Agility Classes

[ptarmigan1]

Some of you may know that on a tuesday evening, i hold agility classes on a field that my house back on to. I have been holding this class for 6 months, and have been asked to do demo's at tack shop open days, equestrian centre open days and local fairs. I only teach one class which i haved been teaching from the day i started, they were all compleate beginners, therfore they all progressed together. I do not charge for my sessions, i only ask for £1 per dog, and this goes to the owner of the field. I also ask for £5 per month of everyone, but all this goes into new agility equipment. It seems as the word has got around, and i have now been asked many times to hold a more experinaced class, and have had emails from dog ownerds wishing to attend my sessions who are not at all local. This means holding a couple more classes, and having just a fun class were i can let other use the equipment to practice. Should i be charging to make a profit as this will now take up a huge amount of my time? Should i stick with my one group and just let others use the equipment, and have a few agility shows in the summer? I'm currently in the middle of making a website for my agility club, but i doubt, i dont want to dive in at the deep end and then be stuck, and let people down.

I think i'm capable in terms of being knowlodgeable about the sport, as i have attened agiligty classes with my 3 dogs for 3 years and also helped out at everynight at classes last summer. I also have a HUGE book on the sport with over 100 problems and solutions.

What would you do?
Am i ready?

Thankyou very much if you got to the bottom of this =]

[fimacg]

sounds like you are already doing a good job, but you should look into insurance in case one of the dogs gets injured, into a fight with one of the other or should a handler get hurt falling over etc, if you don't have the proper cover in place in case someone decided to sue you...

[duckles]

You sound very talented and well done on doing so well. From recollection you are still at school??? Why don't you leave things as they are at the moment, but have extra classes at easter and in the summer. Why not charge for them, this will mean you you will have to give a proper class etc. But you might like and want to continue it as a source of income.
Of course as Fimag says - insurance is essentail. It there are more places to train you might like to look into it to further your own development.
If expanding your enterprise is causing a lot of stress- leave it for a while, this is your hobby.

Well done - while you have a natural talent \I am sure there is a lot of hard work soon.

[rebanna]

You have to get insurance a.s.a.p as you are charging people even if it's a small amount also most insurance will ask or formal qualiaction, and you will have to keep your aounts and declare it to the tax man so keep your resetes for the equipment you buy. Sorry to put a damper on it if you need any help with the insurance pm me as it's kind of what i do for a living.

[ptarmigan1]

Thanks guys..Yes, i'm still at school, in my lasy year, but alrwady done GCSE's and i'm looking into the insurance at the min, and i havw cancelled class for tomorrow and will only teach when i'm coverd...thanks for your help! much appreciated! x