If you’ve loved playing the piano, you might be thinking of sharing that love with people around you. Opening up a piano teaching business may seem like a lot of fun. You’ll get to be around music all day, and you’ll share your love of the piano with everyone who walks in. 

But creating a successful piano teaching business isn’t just about playing the piano. It will also allow you to grow entrepreneurial skills, and become better at operating a business. 

If that seems scary, take a deep breath and read on. Entrepreneurship has a learning curve just like everything else. It’ll give you a chance to learn something new while being able to do what you love. That’s a win/win. 

Before you begin, you can do a few things that will give you an edge over the competition. It’ll also provide you with strength as a new entrepreneur. 

Start by writing out a plan

If you jump into the business world, you’ll quickly learn that successful piano studios create a business plan to help lead the way. Don’t be intimidated by it. It’s easier than you think, and it doesn’t have to over complicated. Write out why you’re in the business, what you hope to accomplish, and your value is to the community. Start small, and grow your plan as you learn. 

Create a teaching space

In order to create a piano studio, you’ll need space. The more official you make the space, the more likely you’ll believe it’s an actual business, not just a hobby. If your home is set up to give you that space, it may be the right choice initially. You can also look to community music schools, local schools, colleges, rec centers, and churches that are willing to rent out space. Will you need to invest in a new piano? Be sure to get one that works well for the level of instruction you’ll be offering. 

Marketing, marketing, marketing

This will be one of the biggest hurdles you’ll face, especially in the beginning. It’s important to get the word out about your new business, and connect with potential clients as well as people willing to refer you. Consider making a website no matter how simple you begin. You can place calendars, schedules, tips and more on your site to connect on a deeper level with your students. 

Set rates

Sales are one of the most important parts of operating a successful piano teaching business. Without a profit, you won’t stay in business. Pay attention to how much you’ll charge for lessons, and base your fee on what you’ll need to grow. Will you offer private lessons? Group lessons? Will students come to you, or will you travel to them? Will you sell supplies, like workbooks and music? Be sure you’re able to cover monthly expenses, including paying yourself at the end of the month. 

Create a student success goal

What do you hope to provide to each student who comes through your door? If you plan for it, you can share it with prospects before they sign up with you. This also helps keep you positive about what you’re doing when you hit snags in the road. If you keep your goal in mind, you’ll make it through no matter what happens each day. This also gives you a chance to create lesson plans to help your students succeed, and gives you goals and trackers to ensure you become good at helping your students. 

If you’ve started a piano teaching business, what advice would you give others just starting?