Open a full-time aikido dojo with your own space

Local adults and families paying monthly membership, plus visiting students at seminars and open classes.

Monthly memberships, grading and seminar fees, kit sales and possibly hire of the space to other instructors. Rent is the biggest cost, so member numbers matter.

• Advanced aikido grade and teaching experience
• Running a timetable and managing members
• Marketing to local families
• Budgeting and cash flow

• Planning use class and whether a change of use is needed, check with your local council
• Lease terms, deposits and business rates, ask about small business rate relief
• Startup costs add up: deposit, first months of rent, legal fees for the lease, mats, flooring, changing areas and any fit-out work
• Public liability insurance, and employer's liability insurance if you hire assistant instructors
• Safeguarding checks and policies for children's classes
• Fire safety and first aid requirements for the premises
• Rent is fixed whatever the attendance, so keep a cash buffer

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £15,000 to £50,000, depending on the unit, the deposit and first months of rent, lease legal fees, mats, flooring, changing areas and any fit-out work.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on membership numbers, your timetable and what you charge. Rent is fixed whatever the attendance, so keep a cash buffer.

Check the planning use class and whether a change of use is needed with your council. Also check lease terms and business rates, public liability insurance, safeguarding for children's classes, and fire safety and first aid requirements for the premises.