Hiring trainers

[syncreo]

Hi,

If you have a business that does more than just offer doula services do you bring in other trainers to do workshops? Right now we mostly teach our workshops but there are a lot of other things I would like to offer and would like to bring in others with more expertise or interest in these areas to teach.

My challenges thus far are figuring out how to work payment and fees as well as the structure of the relationship. Right now we rent out space for a very reasonable cost to others who may want to use it and the workshops are done under their business. If they cannot afford the rental fee that we take a certain percentage of their profit .
I would love to hear how others do this or think they would do this if they had the opportunity.

Thanks!!!

[ctowndoula]

You probably need to look into hiring independent contractors and how that all works out with legality and taxes. I would imagine that it works the same no matter what the profession, so if you know contracters of any sort you can ask them. Construction, fitness/workout facitilties and Consultants are the few I can think of off the top of my head.
If your current arrangment isn't bringin in the instructors you want, you could try "briding" them to come there by offering to help with advertising and such. Then they would pay a renter's fee as usual.

[asafepassage]

Hello Shawna,

Hey...I have lots I could have shared with you on the weekend in regards to this topic if I had known (-:

Aside from workshops in my own community, I have moved to having contracts with sponsors who want to bring in the A SAFE PASSAGE training...not always but more frequently, I charge a flat rate and my costs need to be covered (flight, hotel etc...) and then organizations or individuals can charge what they would like and keep any profit they make over and above my costs. This has worked really well on my end as a facilitator and well for organizations wanting to do some fundraising. It can be too overwhelming for individual sponsors to do it this way so at times I have arranged for something different...like a minimum amount of participants, one spot free for the organizer and I cover costs. This has both advantages and disadvantages for sponsor and trainer.

I hope this helps a little,
Jodi