How to Start a Golf Instruction Business

Start a golf instruction business by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Golf Instruction Business
2. Form your Golf Instruction Business into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Golf Instruction Business for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Golf Instruction Business
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Golf Instruction Business
7. Get Golf Instruction Business Insurance
8. Define your Golf Instruction Business Brand
9. Create your Golf Instruction Business Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your golf instruction business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out othersmall business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit ourHow to Name a Businessguide or get help brainstorming a name with ourGolf Instruction Business Name Generator

If you operate asole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit ourDBAguide to learn more.

Whenregistering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a golf instruction business?

The startup costs of a golf instruction business are relatively minimal.Although the application and testing fee for certification are fairly standardized, the cost of certification can vary. Some business owners may need to attend specialized clinics in order to perfect certain skills, take an exam several times if they don’t pass or travel to testing sites. The PGA has anonline fee calculator, but business owners should budget a couple thousand dollars more than the calculator notes for other expenses associated with becoming certified.

Other startup expenses include the cost of clubs and video analysis equipment, which can be high. For example, Waffle spent $4,500 on a video analysis system. Business owners who are on a tight budget, though, can use clubs they already have and a basic video recorder.Business owners will also need to pay access fees to a club or driving range, but these should be covered by the cost of each lesson.

What are the ongoing expenses for a golf instruction business?

The primary expenses of a golf instruction business include:

• PGA association fees, which vary by region but typically total a few hundred dollars (and include insurance)
• the cost of replacing lost golf balls
• course and driving range fees, which should be built into lesson pricing or directly paid for by students

For most businesses, these costs are minimal.

Who is the target market?

A golf instruction business’ ideal customer is either an aspiring golfer who hopes to play professionally or a wealthy retired individual who enjoys the sport. An aspiring golfer will need regular lessons to continue advancing their skills, while a retired individual has the time and money needed for multiple lessons.

How does a golf instruction business make money?

A golf instruction business makes money by charging students for golf lessons. Students may be charged on a per-lesson basis, or they may pay for a set number of lessons in advance.

How much can you charge customers?

CostHelperreports that golf instruction businesses typically charge between $50 and $60 for private lessons that last 30 to 45 minutes. Group lessons are much less expensive, with golfers often paying just $25 per lesson for group lessons with five golfers. These lessons can be more lucrative for a business, though, as more students are paying. When pricing lessons, business owners should first survey the going rates for golf instruction in their area. If it’s different from these averages, owners ought to adjust their prices accordingly. Golf is a discretionary expense, and people will consider the cost of lessons during an economic downturn.

How much profit can a golf instruction business make?

A golf instruction business’ profit potential depends a lot on where the business is located. Businesses in the Northern United States typically only make a portion of those in the Southern U.S., because most people stop golfing when the weather gets cold.

If teaching 40 private lessons per week, a business owner could bring in between $2,000 and $2,400 each week, according to the above figures. Most of this would be profit, as the ongoing expenses are minimal.

How can you make your business more profitable?

A golf instruction business can increase profits by focusing on group lessons and offering weekend clinics that attract lots of golfers. Business owners might also be able to create a series of online instruction videos, which they could make available for a subscription fee.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most commonbusiness structuretypes are thesole proprietorship,partnership,118bet金博宝 , andcorporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as anLLCorcorporationprotects you from being held personally liable if your golf instruction business is sued.

You can金宝搏188是什么公司yourself and pay only the minimal stateLLC costsor hire one of the118金宝app for a small, additional fee.

第三步:注册税收

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more aboutstate sales taxand franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to aspiercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• 使得会计和纳税申报变得更加容易。

Get a business credit card

Getting abusiness credit cardhelps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with ourLLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a golf instruction business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visitingSBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

In addition, certain local licensing or regulatory requirements may apply. For more information about local licenses and permits:

• Check with your town, city or county clerk’s office
• Get assistance from one of the local associations listed inUS Small Business Associations directory of local business resources.

Release of Liability

To avoid liability and potential lawsuits, golf instruction businesses should have their clients sign a release of liability.这是一个例子of one such form.

Recommended:Rocket Lawyer makes it easy tocreate a professional release of liability formfor your golf instruction business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.

Services Contract

In business where services are provided on an extended basis, a services contract is often put in place outlining terms and conditions of service.

Golf instruction business should require clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, and service level expectations.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully.Business Insuranceprotects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face,begin withGeneral Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need isWorkers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

Anyone who enjoys golf and likes interacting with people may be well-suited for owning a golf instruction business. In order to teach the game, it’s necessary to be highly accomplished at it. It’s also helpful to be a people person, as business owners are frequently interacting directly with students.

What happens during a typical day at a golf instruction business?

Golf instruction business owners spend much of their time instructing students, which may involve:

• modeling swings for students
• analyzing and adjusting students’ swings
• videoing students
• reviewing videos with students
• recommending drills for students to practice

When not instructing students, business owners may spend time refining their own golf skills and marketing their business.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful golf instruction business?

Golf instruction business owners may have a difficult time attracting students without becoming a certified PGA golf pro. There arenine stepsto becoming certified, including passing qualifying tests. Once certified, the PGA hasseveral advanced certificationsthat pros can attain. Gaining the skills necessary to become certified by the PGA takes years. Most business owners start out as amateur golfers themselves, taking lessons until they have the skills required for certification.

What is the growth potential for a golf instruction business?

Most golf instruction businesses operate from one or two areas, but they may have regional or national influence. For example,Start to Finish Golf Academyhas two locations, one in New York and one in Florida.Pro Justin Wafflestarted a golf instruction business in Hilton Head in 2009, which he hoped to grow into a regional and then national school.