The 5 Most Important Documents You’ll Need to Start, Enroll Students, and Grow Your Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring or Teaching Business
Posted on March 27, 2023 by Makenzie Oliver
Where do I begin? That’s the million dollar question that keeps us up at night when we are beginning to start something new or plan to grow our existing business. As a consultant, I am asked about all of the documents needed to start or grow an educational business. Trust me, you are not alone. There are thousands of teachers and parents, just like you, on a mission to change the trajectory of education!
I know what it feels like to step right out of the classroom and walk into entrepreneurship-for the first time! Along with homeschooling my daughters at the EXACT same time, you better believe I needed to find a system, a plan, a map to help me on this journey!
For years, I was dreaming of having a “small school” right in the back of my yard. I also dreamt of the freedom and flexibility to teach without restrictions. I wanted to be with my children more, and I wanted to soak up all the time outdoors while doing what I loved-teaching and being mom! Check out Episode 149: My Teacher Story of Leaving Public Education and Leadership + Homeschooling + Building and Growing a Microschool for 3 Years.
But, like you, I didn’t even know where to begin. When it came to year 1 of launching our first microschool, I sat down at the computer and my fingers began typing! I know what it feels like to sit in a seat of overwhelm without a map for where to begin and where you will end. However, with these foundational pieces in place, you will begin clearing the cobwebs that keep you feeling fuzzy, frazzled and afraid!
Thankfully, with a lot of prayer, petition, proactiveness and preparation, (that’s a LOT of P’s!!) these 5 documents have helped us start, grow and scale our microschool and I know they will help you gain the clarity and confidence to do so as well! You can also listen to the podcast to hear more in depth teaching - Episode 165: The 💛5 Most Important Documents💛 You’ll Need to Start, Enroll Students, and Grow Your Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring or Teaching Business!
The first 3 documents will help you build, craft, enroll and share your message with foundational families. As you grow and scale your existing business to one that is either an extension or an add on, you will absolutely need the last two I mention!! They are imperative!
If you’re beginning to sweat and wonder how you will ever get it all done…or even start! Don’t worry - we’ve done the heavy lifting for you! So it back, be blessed, not stressed and know you have help! You can check out all our documents ready to plug and play on our website - click here!
Foundational Document #1
An Introductory Packet: This is very much like the front cover of your story-the place where people begin. The moment parents pick up the introductory packet, they will be intrigued with the information inside. Click here to grab yours now - or save 20% when you buy the Business Bundle during March 2023!
The introductory packet is your heart, your mission, your vision, your everything! In your introductory packet, parents are looking for a transparent view into their child’s day to day activities while being in your care. The Introductory Packet helps show interested parents the fully realized powerhouse of your school and/or offer. Providing more than just key concepts, this packet serves as an outline of your school’s history, schedule, and curriculum. Page by page, you will layout (with clean and informative information) all the goodness your business has to captivate the parents of your potential students.
Your Introductory Packet is typically 4 pages, but can be added onto each year. In our example, we have crafted 7 pages for you to begin crafting your beautiful offer.
Each year, as you begin growing and changing, your offer will as well. The introductory packet is a powerful foundation that can be edited and revised as your business changes.
Sending you Introductory Packet through email is a fabulous way for parents to see your commitment to excellence! Many parents print out the Introductory Packet and share it with their spouse and children.
This is the ticket for parents to come and learn more about your amazing offer!
Often times, I hand deliver the introductory packet to parents, friends, and family members. This gives others an in-depth look into your services to take advantage of themselves or share with others!
Would you like a real-life example? You’ve got it! When you grab your Introductory Packet, you get a my real-life example that I use for my our micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to help you get creatively inspired by the finished product! Check it out here.
Foundational Document #2
Intake Forms: Not only do parents need to know about you, YOU need to KNOW about them! I recommend 3 important forms to help you know what to offer, gain knowledge about each family who inquires, and enroll your students will ease!
Interest Form: Much like a survey, this form will help you gain clarity on your offer! Create an interest form asking families about their desired services. These are great to post in Facebook groups and send through email. You will be able to learn more about your target market with the use of an interest form.
