Is this..

The busiest time of year? Ive only been qualified for 6 months but in the last couple of days my phone hasnt stopped ringing, some pupils that id thought had given up or gone elsewhere have come back for lessons, 3 recommendations, just wondering if this is normal for september?

Michelle

September and April have usually been the busiest time, our office phone has been ringing more than usual, plus we have had a fair amount of passing trade. Are you orking for yourself?

LA

If your phone is ringing then good luck to you. Having spoke to many local ADIs some of whom have been doing this for over 40 years. This is the quietest this has been in years! One I spoke to who'd been doing it for 16 years and asked me if I had spare pupils.

So, back to the OP, September to mid December can be busy, the Christmas knocks it back until say mid January. From then it stays stable until toward July, then the summer hols knock that back. So what's happening now is college (they get jealous of friends who've learned over the summer), leaving uni and getting a job (now needing to be mobile).

However I does depend on where you live and do your lessons, some areas don't see any dips at all whereas others see really bad ones.

Our advantage is that we have a shop/office in an excellent position. I've heard real mixed reaction about work loads, although I have to admit there's always the gloomy few.

How long have you been an ADI Stephen?

LA

I am on franchise, I have been for 6 months end of this month when the franchise runs out, im on a 2 month rolling contract after this, It has been good to get me going, even though im getting around 70% of my pupils myself now Im thinking to keep the franchise until next year its still early days yet for me.

Lily-Anne,
I've been an ADI for 5 years now, as soon as I qualified I left the franchise and went indie.

I was a bit worried 2 weeks ago as whether I'd be able to afford to pay for my lease car next month. I've always resisted doing a "deal" but I did one anyway, you can only hope for so long. It's not exactly a slash my rates deal, no 10 for 99. 6 hours for 75, but I've picked up 6 pupils this week. My horly rate is staying the same.

There was a time when you could set your watch by the up-turn in new business.

It would start at the end of March and build to a peek around mid May slowing into the summer holidays and another slight rise for the end of the summer break with the second peek being mid September. Then down to nil over Xmas.

All changed now though, I occasionally see traces of the old trends.

The Boss

I'm the quietest I've ever been as an ADI since 2004. Not sure what I'm doing wrong though, as I've got a decent first time pass rate.... trouble is they've all passed and I'm not getting any new pupils coming through. If things don't pick up soon I'm going to have to quit, which is sad, as I love the job, but have to put food on the table.

Hi Bern, that's quiet sad that the climate is pushing you to even consider quitting. Have you tried a scheme of recommend a friend with an incentive ?

Passes love to recomend but occasionally need a push.

The Boss

Yes, I've always done refer a friend.... and they have for the most part. Most of my wor comes via word of mouth, but they've all passed! Some of them seem like they just can't be bothered to mention it to mates no matter how much I encourage them.