10 Steps to Starting a Driving School

Every vehicle owner needs to learn how to drive. They usually approach a driving school for practical lesions. The business is lucrative and easy to establish. However you need qualified instructors, good vehicle and operational license.
The requirements differ from one state to the next. Things to consider are finding good test routes, office location and advertisement. The marketing should be strategic and focus on a particular demography.
woman driving
How to Start a Driving School
1. Become a Franchise or Starting from Scratch
You need to decide if you want to operate as a franchise or start from scratch. It is expensive joining a franchise because of the huge fee. However you get all the support, training, marketing and branding.
It is cost effective starting from scratch because you create your own identity and brand. If you want to operate from a fixed location you need a commercial area. The location should have administrative office and parking for your vehicles.
2. Study the Competition
Every business has some level of competition. It is wise to research the competition to gather information on their prices and packages.
Useful information includes type of vehicles they prefer, customer base and location. Are they independent operators or part of a franchise? Find out how they engage the local community and their marketing strategy.
  • gather information on their prices
  • packages
  • type of vehicles they prefer
  • customer base
  • location
  • Are they independent operators or franchise
  • their marketing strategy
3. Acquire Training
The driver needs to pass a test or exam before becoming an instructor. The instructor needs to master the road signs and have a valid driving license. The type of driving license should be a commercial license.
4. Work on a Startup Budget
The first step is to write a business plan and carry out feasibility study. You then need to create a budget that covers all the fundamentals. The budget should include cost of new/used vehicle, insurance and maintenance.
Make sure it covers cost of fueling the vehicle, salary of instructor, marketing and administrative costs. If you have a physical office you include rent of premises.
The startup cost could range from N3.6 million naira or $10,000. This covers cost of vehicle, rent, company registration and certification. The earnings of the instructors are based on revenue split or monthly salary.
The budget
  • cost of new/used car
  • insurance
  • maintenance
  • cost of fueling the vehicle
  • salary of instructor
  • marketing
  • administrative costs
  • rent of premises
  • company registration
  • certification
  • salary of instructors
5. Get Startup Funds
Once you have a practical budget you can source for funds. Startup in some countries is relatively low especially if you already have the vehicle. You need money for the fixed and working capital. You can source funds through target savings or from fiends and family.
You can approach a small loans bank or micro finance bank in your area. Use the business plan, collateral and part of startup money to secure the loan. Try to get long term low interest loans. You might approach a private investor or consider partnership.
  • target savings
  • loan from fiends and family
  • approach a bank
  • approach a private investor
  • consider partnership

6. Driving School License
To start a driving school you need a permit. Each state, county has its own requirement before issuing a license. It is important you declare a place of business and have liability insurance. The schools should be certified and pass an inspection test.
Depending on the country a driving school may or may not have a physical location. To acquire a business name in Nigeria approach the corporate affairs commission and obtain approval from the federal road safety commission or Department of Motor Vehicles. The FRSC are also the body that issues driving licenses.
Other parameters are physical health report, application for occupational license, live scan clearance. More include certificate of course completion, application fee and passing a driving school instructor written test.
  • driving school license
  • liability insurance
  • pass an inspection test
  • a physical location
  • acquire a business name
  • current driving license
  • physical health report
  • live scan clearance
  • certificate of course completion
  • application fee
  • passing a driving school instructor written test
7. Develop a Curriculum
It is important to develop your driving schools curriculum. Apart from practical lesions your student must learn theory. Get updated instructional material from the federal road safety or AAA. Instructional material includes tutorials, videos and tests.
To conduct practical lessons you need to identify safe test routes for each stage of the course. The routes gradually become difficult as the student progresses with the course. There are also DMV accredited test routes in some local governments.
To succeed you need to adequately manage appointments and schedules. Don’t forget to create a competitive price list of your services.
School Curriculum
  • practical lesions
  • updated instructional material
  • tutorials
  • videos
  • tests
  • identify safe test routes
8. Purchase the Vehicle
It depends on how much funding you have. You could purchase a new vehicle or used one. The vehicle should pass any vehicle inspection test and is safe for students to drive.
The most appropriate vehicle is those with manual transmission. This is because students that learn stick can easily transition to automatic. However you should consider buying both automatic and manual transmission cars.
There are also vehicles with dual control for driver and instructor. Make sure the vehicle has all the safety requirements for the job.
9. Build a Website
Secure a domain name and host plan to build a website. You could alternately hire a web designer to create the site.
The site should include contact information, services, phone number and demography you operate. Drive traffic to the site through FaceBook ads or Adwords. You can also develop a social media presence and gain lots of followers.
10. Marketing
To advertise the school you can use electronic or print media. Print flyers, posters, banners and billboards. If you have a physical office place a signage board in front.
The car is your primary mode for practical lessons should have adverts on the body. There are advertisement fees to pay for wrap round vehicle advertisement.
Try to establish relationship with Federal Road Safety and partner with insurance companies. You can target middle class workers, students and teenagers.
It is important your students have a pleasant experience and your instructors are patient and accommodating. To get recommendations maintain a high standard to stand out from the crowd.
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