Starting a dojo

[JowGaWolf]

The day I call teaching karate "daycare" I will slit my belly.

ha ha ha you would slit your belly twice.

 

[HighKick]

Thanks for this. Some good insights here for me to think on.

This is one of a few viable models. But this is the Least viable long-term. Think of it as the "rent to own" model. We all know rent-to-own final ownership cost is exponentially higher.
Initially, it is viable for a school/business owner who just want to put their toes in the water. But in the long term, it is a Very expensive startup model when everything (especially your time value) is considered. Usually, this model is a very, very protracted timeline and often times ends up being discouraging with little to no return on investment (again, time is a Big quotient).
I don't know if you have access to my posts from my previous username, but I have covered school startups at length. If you cannot feel free to DM me.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

This is one of a few viable models. But this is the Least viable long-term. Think of it as the "rent to own" model. We all know rent-to-own final ownership cost is exponentially higher.
Initially, it is viable for a school/business owner who just want to put their toes in the water. But in the long term, it is a Very expensive startup model when everything (especially your time value) is considered. Usually, this model is a very, very protracted timeline and often times ends up being discouraging with little to no return on investment (again, time is a Big quotient).

I assume that you'd recommend finding a place I can purchase outright? That would not be in the cards for me at this point in time.

I don't know if you have access to my posts from my previous username, but I have covered school startups at length. If you cannot feel free to DM me.

I can, and found multiple posts where you touched the topic. Not seeing any where you went into detail on it, however there's a good chance that's simply an issue in the search feature on this site and the way forums work in general.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Raleigh, NC

I have family there.

Cool. Once I get it off the ground, if any of them want to train let me know. Could definitely provide friend/family pricing; we can talk about that via dm if you want. Also, if you're ever in the area to visit them, feel free to send me a message so we can meet up!

How do those MA franchises work? I'd want to be still teaching what I want, rather than becoming an instructor/owner following someone elses art/curriculum

What style of Karate will you be teaching? Have you created your own style?

It may end up being Kali, but I've created what I'll refer to as a style - essentially an amalgamation of kali, kempo and kenpo from my own trainings/experiences. Combines weapon and open-hand together in the curriculum, along with significant focus on the softer aspects of de-escalation/awareness/etc., that I learned through my years training to be a therapist and being the "point-guy" for substance users/mentally unstable people in the ER.

 

[Stuarto]

Look into what's available in your community. My community Facebook group allows businesses to post ads on Mondays.

Definitely, social media is the way to advertise these days. If I were starting up an MA school, I would 1) Created a group on FB. 2) Share my school info on every local town page. 3) I would run ads and also share with everyone I knew and ask them to share.

 

[HighKick]

I assume that you'd recommend finding a place I can purchase outright? That would not be in the cards for me at this point in time.

I can, and found multiple posts where you touched the topic. Not seeing any where you went into detail on it, however there's a good chance that's simply an issue in the search feature on this site and the way forums work in general.

I will try to summarize as best I can but starting any business requires a Lot of details and planning. It should never be just an emotion driven decision,

Most us know a MA's school has a high risk of no/low ROI. There are SO many things that factor into this, from location, instructor experience/notoriety/marketability/teaching ability, etc..., business savvy, and willingness to grind it out, especially in the first 2-3 years.

The schools that fail the most are the ones where someone thinks "it would be really cool to have my own school" but does or cannot work through the details (forward thinking) and make a viable business plan. And then stick to it. The intent has to be a hard plan. Yes, there will be changes along the way and you have to be ready for that as well.

Depending on what your end game is, I would typically encourage you to plan on buying at some point. But there is nothing wrong with renting until you get your business up and running. I encourage you to supplant MA's school with 'MY business' when thinking of your model. It should help you put some things in a healthier perspective business-wise.

If you think this is something you are going to do for a fixed time, renting may be a better way to go. Asset valuation does not really get rolling to create a high rate of return until >5-10 years. This is very location and current market dependent. For example, my area (TN) is on the back side of a market boom where it was crazy easy to buy property, hold it for a year, do little to nothing to it, and sell at a crazy profit margin. That has greatly declined and the line is very close to zero gain on base purchase price right now for the same timeline.

So now you have to have at least a modicum of realtor skills to understand your market if your business model includes purchasing with the intent of future profit.
A renter model is easier in many business aspects but completely blocks a great many opportunities for future profits.

All that said, what is your end game? Are you just wanting to dip your toe in the water, find a few people to teach for free/cheap with no (official) rank advancement, or become a full fledged MA's school? The former is self-explanatory IMHO and can be done at the park, your basement/garage, or possibly at a gym/YMCA. The latter, is quite complex and requires a Hard Business Plan.

And back to your first question, purchasing is largely dependent on what Viable opportunities present themselves. It should be Much more than just buying the cheapest place you can find. This have also been the ruination of many startups as well.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

All that said, what is your end game? Are you just wanting to dip your toe in the water, find a few people to teach for free/cheap with no (official) rank advancement, or become a full fledged MA's school? The former is self-explanatory IMHO and can be done at the park, your basement/garage, or possibly at a gym/YMCA. The latter, is quite complex and requires a Hard Business Plan.

Unfortunately, this forum doesn't have a way to save posts that I know of. I've got a google docs of posts that I'm keeping which include this one.

To answer your question, my end game would be to become a full fledged MA school. That said, I first do want to go through the route of cheap teaching in a local area (which is what I'm trying to do now) to make sure A) people want to buy want I'm selling, and B) I want to sell it long-term.

 

[Flying Crane]

Unfortunately, this forum doesn't have a way to save posts that I know of. I've got a google docs of posts that I'm keeping which include this one.

To answer your question, my end game would be to become a full fledged MA school. That said, I first do want to go through the route of cheap teaching in a local area (which is what I'm trying to do now) to make sure A) people want to buy want I'm selling, and B) I want to sell it long-term.

I’ve been going the slow route for the past 3-4 years. I wish I had a secret sauce to share with you, but I don’t. Small student base, never made any profit compared to costs of insurance, website, etc. but I’m also smart enough to recognize that I have done very very little by way of marketing. I have a full-time job and family responsibilities as well as training with my own teachers. That leaves little time for creativity and things like marketing. If I wasn’t otherwise working but had a bit of money to invest in pushing the project, perhaps I might have a more thriving group.

I’ve put little into it, I cannot expect much out of it.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Unfortunately, this forum doesn't have a way to save posts that I know of. I've got a google docs of posts that I'm keeping which include this one.

To answer your question, my end game would be to become a full fledged MA school. That said, I first do want to go through the route of cheap teaching in a local area (which is what I'm trying to do now) to make sure A) people want to buy want I'm selling, and B) I want to sell it long-term.

I really hope you can make a go of it. The world always needs more teachers sharing what they have. Kudos for your courage and determination.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

I’ve been going the slow route for the past 3-4 years. I wish I had a secret sauce to share with you, but I don’t. Small student base, never made any profit compared to costs of insurance, website, etc. but I’m also smart enough to recognize that I have done very very little by way of marketing. I have a full-time job and family responsibilities as well as training with my own teachers. That leaves little time for creativity and things like marketing. If I wasn’t otherwise working but had a bit of money to invest in pushing the project, perhaps I might have a more thriving group.

I’ve put little into it, I cannot expect much out of it.

We do what we can in this world of uncertainty. Good for you for giving back.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

The day I call teaching karate "daycare" I will slit my belly.

I'll do the same the day I teach Taiji for health. I don't know why, just thinking about "Taiji for health" can upset me big time.

One of my students is teaching Taiji for health for old people. I can understand for money, it may be a good idea.