How to Start a Skateboarding Lessons Business

A skateboarding lessons business focuses on providing lessons (typically lasting from half an hour to one hour) that help customers improve their skateboarding skills. Such lessons are typically taught at public skate parks, which also helps this business easily establish itself as a community presence.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

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Start a skateboarding lessons business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Skateboarding Lessons Business
  2. Form your Skateboarding Lessons Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Skateboarding Lessons Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Skateboarding Lessons Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Skateboarding Lessons Business
  7. Get Skateboarding Lessons Business Insurance
  8. Define your Skateboarding Lessons Business Brand
  9. Create your Skateboarding Lessons Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your skateboarding 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 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 Skateboarding 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.

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

So long as your area has anything like a public skate park, the cost of opening this business is extremely low. In fact, you could start for as low as $2500, with $500 of that going towards creating a professional website and the remaining $2000 going into advertising. You should already have your own skateboards, and you should require students bring their own boards and equipment. Conducting lessons at public parks that are free to access means you do not have to worry about an expensive business lease or ongoing overhead that would cut into your profits.

What are the ongoing expenses for a skateboarding lessons business?

For this business, there are no ongoing expenses except for any advertising you do (typically less than two hundred a month after your initial push when you first open) and gas to drive and meet your customers.

Who is the target market?

As mentioned earlier, your primary demographic will be children and young adults. While not limited to this group, many of your students will be males aged 13-18.

How does a skateboarding lessons business make money?

Most skateboard lessons charge a fixed fee for lessons lasting thirty minutes and a higher fee for lessons lasting an hour.

How much can you charge customers?

How much you charge is really up to you. Across the nation, private lessons often range from thirty dollars an hour all the way to a hundred dollars per hour. You will likely want to investigate your local competition and consider the economy of your area before finalizing your prices.

How much profit can a skateboarding lessons business make?

Obviously, the amount of profit you can make is determined by your price and your amount of customers. For instance, someone charging fifty dollars an hour and who teaches for twenty-five hours a week would make $65,000 a year. In reality, in may take some time to establish a steady stream of customers, but the nature of this job (including its low start-up cost) makes it very easy to do this as a “side job” until you feel comfortable branching out.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Consider offering variety in how you teach. This may include lower hourly amounts for group lessons. If you have the skills, you may consider diversifying and offering lessons in adjacent skills such as rollerblading. Be sure to network with local skateboard shops so that you can help advertise for one another. Finally, don’t be afraid to raise your prices as your business gets established!

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your skateboarding lessons business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your skateboarding lessons business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

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 through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

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.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL 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 to operate a skateboarding lessons business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

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.

Certificate of Occupancy

A skateboarding lessons business can have its own skate park. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a 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 location:
    • 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 skateboarding lessons business.
    • 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:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your skateboarding lessons business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Liability Waivers

To avoid liability and potential lawsuits, skateboarding lessons businesses should have their clients sign waivers.

An example of an appropriate waiver can be found here.

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.

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.

Find out what types of insurance your Skateboarding Lessons Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Skateboarding 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 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 skateboarding lessons business

It is worth doing more traditional local advertising via newspaper and radio, especially at the beginning. However, advertising online is a great way to catch the attention of your young, prospective customers. In addition to your professional website, be sure you have a social media presence. Online venues like Instagram and Facebook allow you to show off your skills using high-quality pictures and videos, which helps sell your ability to give lessons.

How to keep customers coming back

One of the best ways to attract customers is to offer free demonstrations and mini-lessons. Go to the local skate park and offer to teach people some basic skills and techniques. This helps showcase your ability to both skate and teach, and may cause those watching to hire you so they can learn more. In terms of retaining customers, you should work out a customized plan of lessons for each customer that charts all of the skills they want to learn. Thus, they don’t think of meeting with you as an occasional thing but as part of a weeks-long (or even months-long) plan.

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.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website 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.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, 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 2024 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.

Is this Business Right For You?

Obviously, the business is good for those who are already very good at skateboarding. It is also good for current or former teachers or others who are good at working with children and young adults, as these will be your primary customers.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a skateboarding lessons business?

For actual lessons, you will meet customers at the chosen venue (typically a public park) for lessons lasting thirty minutes to one hour. When you are not actively conducting lessons, you will spend most of your time networking, advertising your business, and keeping in touch with your customers.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful skateboarding lessons business?

You must have extensive skills in skateboarding before you can comfortably offer lessons. While not a requirement, having taken skateboard lessons can provide great experience when you start conducting your own lessons. Any previous networking you have done with local schools, churches, and community centers is also helpful in advertising your business and finding new customers.

What is the growth potential for a skateboarding lessons business?

The exact growth potential of this business is difficult to gauge because there is little in the way of research about the industry. However, nationwide entities such as GoSkate have been thriving, and the fact that your primary customers will be children means that almost any community has a steady stream of prospective customers.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a skateboarding lessons business?

Consider taking specialized lessons to help you teach. Websites like Udemy allow you to access lectures and information about how to teach people to skateboard. Try to find opportunities to partner with local schools, especially when their events give you a chance to demonstrate your skills to prospective customers. Finally, use your skateboarding friends to find out what they think the most critical skateboard lessons are and what techniques ultimately helped them to learn particular skills.

How and when to build a team

Due to the nature of this business, most people conduct skateboard lessons on their own. If your business grows past the point where you can personally accommodate everyone, then you may consider building a small team and continuing to grow.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading