About Startup Costs
The startup costs provided in this database include an approximate financial investment that will be needed to start the business. This is generalized information and should only be used as a yardstick to determine business startup costs. Your investment will vary based on factors such as equipment, transportation, licensing and permits, operating location, working capital and initial marketing and advertising budgets. Remember a successful entrepreneur is one who carefully researches and plans every aspect of a new business venture, including the financial investment needed to start a business and the working capital required to achieve positive cash flow.
Business At A Glance
Employee Trainer
Startup Costs: $10,000 - $50,000
About
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.
Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No
Help whip a business into shape by becoming an employee trainer.
Business Overview
If you’re a born teacher and motivator, then you’ll get inspired as an employee trainer. You’ll give specialized sessions on your area of expertise, which can be anything from language or math skills to getting the most from company employees or their customers through leadership, self-motivation or sales motivation. This is a hot new field, and growing hotter. The most popular training topics include customer service and creative problem-solving, but they can also encompass internal communications and even math or reading 101. The advantages to this business are that startup costs are minimal, it’s creative, and when you communicate new ideas and techniques and see them take root in someone else’s mind, it’s fulfilling. You’ll need not only a knowledge of the topic you’re teaching, but also the innate talents of a good instructor: the ability to explain your subject clearly and make it interesting, and to inspire. You’ll also need excellent sales and marketing skills to merchandise your services.
The Market
Your customers will depend on the topics of your workshops or seminars. Just about any business could benefit from a course on customer relations or marketing techniques, but if your subject is advanced spreadsheet software, you’ll be wasting your time targeting, for instance, companies with an employee base of telemarketers. Direct-mail brochures or letters of introduction to prospective companies, then follow up with phone calls. Network among professional and civic organizations in your community. Give seminars and workshops at local colleges and give talks at business associations. Write articles for business publications. Place an ad in your local Yellow Pages.
Needed Equipment
You should have the businessperson’s basics--a computer with a laser printer, a fax machine and the usual software--and you may want to invest in a copier so you can run off materials for your students. And depending on your subject matter and your personal style, you may want a dry-erase easel, board and markers.
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