ASHI and MEDIC First Aid Blog

Today’s blog is the first in a three-part series about starting your own training center (TC) business. We know that can be more than a little daunting. At past HSI International Conferences, we offered a session called "TC Bootcamp," where we covered the basics of getting your TC up and running. TC Bootcamp is on hiatus for the 2013 conference, but I wanted to share some checklists and resources to help you dot all those "i”s and cross all those “t”s when you take the business-ownership plunge.

Ask the Fundamental Questions

Your business begins with you, so sit yourself down and do a little self-assessment. Are you the sort of person who’s great in front of the audience, but could use some help with all the administrative stuff? Are you an organizing genius, but a little shy behind the podium? An honest reflection on your strengths and areas for improvement will help you determine exactly what you bring to your own business and where you’ll need to focus some time and energy for improvement.

"The biggest reward has been when students let me know that, after completing training, they saved someone’s life with the skills that they learned. Gives you goose bumps!” - Ted Crites, HSI Director of Production

This is also an ideal time to reflect on why you were drawn to emergency care training in the first place. The satisfaction of teaching others to save lives is powerful stuff. If you need an inspiration fix, download our eBook "Work that Touches the Heart," full of tips on getting started and quotes from instructors and HSI staff about why we do what we do. Like this gem from Ted Crites, HSI Director of Production:

"The biggest reward has been when students let me know that, after completing training, they saved someone’s life with the skills that they learned. Gives you goose bumps!”

After yourself, the other big player in your enterprise is your customer base. Who are they? What kind of training is being sought in your area? Even better, what kind of training needs to be offered in your region that isn’t yet? Your Otis access to our regulatory database will be a big help there!

And don’t forget your competitors. Know who they are and what they offer.

Assemble Your Expert Business Team

You might be the only employee of your new organization, but you’ll need some hired guns to help with a few specialized areas. Choosing an attorney, an accountant, and a banker will ensure you know whom to call when you need them.

Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork

I know, our favorite thing, right? But there’s stuff you need and it needs to be done in a timely manner. Part of that process is determining what type of business you want. Will you be a sole proprietor, have a general or limited partnership, or perhaps be a full-on corporation? Each one of those entities can require different forms to file.

Getting It All Paid For

Businesses take some capital investment to get them rolling. After determining what you are able to invest in your business, you might decide you need a little extra cash infusion. Don’t despair! Help is out there in the form of small business grants for which you can apply.

To help with all the aspects mentioned above, here's a TC Bootcamp checklist and outline with some ideas and resources to keep you organized and on task.

Next up in the series:

Some business research and support resources to investigate, plus a look at the fine art of finding customers. And don't forget to register for the 2013 conference (October 30-November 1 in San Antonio) for more business and professional development topics.