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Business idea in the disguise of a job?

Idea threads

JoeTheShoe

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If anyone saw my introduction post, I have had a few online businesses in the past, the most profitable was a vape store just before in introduction of the TPD which was an enjoyable experience.

My most recent business idea is a football coaching business, I have coaching qualification and all the equipment ready to start the business, after talking with Andy Black and listening to Unscripted , it got me thinking that would an online business be a better option? Purely for scalability?

for example, I will be charging £20 for an hour session 1 to 1, £35 for 1-2 and £60 for a group of 4, the latter two I can’t offer currently due to covid restrictions. Whilst the potential to earn more than what I do now is higher, I enjoy coaching and football in general and feel like I could offer a great service and help aspiring footballers, the business itself is still trading time for money and all I’ve done is given myself an hourly rate. Whereas an online business has the potential for exponential growth and could reach a point where it doesn’t need my input daily to operate.
Any advice is appreciated!
Cheers
 
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TheKingOfMadrid

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To clarify the online business would still be within the coaching realm?

In terms of scalability, I get that everyone loves online and tech everything that goes with a 24/7 always on business but a lot of people are missing the opportunities in the real world now.

What are the limits on scaling the football coaching business? How possible would it be to outsource coaching work to other instructors whilst taking a profit? Could you work with a programmer to design an app that shows people unbelieveable tekkers and then places some skills behind a paywall which also feeds into your 1-1 coaching business?

Your biggest enemy in a business like yours is time, but if you can outsource the work or find a way to bring in more heads then your upside can be decent.

A few of the martial art instructors I know have now released themselves from most of the work and have other people coach whilst they take a profit for use of the space+equipment+brand - this isn't a fastlane business but it frees up the instructor to do what they like whilst raking in a living.
 

WJK

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If anyone saw my introduction post, I have had a few online businesses in the past, the most profitable was a vape store just before in introduction of the TPD which was an enjoyable experience.

My most recent business idea is a football coaching business, I have coaching qualification and all the equipment ready to start the business, after talking with Andy Black and listening to Unscripted , it got me thinking that would an online business be a better option? Purely for scalability?

for example, I will be charging £20 for an hour session 1 to 1, £35 for 1-2 and £60 for a group of 4, the latter two I can’t offer currently due to covid restrictions. Whilst the potential to earn more than what I do now is higher, I enjoy coaching and football in general and feel like I could offer a great service and help aspiring footballers, the business itself is still trading time for money and all I’ve done is given myself an hourly rate. Whereas an online business has the potential for exponential growth and could reach a point where it doesn’t need my input daily to operate.
Any advice is appreciated!
Cheers
There are a lot of people who "buy their job". They buy a situation or a business where they have built-in, steady employment. Then think about self-employed professionals -- doctors, lawyers, CPAs, etc.. They only earn while they are working. They are selling their time for an hourly rate. So, your question is: can this be scaled?
 

JoeTheShoe

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In terms of scalability, I get that everyone loves online and tech everything that goes with a 24/7 always on business but a lot of people are missing the opportunities in the real world now.
What are the limits on scaling the football coaching business? How possible would it be to outsource coaching work to other instructors whilst taking a profit? Could you work with a programmer to design an app that shows people unbelieveable tekkers and then places some skills behind a paywall which also feeds into your 1-1 coaching business?

Your biggest enemy in a business like yours is time, but if you can outsource the work or find a way to bring in more heads then your upside can be decent.

A few of the martial art instructors I know have now released themselves from most of the work and have other people coach whilst they take a profit for use of the space+equipment+brand - this isn't a fastlane business but it frees up the instructor to do what they like whilst raking in a living.
thanks for the reply!

I don’t know what the online business would be, possibly an online store or, or selling a software or service. I was also considering trying a sales consultancy business as I have a background in sales but only cold calling / new business and even then I’m not a top performer by any means.

I could outsource coaches and the app is a good idea, however part of the magic of 1-1 training is the hands on, instant feedback approach and being able to help a player improve in person. Unfortunately it’s magic is also, like you said, it’s enemy as it requires time. Ideally the business would grow to a point where I could own space and hire coaches, that way the business becomes bigger than me and can still help players achieve their dreams. And if you’re in to football yourself you will know that playing professional football is a dream for millions, even in adult players which is my niche.

I think it is a scalable business and I suppose the only way I’ll know is by just doing it.

thanks again!
 
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JoeTheShoe

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Jan 16, 2021
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There are a lot of people who "buy their job". They buy a situation or a business where they have built-in, steady employment. Then think about self-employed professionals -- doctors, lawyers, CPAs, etc.. They only earn while they are working. They are selling their time for an hourly rate. So, your question is: can this be scaled?
Thank you for your reply!

the business is scalable but it would rely on me getting more clients than I can physically handle and could hire hire new staff and rent or buy space from which to run the business.
 

