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<\/p>\nWith July 4th around the corner\u2014a notoriously busy and festive weekend\u2014you\u2019re already short-staffed. Suddenly, you’re juggling lessons, answering phones, cleaning the office, and handling vehicle upkeep, all while trying to stay afloat.<\/p>\n
Sound familiar? For many driving school owners, this is just another summer. But it doesn\u2019t have to be. By avoiding these 7 common mistakes, you can make your summer smoother, less stressful, and a lot more manageable.<\/p>\n
Benjamin Franklin said it best: \u201cIf you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Set aside time daily to prioritize tasks instead of just reacting. Spend 30 minutes each Friday to plan your week\u2014it reduces stress and sets you up for success.<\/p>\n
I use Trello to manage my to-do list and take 10 minutes each evening to adjust for the next day. If plans change, I simply reschedule. Staying organized keeps everything on track.<\/p>\n
Is your fleet on a maintenance plan\u2014or do you wait until something breaks?
\nProactive upkeep like oil changes and tire rotations keeps your vehicles safe, reduces downtime, and avoids costly surprises.<\/p>\n
Do you have a backup vehicle?
\nI recommend one backup for every 7\u20138 cars. Without one, unexpected repairs can force you to cancel lessons\u2014costing time, money, and customer trust.<\/p>\n
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Tip number three\u2026 Don\u2019t forget to order supplies and tune-up your computers!<\/p>\n
Running out of toilet paper, paper towels or hand sanitizer is not only embarrassing, but it is also a nuisance as sometimes these products can be difficult to find and replace quickly. To avoid getting caught without the essentials, create a standard operating procedure for ordering and maintaining proper inventory levels for all your supplies.<\/p>\n
Also, chances are your computers are running slow, which probably bothers your staff while reducing their productivity.<\/p>\n
I recommend having all your computers scheduled for a \u201ctune-up\u201d by a local IT professional to ensure everyone\u2019s devices run perfectly. Functioning equipment increases both employee morale as well as productivity! It\u2019s a win-win. If you\u2019re not on-site, this work can be scheduled remotely, and it should not cost more than $50-$75 per computer.<\/p>\n
Avoid the stress and damage of overselling lessons when your schedule is full.
\nIf you’re booked out 60\u201390+ days, stop selling until you catch up or hire more staff.<\/p>\n
Tempting as it is to keep accepting students, long wait times lead to frustration, bad reviews, and damaged trust.<\/p>\n
Word of mouth is your strongest marketing tool\u2014don\u2019t risk it by overpromising and underdelivering.<\/p>\n
How can you stop overselling?<\/p>\n
To avoid this, remove the function for students to purchase online via your website until you\u2019re caught up. Add a small blurb letting customers know you are sold out of your services and when to expect availability. Use this opportunity to capture new emails and inform your customers when spaces become available again!<\/p>\n
You can add a \u201cfor sales press 1\u201d option to your phone system and then pre-record a message letting customers know you\u2019re temporarily sold out to avoid paying the office staff to relay the same message.<\/p>\n
Parents will be so appreciative of this transparent and proactive approach. Ultimately, it will help your driving school stand out from the competition too!<\/p>\n
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If you’re fully booked, pause or reduce your marketing spend.
\nWhen classes are full and you’re not taking new students, turn off PPC ads and other paid marketing efforts.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, you\u2019re wasting money attracting leads you can\u2019t serve. Save your budget for when you actually have openings.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget to pay your estimated taxes and manage your cash wisely.
\nHave you made your quarterly tax payments? If not\u2014do it now.<\/p>\n
Summer cash flow can be tempting, but after covering taxes, set aside extra funds to prepare for the slower season ahead. Staying cash-ready helps you avoid stress later.<\/p>\n
Many driving school owners stop hiring in the summer, thinking they\u2019re fully staffed\u2014don\u2019t make that mistake.<\/p>\n
Always keep hiring to avoid being caught understaffed. If you end up with more instructors than needed, great\u2014you can boost marketing to fill their schedules or upgrade your team by replacing underperformers.<\/p>\n
Never settle. Keep building a stronger staff.<\/p>\n
Something you definitely shouldn\u2019t forget to do this summer is paying your estimated taxes and keeping cash available.<\/p>\n
Have you made your estimated payments for taxes yet? If not, stop reading and do that now.<\/p>\n