Would Your RTO Get A Deal On Shark Tank?

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know I spend a lot of time reading business books and watching shows about businesses to see what ideas I can incorporate into my own business and that of my coaching clients and members.

But also (and I think most importantly), I want to share how to NOT re-invent the wheel by learning from the mistakes of others.

One of my favourite quotes is from Benjamin Franklin who said:
They that won't be counselled cannot be helped.
No one is knowledgeable enough or have enough experience to think of everything at once, to see all possible meanings in a contract or commitment, or be aware of all the hazards, or see all sides of a subject.

I use this quote a lot – for myself, in presentations and with my clients – to remind us that the best gift we can give ourselves, our team and our students is the power and permission to ASK FOR HELP and that's it's OK to do so.

Because we can never (nor should we ever think we can) do everything, know everything or be good at everything.

 

It's a fallacy so let's stop wasting time and energy on something we'll never achieve.

 

So my blog this month shares the most common pitching mistakes and best pieces of business advice from the successful entrepreneurs on Australia's Shark Tank Entrepreneurs and the UK's Dragons' Den TV Shows.

If you want to check out the shows, Dragons' Den can be streamed on UKTV and whilst strolling through a second-hand bookshop, I found the book which is great - Dragons' Den: Success – from pitch to profit.

Here's the Australian Shark Tank links:   You Tube Channel and TenPlay videos

I've watched every show of both Dragons' Den and Shark Tank, and whilst I could understand people in the first few seasons coming on unprepared and a bit shell shocked; I am astounded that people are coming on the shows – many seasons in, with all the videos and helpful tips on the shows' websites – still unprepared and making these fundamental errors.

So let me share my Top 10 Pitching Mistakes Made On Shark Tank and Dragons' Den and how these mistakes could also be having a detrimental effect on your RTO business.

 

 

 

This is the number one question asked: What Are Your Numbers?

Now if you're not sure what they mean by this (and that's a bit scary if you own or are running the RTO), here's at least a few you should know immediately.

• Turnover – by week, month, quarter and year
• Gross Profit - by week, month, quarter and year
• Total Expenses - by week, month, quarter and year
• Net Profit - by week, month, quarter and year
• Costs to make a product (aka training program), wholesale price (to a client) and retail price (to a student)

Too often, these numbers are ignored completely because 'I'm too busy' or I get told 'I don't need to know those numbers because I have an accountant and/or bookkeeper and that's their job'.

Too many people running RTOs have no idea about:
• How much money they need to break even each week, let alone make a profit
• What it costs to put on a staff member
• What a training program really costs including development and delivery time
• How many students are needed for each training program intake to break even, and then be profitable

 

I could go on and on but hopefully this means you're either nodding Yes because you have the answers OR you've put time aside in your diary today to find out.

And always remember the Banker's Mantra because it's no good having great training if you're broke.
Turnover is Vanity

 

There's a reason these business entrepreneurs are known as a Shark or a Dragon. They know their stuff, practise what they preach and have multiple businesses, many of which they've built from scratch.

Please respect their knowledge, expertise and credibility and learn from it, rather than thinking you know best. Because if you did, you probably wouldn't need them to invest in your business, oh wait, yes you do need them.

So which business and RTO experts are you ignoring or not investing in rather than utilising them in your RTO to make things easier, quicker, better and more profitable? And this includes your staff.

3.  Don't Pitch If You Can't Scale

Most deals are for product based businesses which can be quickly and easily scaled, either through manufacturing economies of scale and/or streamlining business operations.

Now whilst RTOs probably don't think of training as a product, the same principles apply if you're looking to grow your business, seeking an investor or looking to sell.

*   Do you have the capacity within your current team to manage growth in enrolments – either planned or unexpected?

*   Do you have the capability within your current team to manage this growth or do they need more training?

If you answered no to either question, then I would look at how can you develop/simplify your processes before you decide to market to the world.

Because if you can't cope (and most businesses can't without additional staff and better systems), you'll do more brand damage when you provide inconsistent service and lower your standards instead of spending time in developing strong foundations.

4.  Know Your Ideal Customer/Target Market

Pitching to investors when you can't answer this question very specifically is a cardinal sin.

Everyone in (insert your industry sector or geographic location) is not an ideal customer or target market.

Everyone is not your ideal student so if you think they are, sorry you need to spend time answering this question and decide who is your ideal student/client and more importantly, who is not.

Once you have clarity about this, then start talking to this ideal customer, in their words, solving their problems (which isn't I need training) and you'll be amazed at the quality of enquiries which start coming through your door.

5.  Have A Realistic Valuation

Again, I shake my head at owners who come in with a $1M valuation and they've sold less than $10000 of product.

Hope is not a strategy and just because there's eg 8 million vegans in the world who need X product, doesn't mean they will buy it.

I've seen the same thing with RTOs who believe they're going to go from zero to 1000 enrolments in a year, with no database and no clear marketing strategy of how to build and engage their community.

