We didn’t spend a lot when we are setting up our learning centre. The office furniture was bought from Makro and we assembled them ourselves. We bought the franchise with lots of money, so we wanted to save up on the setting up cost.

If possible, try looking for 2nd handed tables and chairs for the classrooms. You will definitely save up a lot from there, and it is not necessary to have well furnish tables for the students. They will mess up the tables anyway! And if you pay a fortune on them, you will be very disheartened later.

I would suggest getting great air-conditioners because they have to be turned on for long hours. If they are not funstioning well, your classes will be badly affected. At the same time, negotiate with your landlord to see if he can pay up for 3-phrase electrical supply. It’s quite costly, and if you pay for it by yourself, you will only increase the value of the property for your landlord as you can’t remove it, and he can charge higher rental to the next tenant because lots of business tenant wants 3 phrase supply.

BTW, if you talk to your landlord, request for tiles flooring. But don’t pay for it if he refuses to come out with the cost. Then you have no choice but to go for carpet, which needs more cleaning up and vacuuming.