities.

• Make sure your missions align.
  A shared love of yoga or coaching isn’t enough. Are your values aligned? Your goals for the retreat? Do you both see eye-to-eye on the kind of transformation you want to facilitate?

The Bottom Line…

Co-leading a retreat can be a beautiful collaboration when done with clarity, respect, and transparency. But it’s not for everyone—and that’s okay! If you do choose to go this route, treat it like a business partnership from day one.

Protect your retreat, your energy, and your relationships by being proactive, not reactive. Your future self—and your future friendships—will thank you.

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And if you want to learn more about the in’s and out’s of running a retreat that makes a proper profit – you’ve got to join me May 6-8th for our “Rock Your Profitable, Sold-Out Retreat” pay-what-you-want online live training event!

It’s our 5th year running the event with over 5000 attendees and I promise you – you will learn A LOT and avoid some serious costly boo-boos!

You can get all the details here: https://wanderbiz.co/rysdr

For 3 days (plus bonus trainings!), we’re giving you EVERYTHING you need to:

• Design a retreat that sells—even in unpredictable times
• Price it right for profit without scaring people away
• Market it so your dream clients can’t wait to book
• Monetize your retreat before, during, and after
• Protect yourself legally & run it safely

This isn’t just another training—it’s THE premier retreat event of the year. 🎉

Whether you’re a retreat newbie, a seasoned leader, a travel pro, or a venue owner—if you love retreats, this is where you need to be May 6-8.

Expect to connect, learn, laugh, and level up with a powerful community of retreat leaders who are ready to take their retreats (and income!) to the next level. See you there!