How to open a school for under $10.00

[Rob Broad]

It may seem ludicrous but you can actualy start your own martial arts school for under $10.00. Here is exactly how I did it.

Step #1
Talk to local instructors, and fitness centers and see if any of them have any dead time.

Step #2
If you find any place thathas dead time, ask about doing a profit sharing program with them. Profit sharing is where you pay half of your monthly dues up to a agreed upon amount to the person you are getting your teaching space from. This is great for a local martial arts school that has a nigh or two of dead time. because any money coming in on nights that they were closed is extra money for the school.

Step #3
Print up your waiver/contract/registration agreement, whatever you like to use. Then go to the cheapest place you can get photo copies made at, and get your self 25 - 50 copies. This shout eat up about $4.00 of your $10.00.

Step #4
Design your flyers. Once you have a good master copy of your flyer, make sure you make pull tabs at the bottom so people can take your busness name and phone number with them when they see the flyer. Get yourself a dozen or two copies of the flyer and put them in laundry mats, grocery stores, video stores, college campuses, and anywhere peopl gather.

Step #5
Make some coupons for 1 free week of classes. You are only paying for money you recieve so free students don't cost you any money, and gets you exposure. make your coupons about business card size. You can get 10 per page that way, and get yourself about 25 copies, that is 250 coupons. Give them out to anyone you meet. Make sure the coupon has you business name, teh 1 free week of lessons, the adress, phone number, class times, and your webpage if you have one.

Step #6
Make sure yo have an very good introductory package. i personally like 2 months and uniform for $99.00. This is enough time for the person to get their first belt, and become hooked with their training. Use a sheet of Bristol Board to put your special on and have it up everytime you have a class running so people passing by can see it.

Step #7
Be patient, eventually you will get a student or two, when people passing by see people training it will help generate some interest. Give your students you coupons so they can bring in friends.

Step #8
Use an incentive program, everytime a student brings in a new member reward the student. Give a private lessons to people who bring new people that join up. You will see people actively doing the recruiting for you, which gives you more time to concentrate on what is important... teaching classes.

This system works, I am using it right now, and it with in 1 month I now have 4 students. We are getting calls a few times a week inquiring about classes now, and have had about 20 people come in with the one week coupons. My total costs were $9.38.

I now have students, and while there isn't many of them word is spreading very rapidly, and the school I am renting space from is now getting money for a night they were normally closed.

[bignick]

interesting...thanks for sharing....

i really like this...what did you do with the left over 62 cents?

or are you saving that up for your first branch school?

[Rob Broad]

Originally Posted by bignick

interesting...thanks for sharing....

i really like this...what did you do with the left over 62 cents?

or are you saving that up for your first branch school?

Actually as I sign up a new student, and purchase their uniform I also buy their first belt, and crests, this way I have the belt in stock for testing which doesn't mean I scrounging then, and most students want the kenpo crest and teh flag crest, so that in turn makes me a couple of extra bucks. I also take $3.00 from each new sign up and put into more flyers and coupons. The goal is 50 students s by the end of 1 year. I am not starting kids classes til January, so one they start things should really pick up.



As for the extra 62 cents I put them in the cash drawer to be used for when I need to make change for something.

[shesulsa]

Rob, you stole my plan. It's amazing how little it can cost to start up a school. Sounds like you've got a nice little start! I'd like to know how if you meet your goal by the end of the year.

[Flatlander]

Yeah, congratulations on your new school Rob. Great idea - I sincerely hope that you're able to grow and prosper with it. Best wishes from the prairies.


Dan

[Bammx2]

outstanding!

I am following a similar plan myself in the UK..
and with your permission
I am going to use 1 or 2 of your ideas!