Starting a dojo

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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Several large banks, as a service, will assist someone in creating a business plan. You might want to check with a local one.

There are several web site that offer advice. Here are 2 I found.



A formalized business plan will help you with things you might not think of on your own. Years ago I taught an Introduction to the Business Enterprise class for a University. There is a lot a typical person would not think about. Even if you are not seeking a loan a Bank can be very helpful in being successful.


Here is another link:
 
Several large banks, as a service, will assist someone in creating a business plan. You might want to check with a local one.

There are several web site that offer advice. Here are 2 I found.



A formalized business plan will help you with things you might not think of on your own. Years ago I taught an Introduction to the Business Enterprise class for a University. There is a lot a typical person would not think about. Even if you are not seeking a loan a Bank can be very helpful in being successful.


Here is another link:
I found a linkedin learning video on business plans i was watching, but that was not very helpful. Will be looking through these tomorrow.

My brother and his wife are both fairly high up in a credit union that I'm a member of. I might see if they know someone who'd be able to do a phone meeting with me from one of their branches.
 
Another possibility is a community college class, or adult education from local K-12 school district. a 4 year college might have a class on business plans but is more likely to require prerequisites.

A local Chamber of Commerce or an Economic Development government agency.
 
I'm at the point in my martial arts career where I want to start a new dojo. The difficult thing is figuring out A) where to create it and B) how to make money from the get-go

Do you know anything about business and how to run one?

Do you have sufficient capital?

Biggest piece of advice I can give you is find people that have succeeded and listen to them. If someone’s school does less then 20k / month don’t take any of their advice when it comes to business. They might be great coaches, they might be great martial artists, but they are white belt business owners and you stated a goal of making money.
 
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.
Then I would tell you to make a very, detailed and complete list of what you are selling. Think forward about how you can expand this list, not necessarily in quantity but in exposure to other outlets to raise brand awareness. I hate the 'branding' term, but it is a very valid and acceptably universal term for your product (your MA). When I say list, I mean your curriculum and how comprehensive it is at all levels. Plan for beginners and people with experience so that integration is not an issue. Usually, this is done on an individual basis anyway.

If it was easy to create a client base before really having a complete product (facility to train in, etc...) everyone would be doing it. It is doable and done sometimes, but making the jump from training in the park to a brick and mortar location is a Big jump. It takes a dedication and product so excellent it generates the energy required to make the jump. I say that to encourage and motivate you, nothing else.

Get excited about this new venture. Build a hard plan. Do NOT be flighty or a dreamer who talks about starting a business but is never willing to put in the work. Work, work, work the plan. Then work it again. If certain aspects are not developing, modify the plan, But Keep Working! 'Just do it' (get started!) is sage advice, but do not blindly go into it.
This is why I originally asked if you are just dipping your toes in the water.

I have not looked for your location, but it you are in the states, get with a realtor you trust just to start looking for rental or purchase options (long-term planning). Go to your local gyms, rec centers, etc... and see what time slots and facilities are available to you (short-term planning). Work Very, Very hard on a marketing plan (this is where the most money should be spent in the beginning) and work the plan. And, of course, make certain your product (you and your skills) are top shelf and ready to serve.

Start making contacts within your community civics and government. Work within the system to build relationships and grow a base of opportunity. If you want to train kids, adults, or retirees, work toward that area of government. If your school is in gym (think YMCA), work with them on promotions.

Opportunities are endless but usually, they ain't easy.
 
Advertise outside of schools at dismissal time where you can hand flyers out to parents directly. Kids are the main money makers in the majority of martial arts schools. Get your financials solid and you can also build your adult base at the same time going forward.
 
I found a linkedin learning video on business plans i was watching, but that was not very helpful. Will be looking through these tomorrow.

My brother and his wife are both fairly high up in a credit union that I'm a member of. I might see if they know someone who'd be able to do a phone meeting with me from one of their branches.
Check your local community college; they often have business classes that can help. Some may even have a kickstarter program that will walk you through creating a business plan, and other related tasks for starting a business.
 
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.
Kall is a tricky one. Even the term is tricky. People may not know what kali is in the way that they have at least a general inkling of what karate, taekwondo, kung fu, or even relative newcomers like MMA and BJJ are. Add to that the fact that kali is a term not really used in the Philippines themselves (in favour of eskrima or arnis) and you've got some explaining to do. That's no bad thing, but it is a bit inconvenient from a marketing standpoint. Filipino martial arts (FMA) is slightly clearer, if only because it features the words "martial arts." But even martial arts enthusiasts often don't know what differentiates FMA from other things. Even when they think they know, you'll often get something like "that's the thing with the sticks, right?"

All of which isn't meant to dissuade you at all. I'd just advise that you give a lot of thought to how you're framing this. Your elevator pitch. How would you describe what your instruction will be? Because the shorthand isn't being done for you by virtue of the style name, the way it would be for kung fu or kickboxing.

While you're at it, I'd recommend you give some thought to your training culture. And I say that because FMA contains within it (in my view) a few different ones. Just speaking personally, I'm not so interested in the sort of paramilitary aesthetic that a lot of FMA teachers adopt. No judgment. I don't have a problem with it, per say. But I want people who train with me to understand that, if that's what they're anticipating, I'm not that guy.

For me, studying FMA resonated because I felt "allowed in" to another culture. (You'll note from my profile picture that I'm about as Filipino as Hugh Grant.) As a result, that's what matters to me too. When I've taught in the last few years, it's been as a part of the Filipino Cultural Groups at the colleges and universities where I've either attended or worked. I'm not a warrior or streetfighter. I'm a guy who was grateful to experience something and wants to pay that forward in some way.

All of which is markedly difficult to summarize in a marketing pamphlet. So this is something I'd struggle with. I'm an odd duck. I know it and don't mind it. But explaining it is... time consuming. Which doesn't lend itself to marketing.

In short, take the time to develop a succinct explanation of what you're teaching. Because (if you're lucky) people will ask. And, if you answer and they still haven't got a clear picture, you're likely to lose people. So figure out how to name it, how to describe it, and what cultural touchpoints you might be able to use to help yourself. (For instance, we could currently point to the fight choreography in the Dune movies and say "that.")

Does that make sense?
 

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