Most people dream of doing something they love for the rest of their lives but never get the chance to because of personal or financial reasons. That’s why if you have the opportunity to teach kids karate and help them learn how to defend themselves while earning a living, you should take it.
Opportunities like these don’t come easy, which is why it’s important to consider how running your karate dojo will benefit your life. Of course, this is not to say that you will no longer run into problems when you have your own business and pursue your passions, but it can make your life more satisfying.
There are many reasons you should start your karate dojo, one of which is that you can pass on what you know to all the children or even adults who want to protect themselves in emergencies. Who knows? Your lessons might even save their lives one day, so you should give it your all.
However, you must keep in mind that this is still a business. You can’t jump into this decision without a plan because if it fails, you won’t have a lifesaver that will prevent you from sinking. So, here’s what you’re going to need if you’re planning to open your karate dojo:
Business Plan
You can’t get anywhere without a business plan. This piece of document will contain everything there is to know when it comes to your business, which includes your business name, your business model, where to get your funding, your target market, your services, and financial projections, to name a few.
The business plan can also contain your marketing and advertising plans, or whether you’re going to use social media platforms as your main modes of marketing. Your plan can even discuss what your business logo is and what color schemes you will use for your brand. This business plan will be the blueprint that you’re going to follow, and that’s why it’s important.
Karate Dojo
It’s impossible to run a karate dojo without a dojo itself. That’s why you have to find a good location for your dojo before you skip to the next steps. You can be strategic with choosing your location because it can make or break the success of your business. For example, if you choose a dojo that’s too far from the city center, it can be difficult to encourage students to sign up for classes because the place is inaccessible.
However, if you can score a good spot that experiences a lot of foot traffic, can be easily seen from other establishments, or is accessible through public transportation, you can increase your chances of success. So, choose your location wisely.
Insurance Coverage
Teaching karate to children and adults can be a gratifying experience. But you have to remember that this is a form of combat—one that can result in injuries or accidents. If you don’t want to be the one shouldering all the costs of future incidents, do yourself a favor and get martial arts school liability insurance.
This insurance policy will help cover the costs of personal injury and property damage lawsuits. And it can also cover any costs resulting from accidents or other medical expenses that can occur within your premises. The point is that your insurance can help you prevent shelling out money from your own pockets to pay for any sudden expenses involving your dojo.
Marketing Strategy
Much like any business today, you can take advantage of social media platforms as your main mode of marketing. This is because the platforms are free and are probably already being used by your target markets. That means all you have to do is meet them where they frequent, which just so happens to be in the online world.
You can maximize the potential of social media to reach a wider audience and build your customer base. For instance, if you’re finding students to register for your classes, you can offer early-bird discounts through paid advertisements on Facebook or Instagram. Or you can also use promoted tweets on Twitter.
But you don’t always have to pay to spread the word. You can also head over to your local community center and post a flier on the announcements board. Or you can distribute flyers to people in the supermarket and use word-of-mouth marketing. By crafting a great marketing strategy, you’ll soon have students flooding into your karate dojo, aiming to get a spot in one of your classes.
Starting a business from the ground up can be exhausting, but it can also be exhilarating once you start seeing a return on your investment. Don’t be afraid to pursue this entrepreneurial path just because you’re afraid of failure. After all, you didn’t quit karate just because you failed that first time you learned a technique, so what’s stopping you from doing the same thing again?
