Questions on starting a MA business (school)
Dear Sifu Parrella,
I would like to open a school within the next 6 months to a year and would like some advice on how to go about doing it.
I really enjoy reading your comments on the forum and have learned a lot. Since I have never been in business for myself I want to make sure I have as much knowledge and preparation (sales presentation, phone conversation, in person conversational skill, etc.) to make sure that I succeed in this venture. I know I will have more questions but have drawn some questions from some of your previous posts on the forum.
At your convenience, can you please find time to answer a few of the questions that follow. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Questions
What systems (improvements) did you develop (can a MA business owner make) in your schools that enabled you to earn more money? (You talked about this in one of your e-mails concerning making careers not jobs for your employees).
Can you give more detail on how you collect tuition/payments? I know you advocate the use of contracts (I agree) but once the contract is over can you give more information on the collection of the tuition (1st of month, how to bring it up to the student, etc.).
What are some of the do's and don'ts of the MA business that you learned from your mentor?
Can you discuss more about programming (what you offer at your school) and how you schedule these classes during the week. How long are your classes? Do you offer consecutive classes or have a small break in between them to allow the students to cool down and time for your instructors, directors to handle any business that comes up (i.e. return phone calls, schedule appointments, etc.).
Starting a school website. Do you recommend anyone?
How do you maximize the number of this and bring customers to your site?
Do you offer items for sale on your website and are you set up for such transactions?
How much should I spend for a website that offers e-commerce?
Advertising in the Yellow pages.
How big should my add be? I heard various parties say that is should be at least 1/4 of a page.
What type of text should I place in the ad? (i.e. improves confidence, weight loss, etc.).
Pictures?
Most Sincerely,
Angelo F.
Back to the Rotating Curriculum
That VIP marketing tool sounds fantastic, would you be willing to elaborate on how you implement it? I'm guessing that it wasn't free for you, so I understand if you don't feel compelled to share it.
I'm still trying to understand the Rotating curriculum idea.
Someone explained to me that it is like the way a college runs, like English 101 in the fall , then English 102 in the spring, etc. Assuming a structure of Basics, Intermediate, and Advanced, as done with this school , my questions are:
Would all the basics cycles be at the same days/time?
for example,
Fall CLF 101 - 5:30 MWF
Winter CLF 102 - 5:30 MWF
Spring CLF 103 - 5:30 MWF
If that's the case, then would the Intermediate cycles have to be given at a separate time (or day), such as,
Fall CLF 201 - 6:30 MWF or 5:30 Tu&Th
Winter CLF 202 - 6:30 MWF or 5:30 Tu&Th
Spring CLF 203 - 6:30 MWF or 5:30 Tu&Th
and yet another separate time (or day) for the advanced cycles?
If so, is there the problem where the student says, "I'm happy I passed the Basics cycles, and I want to move on to the Intermediate, but it just doesn't work with my schedule. The time the basics cycles met were perfect for me, but how can I go through the Intermediate cycles if it's at a different time?"
Or, does the Basics cycle through, then switch to intermediate, then advanced- all at the same time schedule (eg 5:30 MWF)? If that's the case, I don't see how a beginner can just jump into the 5:30 MWF class if the Advanced cycle is going through.
My apologies, I'm just trying to figure this out!
Thank you!
Sorry for the big tangent. :)
Sifu Parrella,
Sorry about the bombardment of questions on my last few posts. This is a very interesting topic for me and want to learn more.
Please feel free to answer any of the questions at your convenience and at your discretion.
The reason for all of my questions is that I am very interested in running a successful MA business. However don't get me wrong, in my kung fu style we have people who are very knowledgeable at marketing/sales and running a successful business as well as being awesome practitioners of the art. But I really enjoy talking with others on how they have been successful and what strategies and techniques they used to help them grow and fullfill their dreams sort to speak.
However, everyone probably can relate to what I am about to say next. I have known and still know people who read all of the books, listen to all of the tapes and go to many, many seminars on marketing, salemenship, conversational skills, etc and tell me that "I/we are going to succeed in business because I have all of this information and am working out a strategy to implement everything I learned but it will take time to do." But what I have learned is that these people never quite get to were they want to go because even though they have a lot of knowledge they never seem to take action or they are waiting for the right time to take action. However, the implementation of these ideas never seem to come about. Maybe it is because they are nervous about taking the risk, pre-occupied with other things in their life or just a lack of confidence in themselves that they "may actually succeed."
This happens not only in business but in all areas of life where a commitment needs to be made. People sometime sabotage themselves by not acting or make bad judgments that they know will not further their success and cause them to move away from their goal. Some people are just afraid of succeeding it seems because of social pressure, a feeling of alienating themselves from everyone else or because they just don't want to take on the extra responsibility. However, if you really love what you do and want to start a business I think it is important to go after the goal and fulfill that need so eventually you can use your resources in a manner that helps the greater good.
In any case, I like to learn and ask questions to people who have "been there". People who are successful in their respective fields of study and people who have have the confidence in themselves enough to take that risk and do the hard work to succeed. These are the true winners in life and are also the people who pave the way for others that follow that want to succeed and spread the joy of their knowledge and hardwork to all walks of life.
I can tell from the comments you (Sifu Parrella) and others on the forum make that there are people posting on this thread that have a very successful MA business and really are excited about helping people take those risks and seek the rewards (i.e. spreading their martial art, goodwill, feelings of security/confidence, making a good living, etc) to those of us that follow. It is a refreshing feeling to have a thread like this where people are interested in sharing information for the good of people and martial arts in general.
Like I sometimes tell people, if you want to learn how to hit a 90mph fastball don't come to me. Although I read the books, watched the videos and went to the practices. You should seek professional instruction from a person who has "been there" (i.e. a coach, "big leaguer" or former batting champ). Those are the people who not only can help but want you to succeed and will give you that something extra that I still haven't realized.
Sorry for getting off of the topic (big tangent) but I guess I wanted to explain my sudden outbursts of questions.
I apologize and will "simmer down" for a bit. I just have a lot of passion for martial arts and really want to spread my art to all people who are interested in learning it.
Angelo F.