Digital Inspiration Hub - Business Plan

Executive Summary

The name of our business is Digital Inspiration Training Hub; we would be a registered and
accredited IT training center that would be located in Lagos Island/Ikeja in Lagos. We are well
equipped to train people that want to acquire computer or IT related skills.

Digital Inspiration Training Hub will offer computer cum IT trainings such as computer
programming, computer software training, web & mobile app development training, social media
management training, digital marketing training, graphics and media training, computer systems
and database training, Local area network (LAN) management training, CCTV surveillance
Systems training, Analog & IP Intercom training, and vocational trainings.

We are set to service a wide range of clientele residing in any part of the whole of Lagos and
other parts of the country. We would ensure that we update our teaching approach to meet up
the trend in the industry.

At Digital Inspiration Training Hub we are passionate in the pursuit of excellence with
uncompromising services and integrity which is why we have decided to start our own digitally
inspired training center in Lagos; we are in the industry to make a positive mark.

We are quite optimistic that our values and quality of service offering will help us drive our
training center to enviable heights and also help us attract the number of students that will make
the business highly profitable. Our company will be dedicated to establishing good business
relationship with our students giving them value for their money and reasons why they should
continue to recommend their family members and friends to us.

We are in the IT/Digital communication training Industry to favorably compete with other new
and leading brands in the country. Our corporate business goal is to be among the top 5
IT/Digital communications training centers in Nigeria.

As a company, we are willing to go the extra mile to invest in some of the finest professionals
(computer cum ICT trainers / instructors) we can find and also, we have put processes and
structures in place that will ensure that we are always at the top of our game when it comes to
impacting knowledge as it relates to our computer training services.

We are quite aware that in order to become the number one choice in our city, we must continue
to deliver quality and practical IT training and that is exactly what we will do. We are open to the
use of latest technology in our line of business.
Digital Inspiration Training Hub would be owned and powered by Edgepoint Travels &
Comcity Technologies Limited.

Principal Investors
Edgepoint Travels & Investment - 50% shareholding (Startup Assets, Staff, & Ongoing
Branding/ Marketing Promotion)
Comcity Technologies - 50% shareholding (Service Design, Human Resource management,
Ongoing Business Strategy & IT Support)

Service operations would be managed by Seun Aremu and Kunle Joseph.  Seun Aremu holds an
Msc & Bsc in Computer science from the university of Ilorin and Kunle Joseph holds a Bsc
Information Technology (First Class Hons) from the University of Education, Winneba. Ghana

 Our Service Offering

Digital Inspiration Training Hub is an accredited computer training center that offers a wide
range of training services that revolves around the IT and digital communications training
industry. We will be dedicated to establishing good business relationship with our students by
giving them value for their money and reasons for why they should continue to recommend their
family members and friends to us.

We are in the IT/Digital communications training industry to make profits and we will ensure
that we do all that is permitted by the law to achieve our business aim and objectives. These are
the services we will offer as a computer training center;

 Provision of programming training

 Provision of software package training
 Provision of digital marketing training
 Provision of inbound marketing and sales training
 Provision of social media management training
 Provision of web & mobile app development training
 Provision of graphics design training
 Provision of motion graphics training
 Provision of computer systems and database training
 Provision of vocational training
 Provision of Local area network (LAN) management training
 Provision of CCTV surveillance Systems training
 Provision of Analog & IP Intercom training
  Our Vision Statement

Our Vision is to become the number one approved IT/digital communication training center in
the whole of Nigeria

 Our Mission Statement

Our mission as a training center is to develop a highly successful, and profitable IT/digital
communication training center which provides quality training in our chosen communities and to
become a standard for computer training centers in Lagos where we intend attracting students.

 Our Business Structure

Digital Inspiration Training Hub is aware that the success of any business lies in the foundation
on which the business is built on, which is why we have decided to build our IT/digital
communication training center on the right business foundation.

As a matter of fact, we will build an IT/digital communication training center that will be a
standard for the computer training center line of business in Nigeria.

