If you’re someone who’s passionate about teaching etiquette to children, you’ve likely considered doing it professionally. Starting an etiquette business of your own is the perfect solution! “Can I start a business teaching manners to children while I am still working at my job?” is a commonly asked question for new etiquette professionals.
This is exactly how I got started. I was still in a corporate job while developing Manners To Go. And you can do the same! In fact, many licensed etiquette professionals start this way. It happens more often than you’d think.
When you teach manners, life skills, and etiquette to children, you add tremendous value to the world around you.
5 Steps for Starting An Etiquette Business
Starting an etiquette business isn’t for the faint of heart. But it’s also not as difficult as you may think. By following these five tips to kick off your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll soon find yourself the proud owner of a successful business.
1. Consider Taking Baby Steps and Starting An Etiquette Business On A Small Scale First
When I started my own etiquette business, I started planning and teaching manners to children on the weekends while still working my corporate job. Accepting business opportunities on the weekends or evenings makes the leap into business ownership a bit softer.
Of course, committing to your full-time work and starting an etiquette business makes life extremely full for a while. It helps to think of your etiquette brand as a creative outlet so you don’t become completely overwhelmed by “work.” After all, your role as an etiquette teacher should be fun and rewarding right from the start!
As a business owner, you get to take charge of your time. If a particular weekend or afternoon works for you, schedule a class! You can build gradually—at your pace. And you may be pleasantly surprised by how many parents want private instruction on the weekends or in the evenings.
2. Make A Plan and Get Certified Before Starting An Etiquette Business
You need some sort of a plan before you start your own business. Open up your laptop, whip out the “notes” app on your phone, or grab a pen and paper to jot down all the things you need to accomplish before starting an etiquette business.
Acquiring your certification is the natural first step to becoming a manners professional!
Luckily, most of the subsequent steps for starting an etiquette business are already done for you when you actually get your etiquette certification. It’s as if you’re handed a “manners and etiquette business in a box!” Our professional etiquette certification is that comprehensive.
In fact, many etiquette certificate graduates say the entire process of starting an etiquette business was far easier than they expected. We give you all the proposal templates, scripted dialogue, training, and curriculum (for all grade levels) that you need! That way, you can start working right away.
3. Set A Date and Take Action
It’s important to realize that your intentions, passions, or desires aren’t enough to make your dreams come true. If you’re serious about starting an etiquette business, you need to get moving.
You can map out your movements in three simple steps:
Set a date. Your calendar is a powerful motivation tool if you choose to use it!
Have a plan. Know the exact steps you need to take—have them recorded somewhere.
Take action! Follow your plan. Odds are once you start, a snowball effect will kick in—more and more will get done.
Your first move should be to set up a discovery call with us at Manners To Go. I can share my experiences to help you along. Plus, you can hear about many of our licensees who have already gotten started on their journeys in teaching manners to children.
4. Recognize The Value Of Your Time When You’re Starting An Etiquette Business
Remember, you won’t be in the beginning phase of your business forever. It can be a shock transitioning from a full-scale team at a corporate job to becoming an all-in-one marketer, manager, educator, etc.
When starting an etiquette business, it’s important to take time to consider which jobs you can handle and which you should outsource. Take the time to figure out your budget and search for helpers that can take the heavy tasks off of your plate.
For example, you might consider hiring a social media manager! Have someone post about your business on social media a few times a week so you can focus on other things. Hiring a team might not be in the cards for you right away, but it should always be in the front of your mind as your business develops.
The whole purpose of hiring team members is to make more money in the long run. Only hire when someone can add true value to your business.
5. Remember: Resilience Is Key
Embrace the ups and downs! Keep searching for educational opportunities, and as you gain more experience, word of your expertise and helpfulness will spread. Before long, you’ll have a steady list of clients to pull from year after year.
There is always room to expand. Think of all the possibilities to grow your etiquette business:
Non-profit organizations
Schools
Daycare facilities
Sports programs
One-on-one coaching
Explore options in your own town, but also in neighboring communities. Starting an etiquette business takes time and patience. Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of success and failure—and don’t give up when the going gets tough.
Soon enough you’ll have a full-fledged business at your fingertips, ready for further development and care.
Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
Lisa Richey Interviews Owner of Charleston Shoe Company
Charleston Shoe Company – If you love shoes, then you will not want to miss this interview.
Neely Powell is an entrepreneurial force and such a success story.
Listen as she tells her journey of becoming an entrepreneur.
Neely tells us about how she got her start in college selling shoes at the High Point furniture market.
She now owns over 20 stores across the US!
I was in Charleston recently and while looking for comfortable shoes that were not sneakers, I stumbled upon her store on King Street.
Needless to say, the shopping experience was engaging and one of the best I have experienced lately.
