Four Steps to an e-startup in Teaching

clendar February 15, 2024

clendar 8 minutes

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The convenience of learning from any part of the world makes e-learning appealing to consumers. The pandemic escalated the demand for online services. E-learning has many advantages over the traditional in-class lectures. For example, the flexibility of choosing a course at a comfortable time and environment from a range of service providers. Of course, a growing demand for online education has also increased competition.

About the reviewer:

Jakub Babkins, strategic business plan developer at OCS Capital, has extensive experience in writing business plans to help small and medium businesses to expand their operations, as well as coaching and teaching.

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Step 1 - Polishing the idea

You might think that step one is writing an e-learning business plan. It’s not. Without research and analysis you won’t get far. But before all the calculations, financial forecasts and strategies you need an idea. So you want to start with jotting down your business idea. And elaborating on what kind of business you are starting and what you want to achieve. No one starts a business on a whim. Describe what kind of products and services you want to offer. What values you want to incorporate in your company and what you want to achieve with your business. Your concept for the startup should be clear and concise. It will become the core for your business operations. Everything else will build around it.

Step 2 - Research, planning and analysis

Starting and running a business entails a lot of research and planning. The second step focuses on the who’s, why’s and how’s of your startup. Continue by gathering all the relevant information. For example:

♦ Who are you?

♦ Who is your target customer? Age, employment status, income, which customer needs is your business satisfying?

♦ Who are your Competitors? What scope of courses and services they offer, what are the salary expectations, bonuses and vacation deals for employees?

♦ How will you establish a web presence? Etc.

Research also includes gathering information on registration, licenses, employment and other legal and financial aspects of running a business.

Step 3 - Writing your business plan

You can either write a business plan yourself using samples available online or turn to a business consultant. Sample business plans can be used as a reference. If you have prior experience in business management, you should have no difficulty in writing a business plan. However, a professional business consultant can provide you with insights and statistics that might not be freely available to the public.

Regardless of how you choose to write your business plan, sample examples which are available online. Look for businesses similar to yours for inspiration and reference.

Writing a business plan on your own

On an average a business plan is about 15-25 pages. It’s a time consuming process that includes different calculations, forecasts and strategy development. On the bright side, you don’t need an MBA to write a business plan. Nowadays, there are online courses on how to write a business plan.

Based on market research you will put together a plan that includes the following: an executive summary; a company description, market analysis, company management and organisation, products and services, customer profiles, marketing strategy, logistics and operational plan, financial plan.

One last thing before you start – are you writing a business plan for internal use or is it for an investor or a franchisor? It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a business plan you write for an internal-use-only will be different to a document to potential investors or for a franchise approval. And this is where it gets tricky. A business proposal written for a broader audience needs to stand out from a pile of business plans.

To approach an investor you will need a business plan that provides precise information and answers all the questions they might have. So if the financing of your business depends on outside funding, it is better to have a professionally written business plan.

Want to learn more about online MBA programs? Check out our latest blog Online MBA Programs – Everything You Need to Know

Advantages of working with a professional business consultant

As mentioned before, nothing stops you from writing your own business plan. There are, however, advantages of working with a business consultant. Especially, if this is your first startup.

Along with expertise a business consultant will bring objectivity when evaluating strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, the assessment of your opportunities and threats will be based on prior work with existing business. If you choose to work with a consultant, look for someone with experience in your type of business, for example, e-learning.

Working with a business consultant will result in professional non-bias advice and solutions for your business. As a potential business you might be too optimistic or lacking the experience.

Problem solving and time efficiency is another aspect to consider. A business consultant will propose a solution for a problem that may arise based on years of experience. Time efficiency in addressing problems cuts down on costs. A business consultant will help you manage resources and opportunities efficiently.

Step 4 - Launching!

Implementation of the business plan is the last step. It’s time to test out if what you’ve put on paper works in real life. Note that factors beyond your control can have a direct impact on your business. As was observed with the pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns and restrictions. Events such as the pandemic are unforeseeable. During the planning stages for your startup you cannot prepare for all force majeure situations.

The last couple years taught us that it is important to have a flexible approach. A business plan is a roadmap you start out with. Whereas it should not be restrictive. Business plans can be rewritten and updated should circumstances change.

Conclusion

The four step approach to starting a business begins with defining your business idea. The following step researches and analyses if the idea has potential, what strategies should be used and how financing will be obtained. In-depth research of the market will make your business a competitive player in your industry. The third step is about putting it all down into a business plan. Once the planning part is complete, the final step is to launch your e-learning platform. And remember to revise, adapt and update accordingly.

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FAQs

What are the essential steps to start an e-teaching startup?
Begin by defining your niche and developing a solid business plan. Create engaging, high-quality content and choose the right platform to host your courses. Ensure you have a reliable tech setup and consider legal requirements like licensing. Finally, test your platform and gather feedback before launching.

How do I identify my target audience for an online teaching platform?
Analyze market trends and educational needs to pinpoint your audience. Conduct surveys and research to understand their preferences, demographics, and pain points. Create personas to better tailor your content and marketing strategies to meet their specific needs.

What technologies and tools are needed to launch an e-teaching business?
You’ll need a Learning Management System (LMS) for course delivery, video conferencing tools for live sessions, and content creation tools for developing materials. Additionally, use marketing and analytics tools to promote your platform and track performance.

How can I market my e-teaching services effectively?
Utilize social media and content marketing to reach your audience. Create valuable content that showcases your expertise and use SEO strategies to improve search visibility. Leverage email marketing and online ads to drive traffic to your platform.

What are some common challenges faced when starting an online teaching business?
Challenges include creating engaging content, managing technology issues, and attracting and retaining students. Ensuring course quality and maintaining a user-friendly platform can also be difficult. Competitive markets and scaling your business effectively are additional hurdles.