BIG CASH FROM COURSES
THE CONCEPT
When considering a business opportunity a common question to
ask yourself is 'What skill can I use in my business?' All
too often it's easy to think that you don't have any skills
to offer a business. And, all too easy to forget your
business ambitions!
Considering the matter more carefully though, it is quite
obvious that everyone has some sort of skill they can use in
business. It might not be a formal business skill. In fact,
even better if it is not - because your skills can be a
business!
To start, make a list of all the things you can do better
than the majority of other things. Then think, people pay
out thousands of dollars to learn new skills - whether it be a
college course, evening class or book or correspondence
course. Why shouldn't they be interested in learning one of
your skills - and paying you to teach them!
Quite simply, people will always pay to obtain new skills -
and new knowledge. So many successful businesses are based
on that principle. Teach others something you already know
as a course and you can be well paid for doing it. Proof
that you don't need experience or sophisticated business
skills to run a successful business. What you already know
can make you money!
What Course Can You Offer?
From the start you should choose just one skill you can offer
as a course. Though, maybe in the future you can offer a
full range. No matter how you look at it you do have
something others want to know!
The skill should be something fairly popular. Maybe
something others do already - but want to do better. It
should have taken you some years to pick up. Ideally, it
should be something straightforward, the simpler the better,
so your course can appeal to everyone.
The skill you select does not need to be highly technical.
And, it doesn't need to be something you are qualified in -
unless you must be qualified by law to teach it. It should
have a minimum requirement for equipment. The lower the cost
of equipment etc - the more your students can pay you!
In the first place consider how you could teach other people
your job - no matter what it is - or how trivial you might
think it. For example, a garage mechanic might teach car
maintenance - a typing could teach typing - a shop assistant
could teach sales techniques. Whatever it is someone else
wants to learn it. Just be sure you aren't spoiling your
future job prospects by teaching it!
If a job isn't appropriate then look to interests or a hobby.
This could be anything - sports, crafts, cookery, bird
watching - you name it, it could be a course. In fact,
interests are often a better course subject. People will pay
more to enjoy themselves.
Unless you're a person with very limited interests then you
might need to draw up a shortlist. All other things being
equal choose the course idea that looks most interesting,
since that will be the easiest to sell. If a course on that
subject already exists then it could be an even better idea.
It shows demand exists!
Producing a Prospectus
When you have decided which skill you are going to teach then
you will need to draw up some sort of schedule. Decide just
what you are going to teach - and how.
Produce a fairly comprehensive list. Apart from organising
your thoughts this list can also be published as a prospectus
a good way of interesting potential students.
Exactly what your course consists of will very much depend on
the subject. However, one good tip is to divide it up into
'units'. Your course can be made up of a number of sessions.
At each you teach a new aspect of the subject which is quite
independent from the others. This makes your course easy to
organise - and easy, and enjoyable, to undertake.
For example, if teaching car maintenance, your first few
units might be:
- History and Principles of the Car
- A Look Inside the Engine
- Your Transmission
- The Braking System
- Electrical
- Repairing Body Damage
You can really just add as much (or as little) as you like to
make a suitable course. In most subjects even just the
basics can make an excellent and very valuable course.
When you have decided on your major units you should decide
on the content of each. Just what are you going to say and
do at each stage of the course. You might just give a talk
or lecture - so why not write the script, or notes for it.
Or, you might include practical work. A visiting speaker
would be a good idea - or how about a film showing? You
could also locate text books, or write notes that could be
given to students to help them learn the subject in question.
The exact format of the subject is up to you - and what you
think needs to be said about the subject. Then, try to make
the course content as enjoyable, even exciting, as it can
possibly be. Unless the subject is of a strongly vocational
nature it should not be at all academic. Don't make it like
going back to school for your attendees!
It is worth taking considerable time in the planning and
devising of your course. Once it has been organised you can
teach the self same course over and over again - and be paid
for it each time!
Arranging the Details
Once you have decided on a good course content then there are
quite a few 'mechanics' to be undertaken in order to get that
course to your students and get paid for it.
In the early stages you should decide how the course will run
closely connected with its length. The course you offer
might be an evening class, running once a week for 3-4
months. Or, it might run over a weekend. Your course might
comprise just 1 full day session. The format and length is
really up to you. But, you will need to decide this in
conjunction with the fact it will need to be outside of
working hours.
Secondly, a venue must be decided on. This will very much
depend on the type of course and the expected number of
students. It may be possible to hold some discreet courses
in the home. Others could be held in a local hotel suite. A
popular venue for courses is a local school or village hall.
This is especially true where certain facilities are needed.
Contact the owners of suitable premises in advance to
determine cost and make booking arrangements. Also arrange
to use any facilities that may be needed, e.g. AV equipment
etc.
