What will I be doing?

Computers are everywhere: businesses, homes, schools, government. The computer revolution has grown so fast that many people are not up to speed on the technology and are afraid of computers because they don't understand them. If you do, maybe you can start a home-based computer instruction business.

Computer instructors teach users how to get the most from their computer. They don't have to be experts or programmers, but teachers. They need to know more about computers than their students and be able to transfer that knowledge.

What will I need to start?

The main requirement for starting your computer instruction business isn't a computer—you can rent classrooms with computers already in them. The primary ingredient is knowledge. You must understand how computers (hardware) and programs (software) work together to accomplish specific tasks. To gain this knowledge, read, practice, take a class, read some more and practice some more.

For example, as many people were intimidated by the introduction of the Windows 95 operating system, one enterprising man set up a two-hour class that helped people become comfortable with it. He learned enough to teach the class by reading computer magazines, buying some books and videos on the subject and spending some hours at the computer learning about the system. He then offered his class to businesses, through colleges, at high school computer labs and any other place that used computers. He charged $20 a student and typically trained at least 10 students a day.

Who will my customers be?

Your customers for computer instruction will be both individuals and companies. You will earn more by instructing large groups, because even though the per-student fee is smaller, the total income per hour is greater with groups. Computer instructors typically design classes around popular programs or applications, then produce a flier to promote the classes. These fliers are then given to businesses and individuals. Every few weeks, the fliers are revised with new class dates. Most important, make sure your students are on your mailing list to receive information on advanced classes.