Hello, in the future my plan is to run a coaching business. It will offer coaching to children of around 6-11. It will operate as a sole trader and will run during the evening, weekend and at half terms and summer/ xmas holidays. The main reason I am writing here is because I want some initial research into whether the business is profitable and worthwhile. I have the funding in place and a good catchment area also. I am in the process of achieving my badges and want to know the exact details. IE- what are the exact requirements to set up on my own? Any help would be extremely appreciated. Many thanks. Regards

hi!

to be honest, i think the majority of your questions rely heavily on how big you want the project to be. i dont think you really need any specific qualifications to start your own business. if you want to be doing the coaching, then obviously you need sufficient coaching qualifications, level 1 at the very least. but if you feel you just want to work behind the scenes, just let everyone know about it, get a few people to help you out, and your away. obviously, degrees in business managment are always a plus, but not many of us have them! but from where i look at it, i dont think you need masses amounts of qualifications. as long as you have an aim, ambition, people to help you (because obviously you cant do it alone) and money, i cant see there being a problem! hope this helps in some way, let me know how you get on

Simon

thats great mate, thanks for replying. i know it sounds a bit wrong to be asking if its profitable because in the end its not about furthering my own ambition. I love football and want to further other peoples love for footy.

the advice on qualifications is very usefull. To be honest it will only begin as a small business, maybe 40 kids at the start (optamistic!!) but could and will grow. i would definitley look for 2 coaches to help me out and whilst they look after the actual coaching i could get on with reaching the badges. thanks for your help!

anytime!!

one other thing, a friend of mine tried starting a business like this a year or so ago, and failed miserably. the main reason for this was that he hadnt prepared at all. he had the idea one weekend, and he "had it going" by the weekend after. He put a small ad in the paper, and expected to see hundreds flock to him. He had not prepared anything at all, he had no session plans, and nobody to help him. So i urge you to over prepare, have a plan B, if your plan A goes wrong, then a plan C, just incase!! He didnt do any of this, and his business was running for one session, sheerly due to the fact that the only person who turned up was his son!!! OVER PREPARE!!

Simon

another thing you should really make sure you have is a first aid qualification because you never know when you're going to need it. I'm pretty sure that when you take the level 1 course there is an emergency first aid certificate that you can gain.