Decide at this stage how many people your course will accept.
This needs to be decided in conjunction with the price you
charge. For most courses you should plan on earning $80-$100
per hour clear. On top of this you must add costs of
preparing, supplying and advertising the course. Most
courses will do best with around 10-25 students. So, your
price will be very much dictated by this. One tip is to
avoid offering courses too cheaply - high quality ones are
better even if they are more expensive. A course of half a
dozen evening classes might well cost $100 or so per student -
and will be well supported at that!
At the planning stages you should also find out if any
licences or consent are needed to teach that subject - and
obtain them. Sometimes the owners of the premises you use
might have certain restrictions. Another requirement might
be insurance to protect students - especially in a practical
or sporting course. Be sure to allow for the cost of this.
It is always advisable to plan just how much as you can in
advance. This will make your course run smoothly and
generate many requests for repeat sessions. This will also
relieve much of the pressure at the time of the course,
leaving you free to teach your best.
Sell Your Course!
The best way to go about getting money from your skill is to
think of your course as a product. Sell it professionally!
Having said this, there is little doubt that people want to
obtain new skills and knowledge - and the right sort of
course can be in very heavy demand.
Write up and have printed some smart looking sales
literature. This should explain the benefits and attractions
of the course. And, it should include a prospectus of the
content. Also give full details of when and where it will be
held, for how many sessions - and the total cost. People
need to know all the details in order to undertake the course
with confidence.
Be sure to include in your literature a reply form - ideally
with a reply paid envelope. This can really get the bookings
in fast.
Decide in advance whether you will ask for payments in
advance - or collect them at each class. Advance payments
can be discouraging - and some students might miss some
classes. So, a good balance might be to collect what you are
owed at the first class meeting.
Give tickets to all those who book - and, a list of what
materials, equipment, tools, clothes, etc they should bring.
If you are in the fortunate position of being over-booked why
not arrange a second (or third) class?
Where and how you advertise depends very much on the type of
course in question. However, local and regional newspapers
are good places to advertise most popular types. A few
classes can be booked direct from your ad. However, for
others enquirers can be sent your sales literature - and be
better persuaded into making a booking.
Try to think of other more novel and interesting ways of
advertising. For example, you might be able to leave your
sales literature in the local libraries, community centers,
clubs or shops. Consider mailing some of it to schools,
colleges, businesses or other interest groups. For some
popular courses door to door leaflets can be successful.
It very much depends on the amount and type of advertising
you will need to do. Some courses will need very little.
Others will need a bit more. However, once they
become known word of mouth and recommendations will be very
valuable. Then, you can just keep teaching the same course
over and over again - for more and more money each time!
Advertise professionally though and you will always attract
more interest.
Conducting the Course
One of the advantages of this business is that, if a course
is poorly supported, you can alter or even cancel it with
very little loss. Hopefully though, this will not be the
case and you will be able to look forward to teaching a full
class.
When the time of the course does come round it can be the
easiest part of your work. No formal teaching background is
required. In fact, you should aim to make the course as
informal and relaxed as possible. People will normally
attend to enjoy themselves - so that is what you must give.
A good course should certainly be nothing like a school!
The most basic type of class can be quite successful with you
just giving a talk on the subject in question. Be very
natural and just tell what you know. It doesn't have to be
technical or complex to be enjoyable. If you can make this
more interesting with visual aids, a film etc, then so much
the better. A good teaching tip is to hold 'questions and
answers' sessions.
Few classes will involve any sort of academic or written
work. But, one top for boosting attendance and popularity of
the class is to give some sort of exam at the end of the
course. Issue your own diploma to certify that each passing
student has attained a certain standard in the subject. Sure
to be very popular!
Perhaps the overall tip is never to take your course too
formally. If you've got experience - a skill etc. people
love to hear about it - jokes and funny stories and
all. Often the more personal and natural the subject the
better! Whether you praise the joys of flower arranging - or
how to rustproof a car - other people will pay to learn your
skills!
Plenty of Scope
Needless to say education of this type offers some of the
best scope for a large business. Education is not only a
matter for schools and colleges - it can also be very big
business. From just one small course you can go on to build
a considerable 'evening class' or 'weekend course university'
of sorts.
Once you are advertising and selling your course you can
advertise dozens. So, it will pay to contact experts in
other subjects and get them to hold courses on a small
commission fee. You keep the rest of the profits. The great
thing here is that many people will sign up for several
courses!
An interesting business alternative is to see if appropriate
local business would be interested in paying you to lecture
their employees. Or, a local school, college or university
might be interested in adopting your course. Either way,
there rests considerable potential to enter a very well paid
profession!
Always remember, no matter who you are, you must have some
skills. No matter what they are, other people want to learn
them. They'll gladly pay a lot for the chance!
