To John, Lox, Nigel, Tom, Kev, Travis, Bryan, MM…

Posted on 2007/11/12 19:02:32 (November 2007).

Dear friends (yes I mean it!),
I have a question to put to you.

You know (as I believe I told you) that I teach English to employees and executives from private companies. The Chambre of Commerce, which is my actual employer, contacts those companies, negotiates the contracts, then calls for me.
Now, if I were to go freelance, it would require little investment, if none at all. The idea came up to me (or rather became concrete) as I was talking about it with one of my students. That student, who happens to be the CEO of a French software company, urged me to do so. Firstly because the demand is very high and continues to grow. Secondly, because the Chambre of Commerce asks for 54 euros an hour, whereas I only receive the third of it. Imagine I ask for 30 (or 35) euros an hour! I would still (and by far) be a winner...!

4 problems:
1. I'm not a marketing guy. Yet, being self-employed means that I would have to canvass the area myself. Takes time.
2. My English, and you know it, isn't perfect. In a sense, it's my best asset, as it enables me to work out my students' difficulties (given that I went through the same difficulties).
3. I didn't sign any clause regarding exclusive rights with the Chambre of Commerce. But it wouldn't be fair to "approach" the companies I have been (or am) teaching to.
4. That student of mine told me to carry on working for the Chambre of Commerce at the same time. At least, till I get enough 'customers'. Which is wise, but a bit rotten, as I wouldn't certainly tell the Chamber. I doubt they would accept a competitor in their midst, nor any kind of partnership.

Once again, as I said, investment would be minimal. Profits could be substantial. The only risk is to lose my current job, should the Chambre get wind of it. On the other hand, as the saying goes, " qui ne tente rien, n'a rien ". A rough translation would be: "If you don't try, you won't get anything.

What d'you reckon ?

Hey Sheri!! Sounds good to me!

I think your student, the CEO of the software company, is correct and has given good advice. Keep the present job until you can "stand on your own feet" as we say.

Perhaps you could build up your new "class" of students from a slightly different sector of the market than the Chamber of Commerce? Perhaps there is a market in parallel, or in tangent to, your present one?

Maybe there is even a market for teaching the French language to American business men (I refuse to believe any one wants to learn English because of Britain any more!!)

Posted by Nigel at 2007/11/12 19:42:50.

Thanks Nigel. I knew you would support me.
About the American business men. Well, they're not legion where I live...!
(p.s. I fixed the double comment problem)

Posted by Sheri at 2007/11/12 19:52:30.

Hi Sheri! I have been a self-employed teacher of English for the past 14 years, after working at a language school for another 7 years. Being English and a fluent speaker of Greek (I did Modern Greek at the same university as you attended, Sheri, as you may remember) has meant that demands for my services in the small Greek town I live in are higher than I can deal with, and I can pick and choose who I will teach. When it comes down to it, if you are employed by an organisation you are bound to lose a (considerable) percentage of your possible income, but it does remove the element of insecurity to a certain extent. Being self-employed frees you up in your choice of how/what/when/where you teach, but don't go thinking that you are completely your own boss, as your students become your boss. By this I mean that you will find yourself working to suit their programme, unless you get to the point where you have sufficient demand to be able to dictate when you work, according to your own needs. You will need to match what you charge to your market. I charge between EUR24 and EUR60 an hour (the lower amount being for a one-to-one lesson, the higher for a four-to-one lesson with the fee shared between the four students), but you have to bear in mind that the majority of non-native English teachers here charge about EUR9 or EUR10 an hour for one-to-one tuition, as Greek wages are much lower than the rest of Europe, with the average Greek income per month being about EUR700. Simply, I have managed to build up my reputation and the services I provide over time to be able to charge a high price and still maintain a high demand. For example, I provide customised webpages for students, with a lot of my material available online, including mp3 recordings of lessons where applicable. You need, basically, to show a difference in order to stand out and make a success of it. I would advise you to go for it, but to be aware that you will need to work more than the nominal lesson times in order to make a real success of it. I wish you well!!

