Photo: Alena Darmel

How do I start my own music teaching business?

Start a music lessons business by following these 10 steps: Plan your Music Lessons Business. Form your Music Lessons Business into a Legal Entity. Register your Music Lessons Business for Taxes. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card. Set up Accounting for your Music Lessons Business. More items... •

howtostartanllc.com - How to Start a Music Lessons Business | TRUiC

What is the longest piano keyboard?

The 'Alexander Piano' is 18 feet and nine inches, or 5.7 meters, long, and weighs over a metric ton. For context, that's over twice the length of...

Last updated Oct 17, 2020

Which pickup for solos?

Many players use the neck pickup for playing solos as the tone can be less shrill than the bridge pickup when playing past the 12th fret. Changing...

Last updated Mar 23, 2022

Promotion

Start a music lessons business by following these 10 steps:

Plan your Music Lessons Business Form your Music Lessons Business into a Legal Entity Register your Music Lessons Business for Taxes Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card Set up Accounting for your Music Lessons Business Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Music Lessons Business Get Music Lessons Business Insurance Define your Music Lessons Business Brand Create your Music Lessons Business Website Set up your Business Phone System There is more to starting a business than just registering it with the state. We have put together this simple guide to starting your music lessons business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What are the costs involved in opening a music lessons business?

The costs associated with starting a music lessons business are low. Business owners need to have their own instrument, which is often the most expensive startup cost. Typically instruments cost anywhere from less than $300 up to over $2000 (with some instruments falling lower or higher than this range). Instruments can often be found cheaper if used, as well as online. In addition to an instrument, business owners usually need a couple music stands (one for them and one for a student, unless teaching piano or organ; ~$30 each) and their own personal copies of the music they’ll be teaching (students are usually expected to buy their own copies; ~$3 to $25 each). Instructors also need a place to teach, which can be a room in their own home, at each client’s home or in a public place, such as at a school, church or community center. Renting a space in a public building will increase operating costs a little, but it also provides space for teaching group lessons.

What are the ongoing expenses for a music lessons business?

The ongoing expenses for music lessons businesses are low. Business owners who drive to clients’ homes must pay for transportation to and from each client’s house, and those who use a public space have to pay for that space. Other expenses include instrument maintenance and repair costs, and occasionally purchasing new copies of music.

Who is the target market?

Ideal clients have a passion for music and are interested in learning to create music. Many are either students in school (anywhere from elementary school through college) or adults who have free time that they can spend practicing.

How does a music lessons business make money?

A music lessons business charges students for lessons, which usually last from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Lessons may be charged on a per-lesson or hourly basis. Group lessons usually cost a little less than private lessons, but they can generate more income because there is more than one student being taught.

How much can you charge customers?

Piano lessons usually cost between $30 and $60 per hour. Many music lessons businesses that teach other instruments charge similar rates. When lessons are only a half-hour long, these rates are usually cut in half for each lesson.

How much profit can a music lessons business make?

Even a part-time music lessons business can generate a significant revenue. An instructor who offers private lessons for 20 hours a week could earn between $600 and $1200 each week if they charged $30 to $60 per hour. Because the ongoing expenses are low, the vast majority of this is profit.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Offering group lessons is one of the main ways music lessons businesses generate additional revenue. Group lessons might cost students slightly less per hour, but they can increase the revenue a business brings in. Even if students pay just $10 per lesson, a half-hour group lesson with four students could generate $40 in 30 minutes, or an hourly rate of $80. Other ways of increasing revenue including offering repair services for broken instruments (if the instructor knows how to repair instruments) and hosting recitals. Many instructors charge additional fees for putting on an annual or semiannual recital.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Music Lessons Business Name Generator If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more. When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

Your state's business records

Federal and state trademark records

Social media platforms

Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Find a Domain Now Powered by GoDaddy.com

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation. Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your music lessons business is sued.

Form Your LLC

Northwest LegalZoom ($79 + State Fees)

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee. Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services. You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

What is the difference between Map and set in Java?

Both interfaces are used to store the collection of objects as a single unit. The main difference between Set and Map is that Set contains only...

Last updated Jul 5, 2018

How many people have a musical ear?

Is Musical Ear Syndrome Common? The few studies published in journals suggest only about 20% of those with tinnitus experience musical ear syndrome...

