So I've recently passed my CFI Initial and was told I was going to be instructing at my university. Well, there is now a surplus of CFI's and they stopped hiring. There are other flight schools but they're all over an hour and a half driving distances and I'm still in college. I don't have a plane so I'm pretty limited.

I have a few friends who do freelance instructing with students without an airplane. So far I've taken steps to avoid undercutting them and taking their business. They're having to turn down students with airplanes since they're so busy. I want to earn my own business but where do I begin?

So here are some questions I had.

1) Should I make a LLC or get liability insurance?

2) Do business cards really work?

3) What's a good website creating company/host?

 

Hi! I dont't know how it is working at your home, but i have a friend, not teaching just taking passengers for a ride / sightseeing at his free time, but the method is the same:
he advertised himself everywhere, non-online way, like a printed paper with phone nr, and photos etc at the information boards in every building
(it's not Uni, it's army base, but this structure is the same, buildings with ingo boards everywhere), as people starting to know him, giving his phone nr to each other.
He hires a plane from his flight school where he did his training, as he do not have an own one.

Btw, creating a FB / insta page ?
FlyingDawgg Flight Instructor

Invite your FB friends to like it
make a game, "if you vote, you can win a trial flight" (like one round at the traffic pattern)
FB ad is very cheap, and you can set the type of people, where your ad will appear (like people who like uni's page, flying pages, people who live within a certain miles area etc etc)

Start to fill this with photos, news, keep it updating, also lot of adventure / selfie pics of you flying with people, having fun, and like this people will come.
or need a special offer like ... people often afraid starting a course, and "trial" is also very popular (in europe, I know) like full theory preparation and 5 or 10 hours of flying etc

business card is also good, still not out of fashion

 

why my answer is not here? I wrote a really long reply last week

 

I agree with the comment. Use social media!

 

Make sure you follow the regs for commercial sightseeing operations. In the US, you cannot just jump in a plane and go do it.

 

Find a flying club that is also a part 141 school. Where I worked, we pretty much hung out at the counter and greeted prospective new students, gave them a tour of the place, maybe a demo ride. It takes a lot of work initially to build your client base, but eventually, word will spread, if you do good work. Make sure you have great customer service and a good demeanor in the airplane.

 

I am new with all the flight training but here is my business perspective.

1) Insurance is a must. LLC won't pay to defend you in court.
Advantage of LLC appear to be : 1) slightly tax advantage however on Federal taxes, you are still taxed as Sole Prop. 2) Personal protection from debt. 3) limitted liability in case of lawsuit.

2) Advertising : New way of online marketing is video advertisment , Video provides you the prospect to interrelate with your clientele by permitting them to acquire to understand you and also your business too, and thus they experience an ease or comfort with you. This is particularly essential for the small scale, and local trade. Facebook and Instagram can be a good started.

3) You don't need to pay to website or hosting in the beginning, Google Business (Google +) is free and you can use it as a business page until it needed. Save money to do Google Adword or Social media advertising.

 

yes but with CPL you can! When all your papers and the flight school's papers are okay.
I was thinking he can connect with a flight school and organize it... and use social media afterwards

But of course, you need the check the country's regulations, I do not know if there is something special in the US.

 

DE,

He was saying that in the US we *do* have special requirements. You can't do aerial sightseeing or give tours without special authorization from FAA. (There are some limited exceptions.) I wouldn't want to get caught by the FAA giving tours without permission.

 

Correct...
In order to do sightseeing you are required to have an LOA from the FAA. You are limited to flightpath that’s within 30nm (I think) from the departing airport. Also both the pilot and all the A&P’s who touch the aircraft must be on a drug testing program.


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