Neely has a presence! And after a few minutes of conversation, I immediately knew she was the owner!
Watch the interview as she discusses how she got started, her master in shoe design and why she has her employees wear two different shoes!
Over the years of training women to start a business teaching manners to children, I have been asked about shoes. Questions such as, “what kind of shoes do you wear when you are teaching” or “how do your feet survive a four-hour class”.
Well, now I have a solution for you. You can wear these shoes for hours. They are comfortable and available in so many colors and heights.
I bought a navy pair to go with a long satin navy skirt that I absolutely love and wear when I travel.
Enjoy the interview. It is a long one so prepare a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy. I promise you will learn and be inspired by her story.
Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
As an etiquette expert, you will be asked a thousand times to give advice on thank you note writing.
Showing appreciation is an act of generosity and is always well-received.
It shows respect and in turn makes us feel good from the inside out.
Now, more than ever, it is time to get personal. Sending an email or a text to thank someone for a gift is not personal.
If you are doubting whether you should take the time to send a thank you note – don’t second guess your decision. Take out your cards and write one.
As an etiquette expert, you will be asked about writing thank you notes a thousand times. And today, I am going to give you the guidance you need to answer it.
Thank You Note Etiquette: When To Send Thank You Notes
While it’s always a good time to give thanks, sending a thank-you note (and never missing an important occasion to send one) will help our words stand out and show the utmost gratitude.
Here are some tips on when to send a thank-you note:
When You Receive A Gift
Every time you get a present, you should send a handwritten thank you note. No matter how small the present (or how many presents you receive), your gift-givers deserve notes of thanks for each one!
Think of all the time and consideration that goes into giving a present:
Thinking of the perfect gift
Purchasing (or making)
Wrapping
Delivering
If someone is tempted to hop on the computer, remind them that sending an email is not the same as writing a note in pen and ink. Even in the age of technology, emails feel less sincere and more aloof than physical notes.
Guide them to not take the easy way out! Thank you note etiquette for receiving a gift indicates we should take the extra steps and hand-write words of appreciation.
When Someone Does Something Special For You
Let’s say someone takes time out of their busy schedule to assist you with a project. Their gift of time and expertise deserves a note of thanks! For these occasions, an email or hand-written note is acceptable (especially if the favor was professional).
The note needs to mention how someone helped them! Specific details make a thank you note more sincere. Remember, time and attention are precious gifts, no matter who they come from!
After A Professional Meeting
Even a simple meeting is cause for thanks! After an event or a meeting, practice proper thank you note etiquette by expressing gratitude to the other people in attendance.
A thank-you message after a professional meeting goes a long way in making connections and building relationships. It demonstrates that you got something out of the meeting and are grateful for the knowledge you acquired.
It doesn’t matter if you are meeting with someone for the first time or the fiftieth! Thank you note etiquette can be used for all levels of working relationships. You may not have even come in contact with the person you are thanking (if the person was a speaker at your professional event). But if you appreciated their style and delivery or learned something new, they deserve thanks.
How To Practice Thank You Note Etiquette
Guide your students or clients to follow certain steps when writing thank you notes.
From thoughtful words to strategic timing, here are all the tips and tricks needed :
Send The Note Quickly
Timeliness registers as sincerity when it comes to thank you messages.
Consider the times you’ve been thanked. Messages that come through sooner are those that truly make you feel appreciated. Don’t miss your opportunity to thank others as soon as you can!
As an etiquette expert, you can tell them it is never too late to send a note. It is better to send a late note than not send one at all.
Start With A Greeting
It may be tempting to skip the greeting in a rush. However, a greeting (formal or informal) makes a thank-you note more meaningful.
Here are some examples:
Hi Madeline
Madeline
A more professional greeting is necessary for a job interviewer than for a long-time associate or friend.
Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
When you teach manners and etiquette to children, you can see them grow in confidence almost immediately. You have the tools they need to navigate uncomfortable situations, feel secure in conversations, and ultimately change the trajectory of their entire lives! Become a certified etiquette professional to start a career that is rewarding and truly so important.
As an experienced etiquette teacher, I have many success stories about children who went from shy and insecure to polite and confidentindividuals. When you become certified with Manners To Go, you will experience your own thrilling transformations with your students!
7 Ways An Etiquette Professional Can Help Change Lives
Etiquette professional give their students the keys to unlock the best versions of themselves! Here are seven ways (you might not have thought of) that teaching manners can completely change lives.
How You’ll Impact Parents As An Etiquette Professional
Your interactions are not only with children! When you are licensed and certified by Manners To Go, you will help parents teach manners to their kids. Many parents seek help to make their families as well-rounded and capable as possible. They are looking for experts like you!