So be realistic about any financial targets and work on the philosophy of under promise and over deliver in everything you do, and that wishful target may turn into reality.

And if you're looking to sell at any stage, unless you have simple documented procedures which actually work, you won't get the multiplier valuation you're seeking because knowledge in people's heads isn't sustainable, scaleable or saleable.

6.  Lack Of Focus Or Running A Second Business

Many people come into the Tank/Den wanting to do 27 things with the business or have 50 products – none of which are working really well.

And some have another business or two and think it's strange when they don't get a deal because they can't demonstrate single minded focus and commitment to this business (yet they want 100% commitment and focus from an investor). Ironic hey?

The same issues apply to RTOs who have too many qualifications on scope so they can't tell me what they specialise in, and this also means staff have to jump from one project or industry to another.

You need to have single minded focus and embrace the learnings from the past few years.

In 2022, it's all about Less is More and Do Less Really Well.

7.  Little Or No Negotiation Skills

People can get very excited when they get an offer and rightly so but it's important to come back with a reasonable counter offer to show the entrepreneurs you can respectfully and successfully negotiate.

 

But don't lose sight of the value of an expert and too many owners have walked out of the Tank/Den without a deal because they didn't want to give up another 2% of equity.

 

Experts bring their years of expertise and learnings from the mistakes they have made and that's priceless so do you want to give up some equity to get that or not?

8.  All Talk Is About Them And Not Enough About The Business

Sharks/Dragons want to hear about the business specifics and often when pitchers just talk about themselves, it's a red flag that they don't know the details needed to convince someone to invest.

 

Investors want to know about the customers, the market, the team and how you are going to help them, the investor, get their money back.

 

So if you had to pitch to someone about your RTO business (aka marketing), can you provide this detail, quickly and easily?

 

I'd also encourage you to look at your website – is it all about your customers and their problems – in their language, or is it all about you?

 

 

Or even worse, talks over the top of them, which links to my pitching mistake #2.

 

Think about how often you do this to a consultant you've engaged, a staff member you've employed, a person participating in industry consultation?

 

I'm hoping not a lot but usually all of us (and yes I include myself) speak more than we listen.

 

And look at what gold and invaluable advice/ideas we miss out on.

 

If you're investing in help, remember they are giving up their time and expertise so listen more and react less. Your business will thank you for it.

 

And if you don't want to do this, then unfortunately, you'll keep struggling on your own because no one is successful without help from others.

 

 

Coming into the Tank/Den with a product which has minimal or no testing with the ideal marketplace makes it almost impossible to get a deal.

 

Again, this is a more like a Wish and a Prayer Strategy than providing the extensive data showing how many people will actually buy the product or service.

 

Too many RTOs add qualifications to their scope and develop training materials without actually going out to the ideal customer with the concept and the price to see if people will buy.

 

Because until the dollars hit the bank account, it's not a real product or service; and people will say anything looks good until they are pushed to invest their hard earned cash.

 

If lots of people do, then you can start developing the program. Otherwise, it's back to the drawing board because even though you believe it's great, the market is telling you no.

 

 

Look at previous shows to ensure you can answer the questions and listen to the tips provided so you don't end up making a critical mistake, and ultimately losing a possible deal.

 

Just like your students and your staff; if everything else seems viable, the Sharks/Dragons will then decide to buy you – your personality, your passion, your focus and your willingness to listen and be coached by some of the best business minds.

 

So how do you and your RTO business stack up?

Which of these common pitching mistakes are you making right now in your RTO business?

And the next question is: What will you actually do about it?

It is a CHOICE to keep doing the same things which aren't working rather than actually taking the time out to fix the issue once and for all.

I know many of you will say: 'That's great Tamara but I don't have time to do it right now'.

 

To which my response will always be Dr Phil's catchphrase: How's that working for you?

 

And if you're really honest with yourself, this answer is almost always 'Hmm not really'.

Now if you don't believe me, then please check out the Sharks' one piece of business advice they give to everyone. (Though I've been saying exactly the same things for years 😊).

 

Steve Baxter – Internet Pioneer
Never spend a dollar to save 50 cents.

 

Naomi Simson – Red Balloon (now Big Red Group)
Don't rush to the urgent for the sake of the important. Too often, we let our inbox rule us – we work on what other people want us to work on rather than setting our own agenda and focusing on that instead. I'm a big believer in setting the purpose for my day, every day.

 

John McGrath (Real Estate Mogul)
It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be.

 

Janine Allis (Boost Juice)
People are your biggest asset.... and liability. Make sure you surround yourself with dynamic, like minded people who can help your business grow.

 

 

 

I want you to be growing a simple profitable RTO business which everyone loves to be part of and is easy to run.

 

But in order to achieve this Dream (and yes it is achievable), you first have to STOP to determine what's not working and why.

And then START to create these new habits and systems so the business is easier to run, enrolments keep coming in the door and you have a happy and high performing team.