Pre-Qualify Form: After parents receive your introductory packet, they are bound to ask for a tour, interview, meet and greet, you name it! They are ready to take the next step! But hold on a minute, you must make sure you are able to serve their child with the utmost integrity and effectiveness. This is where the prequalify form comes in. We recommend sending the PQForm to parents before having an interview. This allows you to learn more about the child’s strengths, needs, behavior and academics. Not only will this help you when meeting families for the first time, it will help you to determine whether or not you are able to serve the child’s needs.
Enrollment Form: As a parent or teacher, you never knew you’d have so many forms to create, and the Enrollment Form may be the most vital one there is! This template lays out all the important information you need to collect from parents and students to ensure you go into the school year prepared to deliver a solid, fully cultivated curriculum. Grab yours here!
Foundational Document #3
Handbook and Contract: To create a safe, sustainable and peace of mind business, you MUST have a handbook, contract, waivers and liability forms. You may be thinking, this is NOT my forte! I totally understand! It took us two years to master the art of a really great handbook and contract, and with help from parents, lawyer and other stakeholders, we have crafted a handbook and contract where you can literally plug and play, print and go, or add on to!
You’ve never done this before. Establishing a school or learning pod? Where do you start? With no guidebook on how to take teaching back into your own hands, let us make one crucial step very simple. The Handbook with Contract is a 17-page document that completely breaks down dozens of areas you didn’t know you needed to cover. Every section of this handbook outlines key components you need to consider throughout the entire process of shaping your school year, from beginning to end. Sharing this knowledge with you will help you set the groundwork and fully get into the details that will define how your school operates. We’ve cultivated this handbook from years of first-person experience to deliver you a foundational document, written by a teacher, for you, teacher friends. Also included in this handbook are several contracts created to help you establish and solidify important responsibilities on behalf of the parents of your students.
Business Blueprint: This is a work in progress and definitely recommended as soon as you decide you want to build a business. However, if this is your first time to do such a thing, the process can feel intimidating or daunting. As years go on, however, you can begin changing your offer and becoming more solid in your finances, vision and marketability.
Your business blueprint is a map-one in which you can use to write grants with, showcase your ideas to business partners or even show your spouse so he/she can have a better understanding of what you are on mission to create!
You have permission to start simple.
If you are thinking…
“I have no idea where to start. I want to leave my current position, but where do I begin? I lack clear direction on how to take actionable steps toward my desired outcome.
Stop guessing and link arms with me! Together, we will create a comprehensive, easy-to-follow roadmap of what you want to accomplish and when you can achieve it.”
Marketing Plan: While you have a great idea for teaching on your own terms, you may lack the confidence or competence to begin marketing. It’s okay- don't’ let this stop you! Trust me, I came straight out of the classroom and opened my living room to 8 students. Zero marketing experience whatsoever. But that can only get you so far! There is a strategy to marketing and it can come in the form of word of mouth, online marketing, social media, website and email marketing, hosting events, and putting yourself in the community.
At the beginning of your journey, you will most likely not have a plan. But we have to start building in tiny habits of reaching out to people, sending emails and text messages, picking up the phone to call others and posting on social media.
With time, I encourage all those who are building a business and ready to implement a plan, begin with consistent daily habits of marketing. It’s best to have a month, week and daily plan, but don’t overwhelm yourself. Choose one way to market (word of mouth, social media, online, events) and focus your attention there for at least a week. Then you will be able to build momentum and market with ease and excitement!
If you are feeling…
“I don't know how to build a business! I am intimidated to market myself to potential families! I feel underprepared to break out and become a successful entrepreneur.
Together we will conquer your fears. You will learn who your ideal student is, how to find them, and how to market successfully! You can join arms with me, as your business coach, to create your business plan!”
Advertise. Organize. Monetize.
your micro-school, homeschooling business, or learning pod!
These step-by-step instructions will help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more!
You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by Makenzie’s real-life micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms.
Members of our Facebook group have been meeting together to plan out some ideas!
Not on Facebook? Send me an email at teacherletyourlightshine@gmail.com.