Once parents realize that an etiquette professional is knowledgeable and can help their children, they are eager to get involved with the curriculum. Parents realize with certainty that good manners and strong social skills will take them farther in life.
Parents who leverage etiquette education use your language, borrow your games, and mimic your strategies to bring out the best in their children. In essence, your job makes their job (raising young humans) much easier and more relaxed in the long run. An etiquette professional is a gift to any family!
First Impressions and Communication Skills
Etiquette professionals foster better techniques to make a strong first impression and communicate more effectively overall.
Your education strategies rely heavily on parent participation for practice at home. Parents reiterate the importance of your communication lessons long after you leave!
By teaching children how to make a great impression and hold a positive conversation, you help them feel more confident in their everyday social lives.
Table Manners
Table manners are a highly requested topic for any etiquette professional.
During a private lesson on manners, you can work with the entire family to help with all the intricacies of dining. You may be surprised by how much parents love to learn new dining skills! Not only do polite meal times enhance their lives at home, but their lives at work, too!
How You’ll Impact Educators As An Etiquette Professional
Have you considered your value as an etiquette professional for teachers in school? Teachers have their hands full helping students meet academic expectations. They often need extra support instilling good manners and a positive culture in their classrooms.
That’s where you come in with a certification from Manners To Go! Teaching etiquette in the classroom differs a great deal from teaching private lessons at home. Not only do teachers and students benefit from your strategies, but they also get to practice with each other immediately!
Life Skills
Schools often need help and support teaching life skills to a variety of different learners. As an etiquette professional, you can step into classrooms or address multiple groups in an auditorium setting.
Classroom teachers enjoy learning from you just as much as their children do! They practice your etiquette tips, which positively impacts the lives of students throughout their careers.
After-school programs are a popular spot to teach manners and social skills.
After-school is also a less-structured environment than a daytime learning classroom. You can help those children (and teachers) become more confident in an open environment.
For example, I once got a wonderful update about one of my etiquette students! Her teacher called home to ask what was different about her. She wanted to know her parents had improved her eye contact in such a short amount of time.
You can imagine how thrilled I was—not to mention the girl’s mother! When you become certified with Manners To Go, you have the power to foster confidence in others. There is no greater reward than getting positive updates about your students.
How You’ll Impact Organizations and Nonprofits As An Etiquette Professional
Other places where children gather need you, too! Girl and Boy Scouts, sports teams, religious groups, and library associations (just to name a few) can each benefit from the expertise of an etiquette professional.
Such organizations often have meetings and seek outside speakers and consultants to help their groups! Similar to teaching in a school setting, children benefit from learning etiquette among their friends and classmates. Girl and Boy Scouts even award badges for exercising excellent social skills.
Children enrolled in specialized organizations or nonprofits are often united by common interests or a common goal. Focusing on the development of their goals helps unite them even more!
A single etiquette professional has the ability to change the lives of thousands of people! With proper motivation, instruction, and certification from Manners To Go, you can give the gift of confidence to groups who need it.
Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
Are you curious about how others get their start in entrepreneurship? How do you take the leap of faith of starting your own business teaching manners to children?
The thought of owning a business I admit was a bit scary.I had a corporate position with all the benefits imaginable.
There was a tugging.A desire to have something to call my own. Honestly, a creative outlet was a huge draw too.
My Personal Business Story
I am going to get personal and share with you what my business looked like when I first started, although the decisions I made to get where I am today and the most significant challenges along the way.
Most of you have asked and now I am sharing it with all of you.
This question is a valid one and I encourage you to ask business owners in different industries the same question.
After all, I lived down the street from a Barnes and Noble, and of course, there was the internet.Make no mistake on this one.This will delay your fast start.
Manners To Go™ is taught in public, private and charter schools around the world. The New York Times, Parents Magazine and Fox News have all featured Manners To Go and the many benefits of teaching social skills to children.
Whether you are an educator who wants to teach it in the classroom or someone who is looking to become trained and certified, we provide all the solutions.
My name is Lisa Richey, and I am the founder of Manners To Go™ . This brand has given me the honor of teaching manners to thousands of people around the world. The journey has taken me from Portland, Oregon to the Middle East. I believe that manners are not about judgment or rules. Manners are about self-interest. It really is about how using good manners makes you feel on the inside.
Testimonials for Manners To Go
Lisa is a great mentor and her Manners to Go program is truly turn key. She taught me everything that I needed to learn to ensure that I will be successful in my endeavor . The program has been very helpful every step of the way. I feel truly blessed that I am part of her team. ~ Rita Linda Dayrit Philippines Etiquette Consultant, 2018, Manners and Mindfulness
Lisa is a consummate professional and has been an invaluable resource to me as I begin my new business. Not only is she warm and welcoming in person, she is also an expert in her field who makes the subject matter relatable and accessible to her clients. Her training has provided me with a vast knowledge of etiquette and best practices for teaching it.
