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When there’s an emergency, the first steps you take are crucial. If you have the right knowledge on what to do, it can save someone’s life.
First aid training businesses equip people with the knowledge and skills required to provide support in an emergency – not many businesses can say they do that.
If providing people with first aid knowledge is something you’re passionate about, then you’ve probably been thinking about starting your own first aid training business. A business in first aid training can be a rewarding venture; however, it’s important to ensure your business is strongly secured and well protected.
When you’re busy educating people with life-saving knowledge, your first aid training business should already have everything it needs to survive the business world. That’s where we can help – keep reading to know more.
What Is First Aid Training?
You never know when an incident may strike. When something happens, medical assistance is rarely immediately available. First aid is the care you provide between the time an incident occurs and medical assistance arrives.
First aid training generally covers bleeding, burns, choking, and broken bones. Certain courses also include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Additionally, there are various types of first aid training, including basic first aid, wilderness first aid, and advanced courses.
How Long Does First Aid Training Last?
The length of a first aid training course will depend on the depth of training. Some basic first aid training courses may only take a few hours, whereas more intensive courses might take place over a number of days.
As there’s no standard time frame for first aid training, it’s important to determine exactly what kind of first aid training courses your business will offer, the duration of it, and the topics that will be covered.
How To Start A First Aid Training Business In New Zealand
Starting a first aid training business in New Zealand requires careful planning and strict legal compliance. If everything is handled properly from the start, it can save you from a lot of headaches down the line. It’s best to invest the time and energy into ensuring your first aid training business is properly set up from the beginning.
Plan Your First Aid Training Business
Aside from planning out your course, there are a number of other matters you will need to consider when starting your first aid training business. Finances, intellectual property, market analysis, competitor research, advertising, legal compliance and more all need to be thought about when starting your first aid business.
We always recommend putting together a business plan – that way, you’ve got everything you need in one place.
Get Qualified And Accredited
To offer first aid training as a business service, you will need to have the right accreditations and qualifications. In New Zealand, first aid training providers must be accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Your first aid training business will need to meet certain standards before it’s approved by NZQA, so make sure you’re well prepared prior to applying.
Additionally, every first aid trainer working in your business must hold current first aid qualifications and a New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 5) (or an equivalent qualification).
Register Your First Aid Training Business
To start a first aid training business in New Zealand, you also need to legally register your business.
Before you can register your business, you will need to determine the right legal structure for your first aid training business. The three most commonly registered legal structures are a sole trader, partnership, and company. Each one is different, with its own advantages and drawbacks. It’s important to carefully consider each one before making a decision.
Sole Trader
As the term ‘sole’ suggests, sole trader businesses are for individuals that plan on being the sole owner of their first aid training business. Registering as a sole trader is pretty simple, you simply need to go online and apply for a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN).
Even though setting up as a sole trader is a fast and simple process, it doesn’t come with much legal protection. As a sole trader business, your business will be personally attached to you. Without any legal separation between you and your first aid training business, you could be personally impacted if your first aid training business is ever in any trouble.
Partnership
If you are going into business with another person or multiple people, then you might be considering a partnership business structure. To set up a partnership, you simply need to get an NZBN for the business. You might also consider a formal agreement between all the business partners, such as Partnership Agreement during your set-up process to establish some ground rules for smooth functioning,
In a partnership, the business will be legally attached to all the partners. Much like a sole trader business, partnership business structures don’t offer any legal separation between you and your business. This can be a pretty heavy risk, as you can be personally impacted for the wrongdoing of another partner—even if you had nothing to do with it.
Company
If you don’t like the idea of having your first aid training business personally attached to you, then you may want to register it as a company. A company is a legal entity on its own – it has the ability to own property, sell it, earn a profit, and even be in debt. This essentially means, when you register your first aid training business as a company, it will have legal separation from you. This level of legal separation gives you limited liability, providing you with legal protection in case the business is ever in trouble.
If your heart was set on starting your first aid training business alone or with partners, you can still register it as a company. Certain company structures in New Zealand allow a company to exist with just one person as both the sole director and shareholder. If you have partners, then under a company structure, you will all be shareholders, each owning a portion of the company based on your shareholdings.
Registering a company can get a bit complex – companies are heavily regulated by the Companies Office. So, it’s important to make sure you follow all the correct rules and procedures. Having expert legal help when registering a company can ensure everything gets done right.
Do I Need To Follow Any Laws When Starting A First Aid Training Business?
Yes, there are several laws you will need to adhere to when starting a first aid training business. From ensuring your employees are treated in accordance with national employment standards to aligning your business practices with the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act, legal compliance is essential for every business. Compliance involves regularly reviewing, practising, and updating your procedures to meet legal requirements.
A few regulations to look out for include:
- Data And Privacy Laws
- Industry-Specific Regulations
- New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act
- Employment Law
- Workplace Health And Safety
- Regional/Council Laws
The specific regulations that will apply to your first aid training business will depend on its structure and operations. It’s always a good idea to consult with a legal expert who can provide tailored advice for your business, helping you stay legally compliant and protected.
What Legal Documents Do I Need When Starting A First Aid Training Business?
Expertly drafted legal documents can not only help your first aid training business stay legally compliant, they can help manage potential risk and further protect your business. We’ve listed a few legal documents you may want to consider here:
Privacy Policy: A clear service agreement sets client expectations and outlines both parties’ rights and obligations. It ensures smoother operations and helps avoid disputes.
Service Agreement: It’s important that clients of your first aid training business are aware of what to expect, their obligations and rights – business runs smoother when both parties are on the same page.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): To protect sensitive business information, use an NDA when sharing confidential information with third parties.
Employment Agreement: An employment agreement that covers pay, role description, leave, breaks, and more is vital when hiring staff to work in your business.
Workplace Policy: A workplace policy is an important document in ensuring your first aid training business is running in accordance with the regulations and rules you have set.
Key Takeaways
A first aid training business has the potential to provide a valuable service to the community. However, it’s important to keep an eye on the legal aspects to ensure your business is set up the right way. To summarise what we’ve discussed:
- Starting a first aid training business can be rewarding but requires careful planning and legal compliance
- You’ll need to consider factors like finances, intellectual property, market analysis, and advertising, in addition to planning your course offerings
- In New Zealand, first aid training businesses offering accredited courses must become Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) through NZQA
- Depending on your business structure (sole trader, partnership, or company), registration and legal protection will vary, with companies offering greater liability protection
- Legal compliance involves adhering to New Zealand Consumer Law, employment standards, data and privacy laws, and workplace health and safety regulations
- Key legal documents include privacy policies, service agreements, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and employment agreements to protect your business and manage risk
- Consulting a legal expert is recommended to ensure your first aid training business is set up correctly and remains compliant with relevant laws
If you would like a consultation on starting a first aid training business you can reach us at 0800 002 184 or team@sprintlaw.co.nz for a free, no-obligations chat.
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