We want to build a dedicated workforce that will go all the way to ensure that our students are
satisfied and they get value for their money when they enroll in our c IT/digital communication
training center. We aware that it takes a business with the right employees and structure to
achieve all what we have set to achieve, which is why we will be putting structures and standard
operating processes in place that will help us deliver excellent training to our students.

Digital Inspiration Training Hub will employ professionals and skilled people to occupy the
following position;

 Head of The Center / Center Coordinator

 Center Administrator
 ICT Instructors
 Accountant
 Marketing and Sales Executive
 Client Service Executive

Roles and Responsibilities

Head of the Center / Center Coordinator:

 Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training,

coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and
objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results;
developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions.
 Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and
overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall
organization’s strategy.
 Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
 Responsible for providing direction for the business
 Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and
overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall
organization’s strategy.
 Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
 Evaluates the success of the organization

Center Administrator

 Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the
computer training center
 Design job descriptions with KPI to drive performance management for tutors (ICT
instructors)
 Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of the centers’
Policies, Procedures and Processes
 Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating
new products.
 Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements;
calling for repairs.
 Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
 Oversees the smooth running of the daily activities of the center.

ICT Instructors

 Responsible for handling computer cum IT trainings such as computer programming

training, computer software package training, computer systems and database training,

computer electronics technology training, Local area network (LAN) management

training and vocational training et al
  Accesses the progress of students under their care
 Receives complaints from students and channel it to the appropriate quarters
 Handles any other duty as assigned by the center coordinator.

Marketing and Sales Executive

 Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new students, and business opportunities et al
 Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts;
participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of
development projects.
 Writes winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’
policy
 Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for
clients
 Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the student’s needs, and
communicate with clients
 Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding sales
 Helps to increase sales and growth for the center.

Accountant

 Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the
organization
 Provides managements with financial analysis, development budgets, and accounting
reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts
market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
 Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
 Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or
more properties.
 Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
 Responsible for administering payrolls
 Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
 Handles all financial transactions for the organization
 Serves as internal auditor for the organization.

Client Service Executive/Receptionist

 Welcomes students and visitors by greeting them in person or on the telephone;

answering or directing inquiries.

 Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the
client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
  Through interaction with students on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s
interest in the company’s products and services
 Manages administrative duties assigned by the center coordinator in an effective and
timely manner
 Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the centers’ products, promotional
campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to students when
they make enquiries
 Distributes mails in the organization

DIH Training Center Business Plan – SWOT Analysis

IT/digital communication training center is one of the many businesses that can easily generate
business deals with little stress as long as they are well positioned and equipped to carry out their
trainings. We are building a standard IT/digital communication training center which is why we
have decided to subject our business idea to SWOT Analysis.

Ordinarily we can successfully run a normal computer training center without the stress of going
through the required protocol of setting up a new business including writing a detailed business
plan, but because of the nature of the kind of IT/digital communication training center we want
to establish, we don’t have any option other than to follow due process.

We hired the services of a Business consultant with intrests in startups to help us conduct SWOT
analysis for our company and she did a pretty job for us. Here is a preview of the result we got
from the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Digital Inspiration Training Hub;

 Strength:

Digital Inspiration Training Hub would be located in a densely populated parts of Lagos known
for a high percentage of young hustlers; our location is in fact one of our major strengths because
we are in a location with the right demography for the kind of business we run.

Another strength that counts for us is the power of our team. We have a team that are considered
experts in the IT/digital communication training center line of business, a team of hardworking
and dedicated individuals.

 Weakness:

Digital Inspiration Training Hub is a new business which is owned by only 2 primary investors
and we may not have the financial muscle to sustain the kind of publicity we want to give our
business.

 Opportunities:
We would be located in some of the busiest areas in Lagos – and we are open to all the available
opportunities that the city has to offer. Our business concept and staff strength will position us to
accommodate over 150 students per time from our different centers.

The truth is that there are no standard IT/digital communication training centers within the area
where ours is going to be located; the closest one to our proposed location would be miles away.
In a nutshell, we do not have any direct competition within our target market area.

