Should you sign a contract for instruction?

[ngokfei]

The health club view of martial arts schools was very popular in the 90's but that is quickly fading.

As an educational institute is what the industry is pushing more towards. So with that it would be quite similar to lets say a college degree.

having 3 semesters a year and charging for that time period. when is the last time you have been able to receive a refund half way through your courses?

While this simplifies the act of collection Tuition, it requires the schools and their instructors to have solid educatinal skills plus having courses layed out in advance.

Instead of having a one year agreement, students select what level they want to achieve.

ex:

1 year (3 semesters) gives you a certificate for completion of the Ji Beng/Gei Bong.

2 year (6 semesters) gives you a ex: "Associates Degree"

3 year (9 semesters) gives you a ex: "Bachelors Degree"

etc.

very specific topics and amount of time/credits would have to be detailed.

A nice cross between Western Collegea nd the Trade School. Credits compared to hours of training (ie: police, fire department courses, etc.)

Physical Fitness, Traditional Foundations and Forms, Self Defense 1-3, Baton usage & defense, Knife Usage & defense, gymnastics/tumbling with Grappling, Kickboxing.

The Kuoshu Organization of the past had similar requirements in order to graduate.

Still Contracts are the only way to get the the bills paid (schoola nd personal)

[Jeffoo]

Health clubs and daycares don't allow month to month anymore either. You commit and if you choose not to go for any reason, that's your problem.

Since kung fu schools are a mix of both health club and daycare at times, I see no problem with contracts.

[Lucas]

my teacher goes on a month to month basis.

As far as I can tell, he couldnt care less if you show up or not. If you come, good. If you dont, who cares.

Month to month is just right for me. Show up, pop some cash to Sifu and train.

No contracts, No hidden fees, No testing Fees, No belts, No ranks. No bullsh!t.

me like

[ngokfei]

Does he pay rent? or is instruction done in a park or his basement?

[sanjuro_ronin]

Originally Posted by ngokfei

The health club view of martial arts schools was very popular in the 90's but that is quickly fading.

As an educational institute is what the industry is pushing more towards. So with that it would be quite similar to lets say a college degree.

having 3 semesters a year and charging for that time period. when is the last time you have been able to receive a refund half way through your courses?

While this simplifies the act of collection Tuition, it requires the schools and their instructors to have solid educatinal skills plus having courses layed out in advance.

Instead of having a one year agreement, students select what level they want to achieve.

ex:

1 year (3 semesters) gives you a certificate for completion of the Ji Beng/Gei Bong.

2 year (6 semesters) gives you a ex: "Associates Degree"

3 year (9 semesters) gives you a ex: "Bachelors Degree"

etc.

very specific topics and amount of time/credits would have to be detailed.

A nice cross between Western Collegea nd the Trade School. Credits compared to hours of training (ie: police, fire department courses, etc.)

Physical Fitness, Traditional Foundations and Forms, Self Defense 1-3, Baton usage & defense, Knife Usage & defense, gymnastics/tumbling with Grappling, Kickboxing.

The Kuoshu Organization of the past had similar requirements in order to graduate.

Still Contracts are the only way to get the the bills paid (schoola nd personal)

Would love to charges as much as a local university
Typical 7K per semester, yee haw !!

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by ngokfei

Does he pay rent? or is instruction done in a park or his basement?

he teaches in a nice big building down in chinatown. Not sure if he pays rent or not, though he has a good student base because he is a wealth of knowledge, enjoys to teach, and cares for his students well being.

the month to month basis works great for me. plus i think he has students who frequently travel as well, so this accomidation is wonderful as it allows one to come into town and recieve instruction for a few months, then leave, and return later to further the training.

[the Preacher]

I feel
there is NO Contract needed
if you have something to offer
people will come and happily pay

EX: Owner could
have the Participant
first Sign waiver of liability then

least expensive taste test
$10hr- Open Gym
can utilize equipment only-
no instruction
anyone at select hours only


Instructional Classes
first collect
Registration Fee: ($45) yearly
need a calendar showing billing cycle

"One Free Class"
"Free School T-Shirt"

monthly billing Ex
4hrs= $60
8hrs= $100
12hrs= $125
16hrs= $140
more hours = cheaper per hour

prorate first month
no make ups, no refunds
no checks
cash or credit/debit only

private lessons$50 hr

I think month by month is the best

its easy for someone to start or depart


if someone didn't want to be there ..why make them?

