| Running a martial arts business is more than just | | | | include these and other programs. If you only |
| showing up and teaching a karate class. As a | | | | teach adults you can create a children's program. |
| business it is sometimes necessary to expand | | | | If you teach children you can create a program |
| beyond your niche in order to grow. | | | | to teach just young children. You can teach an |
| Diversification can be a very powerful way to | | | | after school program either at your school or on |
| expand your martial arts school. Big corporations | | | | campus at your local elementary school. |
| do it all the time. As an example, both Target and | | | | You could teach short courses in self-defense by |
| Wall-Mark have expanded through diversification | | | | offering 8 weeks of 1 hour classes or hold them |
| by creating stores that now sell groceries. | | | | over a week-end or two by offering 4 hour |
| Expansion Options | | | | Saturday classes. There are many ways to offer |
| Expanding beyond your art requires proper | | | | short courses. |
| planning and due diligence on several levels. There | | | | Expanding With Others |
| are many factors to consider from the martial | | | | Other options would most likely require additional |
| arts business perspective. Some of these include | | | | staff or outside experts. These would include: |
| asking the question of whether you want to: | | | | - Martial arts aerobics or kick-boxing |
| - Hire employees | | | | - Kettle Ball classes |
| - Contract people to work in the school | | | | - Other arts such as judo, MMA, aikido, etc. |
| - Sub-lease your school | | | | - Complimentary programs such as yoga |
| - Take on a partner or two | | | | These are classes that can be run during times |
| Each of these has its own unique advantages and | | | | when you are not conducting your own classes. |
| disadvantages. You must decide which is right for | | | | Many times, a person who is just starting out can |
| you. You must also examine the legal and tax | | | | not afford their own space and will gladly pay to |
| issues of each. You may need to discuss these | | | | sub-lease your school from you. |
| options with a business attorney and or an | | | | A big advantage to doing this is that you get free |
| accountant to fully understand each option. | | | | word of mouth advertising to the students of |
| Other factors include what programs or activities | | | | these other programs. This includes their family |
| you might want to bring into your school. Some | | | | and friends. Often, people will enroll in your |
| can be done with just you or your existing staff | | | | program in addition to the classes offered by |
| while others will require additional personnel who | | | | others at your school. |
| are experts in their field - just as you are an | | | | You Don't Have to Go It Alone |
| expert in martial arts. | | | | Creating these programs does not have to be |
| Expanding On Your Own | | | | done from scratch. Most martial arts |
| Some of the ways to expand your school with | | | | management companies offer templates to get |
| just you or your existing staff include: | | | | you started. IMAMS offers Done For You training |
| - Expand your age range to include 3 & 4 year | | | | modules in KinderKarate for 3 & 4 year olds, |
| olds, adults, teens, families | | | | Martial Arts Aerobics, and others. |
| - After school programs | | | | We also offer our complete StreetWise line of |
| - Specialized self-defense courses | | | | self-defense courses which include the full |
| - Weapons training (both teaching how to use | | | | program and special programs for Women, |
| traditional weapons and self-defense against | | | | Seniors, High School Students and against dog |
| modern weapons) | | | | attacks. |
| - Birthday Parties | | | | If you would like more information regarding any |
| You can expand the number of hours your school | | | | of these programs you can find it on our website |
| is open each week by expanding your teaching to | | | | or contact me personally. |