How to Design Courses for Training Institutions to Make Money

Many training institutions encounter similar issues during their operations:

• Student recruitment activities are lively, but few students actually stay;

• There seem to be plenty of courses, but the structure is loose, and students lose interest over time;

• Teachers work very hard, yet the overall profitability of the institution remains low;

• There’s interest in launching new courses, but the fear that no one will pay for them leads to inaction.

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These phenomena are actually very common in the industry. The simplest way to address these issues is to establish an excellent curriculum system. This system should include courses at different levels to meet the demands of parents with varying needs.

A mature training institution should not simply "throw together a few courses." Instead, it should have a hierarchical and logical structure. Courses should be interconnected and mutually supportive, like a "well-knit net":

• Introductory courses are responsible for attracting students;

• Core courses build reputation and generate the main revenue;

• High-profit courses help boost the institution’s earnings;

• Seed courses serve as experimental grounds for the institution’s future development.

Next, we will start with these four types of courses and combine them with the daily operations of training institutions to enhance their profitability.

Introductory Courses

The First Step to Attract Parents and Students Introductory courses are the "door openers" for the institution. They are short in duration, low in cost, and yield immediate results. Many parents bring their children to try them out with questions like, "Is this teacher any good?" or "Will my child enjoy learning here?"

For example, a parent signed up for a 99-yuan math trial class. After two sessions, the child came home and said, "This teacher is more fun than the one at my previous tutoring center!" The parent immediately asked, "Can we continue with this teacher next semester?"

This is the value of introductory courses—they give parents the courage to "give it a try" and gradually build trust.

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Examples of such courses include: "7-Day Writing Camp" or "30-Day Mental Math Breakthrough Class."

When designing these courses, three points should be emphasized:

1.Increase foot traffic to the institution. Some schools offer trial classes and prepare small gifts. Children are happy to come, and parents feel the school is thoughtful, making them willing to share their contact information.

2.Boost single-transaction spending. By adding "after-class tutoring + materials" to the trial class, the price can be raised from 99 yuan to 199 yuan. Parents will still find it worthwhile, avoiding the issue of "students coming but the school not making money."

3.Encourage repeat purchases. If introductory courses are designed as a series, parents often say, "My child is already familiar with the teacher, let’s sign up for another session." This turns students from "one-time customers" into potential candidates for core courses.

Core Courses:

The True Foundation of the Institution Core courses are the lifeline of the institution. They are typically in high demand, have a stable reputation, and attract a large number of students. These courses often account for 30-40% or even more than half of the institution’s revenue.

Such courses are not afraid of comparisons. Even if parents mention that other schools offer similar math courses, we can confidently tell them that our courses are more effective.

We can regularly update teaching materials, gather feedback from parents, and maintain teaching quality. When core courses consistently deliver results, parents will naturally say, "My child is learning steadily here; switching to another place might not be better." This makes it easier to retain students.

High-Profit Courses

Tips to Boost Revenue High-profit courses are usually derived from core courses. When teachers identify common challenges among students, they can open small classes to address these needs without additional recruitment efforts.

For example, in our school, children were quick at memorizing vocabulary but struggled with spoken English. So, the teacher suggested opening a "Spoken English Breakthrough Class," and over a dozen parents signed up immediately.

In daily operations, we keenly capture the needs of students and parents and quickly organize small classes. These needs often arise from casual conversations with parents.

Seed Courses

The Experimental Ground for the Future Seed courses are where the institution explores new directions. They may not bring immediate profits but lay the foundation for future growth. Last year, our school experimented with an "AI-Assisted Writing Course." Initially, enrollment was low, and we were worried no one would be interested. However, some parents found it novel and signed up. Later, we realized the potential of this course and decided to expand it this year. Thus, when the market changes, you won’t be caught off guard but can seize opportunities proactively.

When parents see this, they will say, "This school always has something new, and my child finds learning here fun."

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When designing courses for training institutions, we cannot focus solely on immediate enrollment numbers.

• Introductory courses help attract students;

• Core courses keep them engaged;

• High-profit courses ensure the institution doesn’t work in vain;

• Seed courses keep the institution ahead in the future.

Many principals initially believe that "student recruitment is the most important." However, they eventually realize that without a well-structured curriculum system, even if many students are recruited, retaining them is impossible. We hope this article provides some inspiration, helping your school stand firm and thrive in a highly competitive environment.