 Threat:

Some of the threats that are likely going to confront Digital Inspiration Training Hub are
unfavorable government policies, seasonal fluctuations, demographic / social factors, downturn
in the economy which is likely going to affect consumers spending and of course emergence of
new competitors within the same location where our computer training centers are located.

– MARKET ANALYSIS

 Industry Overview

The IT/digital communications training services industry is made up of centers that offer
vocational and technical courses. They also provide courses in computer programming, which
include curriculums for software packages, computerized business systems, computer electronics
technology and local area network management. It is important to state that IT/digital
communications training centers may also train their students via online platforms.

The IT/digital communications training services industry provides vocational and certification
training in a range of IT-related skills. The industry provides training in computer programming,
software development, computer electronics technology and network administration.

Players in this industry range from small private companies providing certified training in
specific IT areas, to larger software companies providing training and certifications in their
proprietary software such as SAP, Oracle and IBM. Going forward, the IT/digital
communications training services industry is expected to continue declining as competition from
other forms of higher education and online learning platforms continue to reduce enrollment in
computer training centers.

The IT/digital communications Training Services Industry is indeed a large industry and pretty
much active in all the countries of the world. Statistics have it that in Nigeria alone, there are
about 5,195 registered and licensed computer training centers scattered all across the country and
responsible for directly employing about 20,329 people and the industry rakes in over N100
billion naira annually.

The industry is projected to grow at 4 percent annual growth within 2019 and 2024. It is
important to state that Aptech & NIIT have a largest chunk of the available market in the
industry.

Please note that the IT/digital communications training industry has low barriers to entry. The
majority of the businesses in this industry are owner operated, and there are few major players
that control significant portions of the industry’s total market. In addition, classroom facilities
and equipment can be rented on an as-needed basis, resulting in relatively low initial
infrastructure costs.

The main factors that may prevent new players from joining the industry include course
development and accreditation costs, as well as a moderate level of regulation. Among IT/digital
communications training centers, rapidly changing technology can be costly. Operators must
balance the benefit of offering up-to-date courses with the cost of producing such coursework.

The tough part as it relates to start-up costs most likely is the need to secure a standard and well
– positioned facility. Regardless of moderate barriers to entry, the competitive nature of the
industry makes it very difficult for new operators to break even within a short period of time in
the industry.

Lastly, the IT/digital communications training center services industry is pretty much open for
aspiring entrepreneurs to launch their business in the industry. One good thing about computer
training center business is that the business can be opened in any part of the country and if proper
market survey and feasibility studies are conducted, then you can be rest assured of profitability
of the business.

 Market Trends

The key to attracting students is the ease at which students learn different IT/digital
communications skill sets in a training center. Any The IT/digital communications training
center that has good records and loads of positive testimonials from students who have passed
through the center will always thrive.

Another common trend in the computer training industry is that in the bid to survive recesssion
and to ensure steady flow of income to effectively run the business, most players in the industry
engage in other related services. Some of them even go as far as establishing agency services to

provide certified ICT professionals for clients and some also offer specialized home training for
executive students et al.
  Our Target Market

Before choosing a location for our computer training center, we will conduct thorough feasibility
studies and market survey and to identify those who will benefit greatly from our service
offerings. Basically, those who will benefit from our service offering are students and workers,
people who want to get IT/digital communication skills and certifications.

 Our Competitive Advantage

Despite the fact that the IT/digital communications training center business has stiff huddles to
scale through does not mean that there are no real competitions in the industry. The truth is that
no matter the line of business that you are involved in, as long as it is called business, you will
definitely face one form of competition or the other and no training center is an exemption.

Our competitive edge is that we are a government approved through NCS (Nigerian computer
society) and CPN with our training center that is centrally located in a densely populated
residential area in Lagos; our location is in fact one of our major strengths because we are in a
location with the right demography for the kind of business we run. Another strength that counts
for us is the power of our team.