TheKingOfMadrid

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In terms of scalability, I get that everyone loves online and tech everything that goes with a 24/7 always on business but a lot of people are missing the opportunities in the real world now.

thanks for the reply!

I don’t know what the online business would be, possibly an online store or, or selling a software or service. I was also considering trying a sales consultancy business as I have a background in sales but only cold calling / new business and even then I’m not a top performer by any means.

I could outsource coaches and the app is a good idea, however part of the magic of 1-1 training is the hands on, instant feedback approach and being able to help a player improve in person. Unfortunately it’s magic is also, like you said, it’s enemy as it requires time. Ideally the business would grow to a point where I could own space and hire coaches, that way the business becomes bigger than me and can still help players achieve their dreams. And if you’re in to football yourself you will know that playing professional football is a dream for millions, even in adult players which is my niche.

I think it is a scalable business and I suppose the only way I’ll know is by just doing it.

thanks again!
The only other thing I will say is that providing you want to put in the work you're in a cracking position to pursue both avenues to some extent, at least whilst sessions are presumably limited.

Online businesses don't require that much set up really, and if you get a grip of your hours early on you can easily split your days up which is what many slowlaners trying to transition from their 9-5 with the side business do.

My passion is actually teaching, and truthfully when I feel like I've genuinely helped someone and their life has changed in a way that I've influenced - that's worth like 1 Million (in Yen :rofl:) to me - it is truly the job I would - and have done for free.

So I think if you really want to be that one person who could take a player to academy/ development level from grassroots then you'll always have more passion for that.
 

Walter Hay

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Thank you for your reply!

the business is scalable but it would rely on me getting more clients than I can physically handle and could hire hire new staff and rent or buy space from which to run the business.
Almost any offline business can be scaled by franchising. By this I mean by selling franchises, but never buying them.

Service businesses such as coaching are often franchised and as my book subtitle says: " For Growth On Steroids Franchising Is Your Answer."

Once you start hiring people you enter a world that presents diffculties not encountered in online businesses. The forum has many threads dealing with the woes of trying to hire and retain reliable staff.
  • Can you find good trainers?
  • Can you afford to pay them, not forgetting your duty of care to employees?
  • Can you trust them?
  • Can you be sure they won't take your business plan/methods and start up in competition?
  • Do you have funds to provide all the necessary equipment?
  • Will you have to hire multiple training venues?
  • Will they show up like clockwork when required?
For a more detailed explanation see: Rapid Scaling a business by franchising

Walter
 
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JoeTheShoe

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Almost any offline business can be scaled by franchising. By this I mean by selling franchises, but never buying them.

Service businesses such as coaching are often franchised and as my book subtitle says: " For Growth On Steroids Franchising Is Your Answer."

Once you start hiring people you enter a world that presents diffculties not encountered in online businesses. The forum has many threads dealing with the woes of trying to hire and retain reliable staff.
  • Can you find good trainers?
  • Can you afford to pay them, not forgetting your duty of care to employees?
  • Can you trust them?
  • Can you be sure they won't take your business plan/methods and start up in competition?
  • Do you have funds to provide all the necessary equipment?
  • Will you have to hire multiple training venues?
  • Will they show up like clockwork when required?
For a more detailed explanation see: Rapid Scaling a business by franchising

Walter
Thanks for your reply Walter, the franchise idea is very good and it is something I have thought about once the business is established and earning its reputation.

I think finding suitable staff would be the hardest part, especially as many coaches would think “why work for him when I can just do what he’s doing” although I’d have the advantage of having an established business set up by then.

All very valid points though and I look forward to one day reaching that point!
 

WJK

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Thanks for your reply Walter, the franchise idea is very good and it is something I have thought about once the business is established and earning its reputation.

I think finding suitable staff would be the hardest part, especially as many coaches would think “why work for him when I can just do what he’s doing” although I’d have the advantage of having an established business set up by then.

All very valid points though and I look forward to one day reaching that point!
The reason businesses and franchises work is that they create a business system that works and a recognizable name. When you go to McDonald's, you know what you are going to get for your money. They have a consistent system that delivers reliable products company-wide. A Big Mac is a Big Mac -- no matter where you buy it.

Your challenge is to create a business plan that other people can implement and make successful. It must be a step-by-step plan structured within a proven business model.
 

Walter Hay

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The reason businesses and franchises work is that they create a business system that works and a recognizable name. When you go to McDonald's, you know what you are going to get for your money. They have a consistent system that delivers reliable products company-wide. A Big Mac is a Big Mac -- no matter where you buy it.