As an international business operator, I have been impressed with Lisa’s curiosity and questions, which enabled her to advise me and apply her product in a new region for a new audience. Her knowledge of marketing enabled me to hit the ground running and hold my first classes within weeks of becoming certified. Not only have I opened my own business but I have also gained a teammate who is committed to my success. ~ Jenni F., Macau, China
Lisa Richey’s Manners To Go certification program provides a highly efficient and effective training program for anyone considering starting a manners and etiquette business. I selected her program because of the virtual delivery method of training. The lesson plans and student handouts were easy to download and review before engaging in her one-on-one conference calls. During each call, Mrs. Richey was very focused in conveying her business strategies she has proven to be successful over the years. Mrs. Richey’s Manners To Go certification program is really a “best value” program considering her efficient use of the virtual delivery method of training, the quality of teaching materials provided and the effective, interactive business calls with her I found necessary to guide my steps to make the business of teaching manners successful. ~ Aleta Greenspan, Alabama
As a former teacher, I deliberated for months over which etiquette curriculum would best fit and equip me with quality materials, instruction and support to reenter the field of education. Manners To Go delivers! I regret not getting started sooner. The investment is modest for the quantity and caliber of materials you receive, not to mention the personal coaching from Lisa. The curriculum is age appropriately structured and organized in an easy to study format that positions you to execute your lesson confidently prepared. If you have a passion for equipping young people in etiquette, Manners To Go, is the way to go! ~ Alissa R. | Etiquette Consultant, 2016
I was looking for charm school type material for my after school program for girls, and came upon the Manners To Go website. It was like finding a treasure trove of “what-to-do(s)” and “how-to-do(s)” on manners for children. It was more that I could have imagined finding. It is, without a doubt, one of the best decisions I have ever made.
In receiving my MTG training, Lisa provided every tool and resource needed to become a successful MTG Consultant. What excited me the most is that the training includes access to her many years of experience as a successful businesswoman.
I recommend the MTG program to parents, grandparents, teachers, after school programs, or anyone who may be concerned about what our children need know about manners and etiquette. Lisa’s Manners To Go is a great product, and it is a joy working with her! ~ Lindafaye N. Etiquette Consultant, 2015
Lisa, I am so happy I found you. I’ve wanted to teach kids etiquette for years, but never had the time to research all the material and then figure out how to teach it. With your Manners To Go program, I now have the perfect program to start my business. You delivered exactly what you promised: excellent support and a turnkey system. Thank you for making it easy and fun! It was truly an honor to be trained by someone of your caliber and experience, who was willing to share “everything you know, do, and use” with me. I would highly recommend you to anyone wanting to teach children’s etiquette! ~ Sandra E. Etiquette Consultant 2014
Lisa went above and beyond what she promised to deliver. Her enthusiasm she shares for my business is very reassuring. I have found a life long mentor. ~ Michele W. Etiquette Consultant 2016
How do you teach a child the gift of having a conversation? Isn’t it special to have someone be fully present with you? To have a conversation with anyone, an adult or a child is something to behold these days…a conversation without distraction.
My most popular topic when teaching business etiquette in the workplace is The Art of the Human Connection. The art of having a conversation, is a lost “art”. We are so consumed with social media that often we are so buried in it we miss out on so many opportunities. Often, it is the first request I have from a human resource director to discuss the basic skills of conversation to their team.
Take the time to teach a children how to converse! Life is fuller when you have this social skill. You actually become interesting. A child learns so much about life when they hear adults conversing with others.
Eye contact: This is a social skill that is so very important. By making eye contact, it shows someone that you are interested. It sends a message that you are confident. Point this out to a child. Explain why this is important. Take the opportunity to talk about confidence and how it feels. Get on their level. Literally! Get down on your knees if necessary and make eye contact with them.
Teach them to listen to others: Another important social skill is to listen. Tell them it is alright for there to be silence when having a conversation. This is the time to practice sharing-sharing the space to tell ideas and experiences.
Ask questions: By asking questions, you show others that you are interested in their experiences. Ask a child questions. Explain to them that you are having a conversation.
Phone skills: The Wall Street Journal had an article about answering the phone. Remember when we were growing up and we took messages for our parents? With smart phones, this most likely is not happening. This was a great way to teach conversation skills. It is still important for children to know how to answer a phone and converse. Below you will find a link to the article.
Read a story. After reading a story, talk about it with the child. Did they like the story? What was their favorite part? Tell them what you liked or what you learned from reading the story.
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
Lisa Richey provides etiquette programs to businesses, schools, and individuals.