Lastly, we have the ability to develop courses for new technology, we have a good reputation
and the ability to alter services in favor of market conditions. Plus, all our employees will be well
taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the
industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help
deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

– SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

 Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

The marketing strategy for Digital Inspiration Training Hub is going to be driven by excellent
customer service and quality training delivery. We want to drive sales via the output of our jobs
and via referral from our satisfied students. We are quite aware of how satisfied students drive
business growth especially businesses like computer training centers.

Digital Inspiration Training Hub is strategically located and we are going to maximize the
opportunities that are available to us, which is why we spent more to locate the business where it
will be visible and accessible to our target market.
Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and
they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be equipped to meet the overall goal of Digital
Inspiration Training Hub.

Our goal is to grow Digital Inspiration Training Hub to become the leading IT/digital
communications training center in Lagos Island/Ikeja which is why we have mapped out
strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major
force to reckon with in our line of business.

Digital Inspiration Training Hub is set to make use of the following marketing and sales
strategies to attract clients;

 Introduce our IT/digital communications training center by sending introductory letters

alongside our brochure to centers, corporate organizations and other key stake holders in
and around Lagos Island/Ikeja
 Print out fliers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, eateries, and
public facilities et al.
 Use friends and family to spread word about our IT/digital communications training
center
 Place a small or classified advertisements in the newspaper, or local publication about our
IT/digital communications training center and the services we offer
 Leverage on referral networks such as agencies that will attract students who would need
our services.
 Advertise our IT/digital communications training center in relevant entertainment
magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations.
 Attend relevant expos, seminars, conferences and business fairs et al to market our
services
 Engage in direct marketing approach.
 Encourage the use of word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied students.
 Use digital and inbound marketing to attract, convert and close qualified prospects to
customers

Sources of Income

Digital Inspiration Training Hub is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the
computer training center services industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we
do all it takes to attract clients on a regular basis.

Digital Inspiration Training Hub will generate income by offering the following services;

 Provision of programming training

 Provision of software package training
 Provision of digital marketing training
  Provision of inbound marketing and sales training
 Provision of social media management training
 Provision of web & mobile app development training
 Provision of graphics design training
 Provision of motion graphics training
 Provision of computer systems and database training
 Provision of vocational training
 Provision of Local area network (LAN) management training
 Provision of CCTV surveillance Systems training
 Provision of Analog & IP Intercom training

Sales Forecast

The fact that the ICT industry is gaining prominence in various aspects of our daily business,
means that the services of computer training centers will always be needed.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in Lagos Island/Ikeja and we are quite
optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough profits from our first six months
of operation and grow our IT/digital communications training center and our student base.

We have been able to critically examine the computer training center line of business, we have
analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales
forecast.

 First Fiscal Year: N42,000,000

 Second Fiscal Year: N80,000,000
 Third Fiscal Year: N124,000,000

SN.B: This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the
assumption that there won’t be any major economic recession or any major competitor offering
the same services as we do within the same location. Please note that the above projection might
be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

 Our Pricing Strategy

Digital Inspiration Training Hub will charge our students flat fees except for few occasions
where there will be need for us to charge special students on monthly basis.

At Digital Inspiration Training Hub we will keep our fees below the average market rate for all
of our students by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance. In addition,
we will also offer special discounted rates to all our students at regular intervals.
We are aware that there are some students that would need special assistance, we will offer flat
rate for services that will be tailored to take care of such students’ needs. The prices of our
services will be same as what is obtainable in the open market.

 Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Digital Inspiration Training Hub is all inclusive because we are
quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the
same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation in Nigeria

Here are the payment options that Digital Inspiration Training Hub will make available to her
clients;

 Payment via bank transfer

 Payment with cash
 Payment via online bank transfer
 Payment via Point of Sale Machines (POS Machine)
 Payment via cheque

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our clients make
payments for our services. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and
promotional materials.

– Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Digital Inspiration Training Hub is set to create a standard for the IT/digital communications
training center line of business not only in Lagos, but throughout Nigeria which is why we will
go all the way to adopt and apply best practices to promote our business.