Posted by Bryan at 2007/11/12 22:17:11.

1. Competition
In a market competition is the norm, if you can provide your present students a better service or equivalent, at a lower cost, but getting more money for yourself, it's what theory calls a "win-win situation" and you should go for it. Remember that ethics are a nice things but don't feed Brinsley.

2. Chamber of Commerce
They do not need to know, you can tell the potential students that they must agree to tell that they simply went to some competitor, or just abandoned the program. -in this way you get to keep both.

3. Self Employed
Take it from someone who has had a very bad experience: it's not easy, you'll make more money, but as Bryan said, you then become more linked to the student there are more risks, moreover you need to consider spending money for an accountant. The real money that you can make it's not by earning more, but it's what you can claim off income tax as expenses, that really makes the difference.

4. Do your Maths
Make sure your accountancy works, earning 35 euro won't make you richer because after tax they are likely to be 20 euro (I assume you income tax is lower than Italy), check how much your total income might become and see that you don't end up paying a lot more because of higher incomes and thus higher percentages (I assume you have a proportional system in France).

Usually self employed is better but it's also more risky, if you like it safe and easy Chamber of Commerce is the best bet, if you want to dare... "if you don't try you'll never know" they say...

But first think about it and don't go all ethic on us, CC is earning as much as you without doing ANY work whatsoever, cut the middle man!

Posted by Lox at 2007/11/13 00:04:07.

Many thanks, Bryan.
I didn't actually know you were self-employed.
You're right, I imagine going freelance requires extra-work to 'make the difference'. Fact is, I feel confident in a sense that my students are very pleased with me. I worked out a method of teaching which is rather successful (though unconventional) and flexible.
I have drawn up a list of points / questions which I have to investigate prior to taking any decision. It'll be the subject of a new entry and you can help me there, together with Lox whose (short and unfortunate) experience I could also benefit from.

Posted by Sheri at 2007/11/13 14:47:15.

Lox. Yes, income taxes are actually my main concern. And yes there is a proportional system. But there is a possibility to benefit from a special status, the 'micro-company', designed for people who would, like me, continue to work for someone else. This status offers tax exemptions, at least till I reach a determined limit in my incomes.

Posted by Sheri at 2007/11/13 14:59:03.

You're welcome, Sheri. I'll be glad to help with any advice I can offer. :-)

Posted by Bryan at 2007/11/13 20:13:55.

Yes well my first gut reaction to this is to recommend you to go it alone and start your own business, but then it isn't me actually in that position taking all the risk and dealing with all the bureaucracy that will inevitably result.

However, it is difficult to get away from that sense of frustration that most of what people are paying for your work ends up in someone else's pocket.

So, I know it isn't helpful, but I can't really make up my mind on what is the best course of action for you either. I have to admit I'm a lazy person, and I don't like making tough decisions, so I tend to end up doing whatever is the least effort or the most obvious path. When given a choice between making a big change and continuing to do the same thing, I tend to err on the side of the latter, just because it is easiest... but these are certainly not good reasons for you to do the same.

Posted by John at 2007/11/14 09:45:12.

Thanks Bryan and thanks to you too, John.

I think I will postpone it until I finish my studies (as a landscape architect). Which doesn't prevent me from studying the question and investigating the market.

Posted by Sheri at 2007/11/15 11:32:50.

Our take on your French saying is "nothing ventured, nothing gained.

One other way you could increase potential earnings is to offer the large number of English people now living in France, lessons in French.

And if you want the best of both worlds, you could always register a different name for your own clients.

Posted by Mad Mumsie at 2007/11/16 09:14:25.

Ah yes, MM! But the English people you are referring to live mostly in South Western France (le Sud-Ouest, as we call it) or by the French Riviera. A bit far from Lyon.

Register a different name, you say? Guess where I would have to register ?! .......... The Chamber of Commerce ! My very employer! (Though a different service). Tricky.

Posted by Sheri at 2007/11/16 09:28:37.

Do it. It's a very liberating experience to be 'freelance'.

Posted by tom at 2007/12/22 19:49:07.

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