Your challenge is to create a business plan that other people can implement and make successful. It must be a step-by-step plan structured within a proven business model.
What you say is very important, and needs to be taken aboard when any offline business first starts up. For example, if proof of profits is not available, a franchise buyer would not be interested. If the process used to reach a saleable level of success is not set out clearly in an Operations Manual, franchises sold would be on very shaky ground and failure would be a strong possibility.

In the very first post in the thread I quoted above, I provided considerable detail on this aspect of selling franchises. In that post I posted an entire chapter of my book : Chapter 9. How To Decide If A Business Is Suitable For Franchising.

If nothing else is done, any person who might consider scaling by franchising should read that post when working out their original business plan.

Walter
 
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WJK

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After thinking about your plan -- you might want to make a U-turn. Think about this...

When I was doing RE appraising & consulting, I soon had the corner office down the street in an office building, staffed with 4 secretaries. We were still using continuous feed paper and preprinted forms. I know, I know. I'm dating myself... And it was prior to digital cameras. All the pictures had to be developed, printed, and pasted into the reports. It was very labor-intensive.

By the time I retired, I was using my extra bedroom at home for office space with NO staff. It was just me, my digital camera, computer, and cell phone. I turned down 2 or 3 jobs for each one that I accepted. I was on the road most of the time going from job to job. I went home to finish putting together my reports every few days. My voice mail answered my phone and I returned calls to my clients when I made a stop.

I loved buzzing around the Southern California region in my little Miata sports car with the top down. Or 4 wheeling it in my pickup truck when I had to inspect a remote property. It was fun. The bottom line is that I was much happier without all the bells and whistles -- especially the employees. Life was simpler and I made more money from my business.
 
Last edited:

JoeTheShoe

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Jan 16, 2021
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After thinking about your plan -- you might want to make a U-turn. Think about this...

When I was doing RE appraising & consulting, I soon had the corner office down the street in an office building, staffed with 4 secretaries. We were still using continuous feed paper and preprinted forms. I know, I know. I'm dating myself... And it was prior to digital cameras. All the pictures had to be developed, printed, and pasted into the reports. It was very labor-intensive.

By the time I retired, I was using my extra bedroom at home for office space with NO staff. It was just me, my digital camera, computer, and cell phone. I turned down 2 or 3 jobs for each one that I accepted. I was on the road most of the time going from job to job. I went home to finish putting together my reports every few days. My voice mail answered my phone and I returned calls to my clients when I made a stop.

I loved buzzing around the Southern California region in my little Miata sports car with the top down. Or 4 wheeling it in my pickup truck when I had to inspect a remote property. It was fun. The bottom line is that I was much happier without all the bells and whistles -- especially the employees. Life was simpler and I made more money from my business.
Interesting insight! How many employees did you have at the height of your business?

I’d like to grow the business to the point where I could effectively pick and choose my clients, but that is a long way off, and whilst I like the idea of the simple life, just me and a van full of training equipment, the ambitious side of me envisions a large performance sports venue, indoor and outdoor all weather pitches, on site physio and dietician and a walk in football coaching service!

I will see how the business progresses and reassess every 6 months or so to make sure it’s on the right track.
 

WJK

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Interesting insight! How many employees did you have at the height of your business?

I’d like to grow the business to the point where I could effectively pick and choose my clients, but that is a long way off, and whilst I like the idea of the simple life, just me and a van full of training equipment, the ambitious side of me envisions a large performance sports venue, indoor and outdoor all weather pitches, on site physio and dietician and a walk in football coaching service!

I will see how the business progresses and reassess every 6 months or so to make sure it’s on the right track.
I had about 5 or 6 employees plus a couple of associate appraisers who worked under me. It's like trying to keep a paper bag of water full & together. I was always solving problems and trying to make things work -- while I was also running around completing my own projects and reports. It was hard to focus, keep my cool, and stay on task. I was too small to hire enough, and the right help, to cover all the bases. I was too big to do it all myself. Computers were still a new addition to office life and a lot of today's standard programs hadn't been invented. I'm a good manager and I have a lot of business skills. But, covering everything, including the bookkeeping and supervising the associate appraisers, took up SO much of my time and mental energy. All I could think about was escaping.

The advances in computers, digital cameras, and my quest to improve my skills saved me. I learned to type really fast, write 100-page reports, and spell much better. I got to the point where I could type my own reports. (Spell check was a welcome feature.) I no longer needed to fill in the forms with a pencil, hand it off to be typed, or dictate the reports to a secretary. As I did my reports, I created libraries of copy and templates for my future reports. I bought new equipment & software as it became available. I learned how to make spreadsheets, including writing the formulas for the required financial analysis. As my staff left, I just didn't replace them. In time, I was working alone and much happier.
 
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