Driving School Tough Times

Any driving school instructor will tell you that 2011 is a tough time to be self-employed in this business, especially with the current uncertain economic climate and the government spending cuts being annouced all over the places, driving lessons will be low on the priority list of many individuals unless it will help them get a job.

A new self-employed tax year began a few days ago, and as driving school owners start to go over their accounts, the reality of the tough times will really start to set in.

In January 2011, my driving school car costs rose just by viirtue of the VAT being increased to 20%, and the cost of fuel has been steadyly rising at the pumps, and even though I had to moderately increase lesson prices, it is still hard to get a good balance.

All that not withstanding, many more people are training to get their ADI badges, so I now have to make sure I make more efforts in instructor marketing, to keep my share of the business above waters.

It might be tough, but we will continue to rise to the challenge of being a school owner, and look forward to the good times ahead.