Good enough there is no hard and fast rule on how to advertise or promote a business like a
IT/digital communications training center. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to
promote and advertise Digital Inspiration Training Hub;

 Encourage our loyal students to help us use Word of Mouth mode of advertisement
(referrals)
 Advertise our business in relevant education cum ICT magazines, local newspaper, local
TV and radio stations
 Promote our business online via our official website
 List our business in local directories
 Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, twitter, et
al to promote our brand
  Install our banners in strategic locations all around Lagos Island/Ikeja
 Distribute our flyers and handbills in target areas
 Ensure that all our staff members wear our customized clothes; all our official cars are
customized and well branded.

Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale we want to
undertake. If we intend to go big by renting a place, then we would need a good amount of
capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your
facility is conducive enough for your workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on our vision and aspirations for
the business.

The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any
difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked.

We have to be able to pull cash that will be enough for us to successfully launch a government
approved computer training center in Lagos. These are the key areas where we will spend our
startup capital on;

Year 1 Costs for Edgepoint Travels & Investment

 The total fee for registering the business as a limited liability company in - N100,000
 IT Training Center Operation License - N370,000 (N100,000) for subsequent years
 The total cost for renting 3 bedroom facility (1 year) for the business - N1,500,000.
 Office painting/furnishing/Chairs/printers/copier etc - N1,500,000.
 Workers’ compensation, tax, and pension contribution (3months) - N750,000
 Branding & Marketing promotion expenses (3 months) total amount of - N1,000,000.
 The total cost for the purchase of 10 computers/laptops, & 2 Projectors - N1,200,000
 Phone and utility, other start-up expenses including stationery - N100,000

TOTAL N6,420,000

Minimum Total funds needed to start - N5,450,000

Year 1 Costs for Comcity Technologies Limited

 Business consultancy - Market research & Service design, and business plans - N350,000
 Training Programs Courseware Development (1 year) - N1,700,000
 Internet Access (1 year) - N480,000
  Website Development - N150,000
 Media Web Hosting (1 year) - N100,000
 The total cost for the purchasing software (Network management, accounting, and CRM
software - N350,000
 Human resource management – Facilitator evaluation, assessments and Quality assurance
- N600,000

TOTAL: N3,730,000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need
about 10 million naira (N10,000,000) to successfully set up a standard IT/digital
communications training center business in Nigeria.

Generating Startup funds for Digital Inspiration Training Hub

Digital Inspiration Training Hub is a business that will be owned and managed by Edgepoint
Travels & Investment and Comcity Technologies limited. They are the sole financiers of the
business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business
to just two major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our startup capital;

 Generate part of the startup capital from company savings and investments
 Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and
competence of their employees, their investment strategy and business structure. If all of these
factors are missing from a business, then it won’t be too long before the business closes shop.

One of our major goals of starting Digital Inspiration Training Hub is to build a business that
will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources
once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our
ICT training services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well
prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.
Digital Inspiration Training Hub will make sure that the right foundation, structures and
processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s
corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining
of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management
staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. We know that
if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in
the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

 Business Name Availability Check: Uncompleted

 Business Incorporation: Uncompleted
 Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Uncompleted
 Opening Online Payment Platforms: Uncompleted
 Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: Uncompleted
 Securing a standard facility and reconstructing the facility: Uncompleted
 Purchase of reliable computers, laptops, hardware and software: Uncompleted
 Application for business license and permit: Uncompleted
 Conducting Feasibility Studies: Uncompleted
 Generating part of the startup capital from the founders: Uncompleted
 Writing of Business Plan: Completed
 Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Uncompleted
 Drafting of Contract Documents: Uncompleted
 Design of Logo for the business: Completed
 Printing of Promotional Materials: Uncompleted
 Recruitment of employees: In Progress
 Purchase of the needed furniture, office equipment, software applications, electronic
appliances and facility facelift: In progress
 Creating official website for the business: In Progress
 Creating Awareness for the business: In Progress
 Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
 Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in various industries: In
Progress