[lkfmdc]

1. go open a commercial gym, with a 5 year lease

2. implement your above plan

3. After 6 months, let us know if you have been evicted and/or are still in business

[diego]

my buddy did a year contract at a kickboxing club in north vancouver...you pay all the fees, but eventually the boss is like oh you want to learn elbows of muay thai, **** you pay me...you want advanced sparring **** you pay me...if you want to learn to spar you pay the contracts...if you want to learn to fight you gotta pay all these backdoor seceret fees...he was miffed as a streetfighter knowing he could dummy most in the gym...eventually he was sparring with one of the guys in class and messed up an axe kick throwing out his knee for a good three months...a week after he hurt hiumself and told the boss he'd have to quit cuz surgery is in a few months, the gym owner tried to cash all the checks...like 6 months worth...that is just lame...i don't care if you don't like the guy how you gonna claim 6 monthsd pay for something you haven't even done yet...

[the Preacher]

Originally Posted by lkfmdc

1. go open a commercial gym, with a 5 year lease

2. implement your above plan

3. After 6 months, let us know if you have been evicted and/or are still in business

after 9 years
I think it works great

[Lama Pai Sifu]

Originally Posted by the Preacher

after 9 years
I think it works great

I wonder if you wouldn't mind indulging me with answers to a few questions?

1. How are you keeping track of their 'hours' as to adjust their monthly billing?

2. Why don't you take checks?

3. With no contract, what method of cancellation do you use?

4. How do people pay thier tuition?

5. Do you have discounts for paid in full memberships?

6. What equipment do you have that people are willing to pay $10 an hour to use? (I ask because I train at a gym that costs $12 Mil to build and it's only $49 per month. They have a basketball court, sauna, jacuzzi, pool, 300 pieces or cardio equip..etc.)

7. How many members do you have?

8. What is your rent and square footage?

9. How many employees? (Part time/Full time)

10. How many classes per week?

11. Do you teach kids? And what do you teach by the way??

Very curious as your explanations of what you already do are so very much against the grain of any successful school/gym model.

Peace

[lkfmdc]

Originally Posted by the Preacher

after 9 years
I think it works great

what is the name of your school and where is it located? web page?

[the Preacher]

Originally Posted by Lama Pai Sifu

I wonder if you wouldn't mind indulging me with answers to a few questions?

SURE,


1. How are you keeping track of their 'hours' as to adjust their monthly billing?
each student prepays for their desired hours each month,
then just check off when they come

2. Why don't you take checks?
NSF

3. With no contract, what method of cancellation do you use?
cancellation for what

4. How do people pay thier tuition?
most people I suppose have to work?

5. Do you have discounts for paid in full memberships?
No discount No membership only month by month

6. What equipment do you have that people are willing to pay $10 an hour to use? (I ask because I train at a gym that costs $12 Mil to build and it's only $49 per month. They have a basketball court, sauna, jacuzzi, pool, 300 pieces or cardio equip..etc.)
sport specific


7. How many members do you have?
usually around 250, each month is different

8. What is your rent and square footage?
too much 8586sqft just under $10,000

9. How many employees? (Part time/Full time)
7 part time


10. How many classes per week?
6-7 each day

11. Do you teach kids? And what do you teach by the way??
yes only kids, an Olympic Sport.


Peace

[lkfmdc]

where is this? what is the name of this place? web site?

[Lama Pai Sifu]

Originally Posted by the Preacher

SURE,


1. How are you keeping track of their 'hours' as to adjust their monthly billing?
each student prepays for their desired hours each month,
then just check off when they come

2. Why don't you take checks?
NSF

3. With no contract, what method of cancellation do you use?
cancellation for what

4. How do people pay thier tuition?
most people I suppose have to work?

5. Do you have discounts for paid in full memberships?
No discount No membership only month by month

6. What equipment do you have that people are willing to pay $10 an hour to use? (I ask because I train at a gym that costs $12 Mil to build and it's only $49 per month. They have a basketball court, sauna, jacuzzi, pool, 300 pieces or cardio equip..etc.)
sport specific


7. How many members do you have?
usually around 250, each month is different

8. What is your rent and square footage?
too much 8586sqft just under $10,000

9. How many employees? (Part time/Full time)
7 part time


10. How many classes per week?
6-7 each day

11. Do you teach kids? And what do you teach by the way??
yes only kids, an Olympic Sport.


Peace

Thanks for your answers, I really appreciate it. Just a few more if you wouldn't mind..

1. How many new members do you enroll each month (on average) or annually?

Let me rephrase some of the others.

2. How do people pay their tuition? What method, i.e., in house, billing company, your own billing software, etc. Do they pay by cash or credit card each month, as you do not take checks.

3. What is "sport specific" equipment. I don't understand your answer.

4. Regarding cancellation, what term does a person enroll for? Month to month? This goes back to question 2 of this post. I'm asking how people pay each month - physically. Do they just bring it over to the front desk? If you have billing software or a billing company, and you do month to month, you have to have time to cancel thier next payment if you use an outside company or you have to cancel it within your own billing software.

5. Do you make at least $60,000 per month? I'll explain this question later and as to why I use that number. Feel free to share your monthly or annual gross income stats (if you are okay with it)

6. What is your average monthly merchandise sales?

Thanks again!