Last updated Aug 11, 2019

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business. In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free! You can acquire your EIN for free through the IRS website, via fax, or by mail. If you would like to learn more about EINs and how they can benefit your LLC, read our article, What is an EIN?. Learn how to get an EIN in our What is an EIN guide or find your existing EIN using our EIN lookup guide.

Small Business Taxes

Depending on which business structure you choose, you might have different options for how your business will be taxed. For example, some LLCs could benefit from being taxed as an S corporation (S corp).

You can learn more about small business taxes in these guides:

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection. When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account: Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.

Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Open net 30 accounts

Net 30 accounts are used to establish and build business credit as well as increase business cash flow. With a net 30 account, businesses buy goods and repay the full balance within a 30-day term. NetMany net 30 credit vendors report to the major business credit bureaus (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business Credit). This is how businesses build business credit so they can qualify for credit cards and other lines of credit.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place. Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on. Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from Divvy and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits. In addition, certain local licensing or regulatory requirements may apply. For more information:

Check with your town, city or county clerk’s office

Get assistance from one of the local associations listed in US Small Business Associations directory of local business resources. Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

For information about local licenses and permits:

Check with your town, city or county clerk’s office

Get assistance from one of the local associations listed in US Small Business Associations directory of local business resources.

Service Agreement

Music lessons businesses should consider requiring clients to sign a service agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership. Here is an example service agreement. Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.

Certificate of Occupancy

Some business owners travel to clients’ homes to offer lessons. However, if you chose to open a studio to offer music lessons - your studio will need to have an appropriate Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

If you plan to lease a studio:

It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.

Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a music lessons business. If your landlord does not have a CO suitable to a music lessons business, your studio could be shut down in the event of noise complaints from neighboring tenants. After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.

If you plan to purchase or build a location (e.g. lesson studio):

What is a mild form of dyslexia?

When the dyslexia is mild, individuals can often “get by,” at school and may go on to have ordinary careers. Nonetheless, children and adults with...

Last updated Jul 30, 2019

How many hours a day should you practice an instrument?

Try to practice at least 30 minutes per day, at least 5 days/week. Twice as much would be a good idea, when possible. If you are really serious,...

Last updated Oct 31, 2020

Promotion

You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority. Review all building codes and zoning requirements for you business’ location to ensure your business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss. There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Learn more about General Liability Insurance.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage. Recommended: Learn what business insurance for your Music Lessons Business will cost. Business Insurance for

Music Lessons Business

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors. If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners, we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business. Recommended: Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker. If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a music lessons business

Music lessons businesses often grow by word of mouth. Posting ads locally on Craigslist, bulletin boards and in newspapers can also help, though. Ads can also be posted where musicians frequent, such as schools, instrument shops, etc.

How to keep customers coming back

There are two main ways that music lessons businesses set themselves apart. Some offer inexpensive lessons, undercutting other businesses’ prices. Others specialize in just one or two instruments and gain a reputation as being the best music lessons business in the area for these select instruments. These businesses usually have an instructor who either has degrees in music or is a member of a successful group. Still unsure about what kind of business you want to start? Check out the latest Small Business Trends to help inspire you.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business. While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online. - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online. Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own. that you own. Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of. Using our website building guides, the process will be simple and painless and shouldn’t take you any longer than 2-3 hours to complete. Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you. There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2022 to find the best phone service for your small business. Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Start a Music Lessons Business in your State

howtostartanllc.com - How to Start a Music Lessons Business | TRUiC

What was Beethoven's sad song?

The 'Sonata quasi una fantasia,' now commonly known as the 'Moonlight Sonata', was Ludwig Van Beethoven's 14th piano sonata, Opus 27, Number 2. He...

Last updated Mar 2, 2022

Is Yousician good for beginners?

It's easy to be sniffy about Yousician, particularly if you take your playing seriously. However, for those that require practice time to be fun –...

Last updated Apr 7, 2022

Promotion

How long does it take to learn to play Fur Elise?

An intermediate player learning the full version of Fur Elise may take on average between 2 weeks and 2 months, dependant on ability and practice....

Last updated Aug 4, 2021

Promotion

Why is AXE slang for guitar?

Jazz and Jive Saxophone, shortened to sax, became axe, which over time became common to any instrument. Starting in the 1950s, even things like...

Last updated Oct 25, 2022