Need advice on where to locate new business (St. Louis, Chesterfield: neighborhoods, best school)

[UMBlackBears]

Hello,

My husband and I are moving to St. Louis next month, and we are looking to open a tutoring center. We, of course, have no idea where to locate it as we are unfamiliar with St. Louis neighborhoods.

It looks like most tutoring centers are located in West County (Chesterfield, Ballwin, Manchester, etc.). Would you all say that would be the best place to open a location?

What about the Delmar Loop/Clayton area?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[flynavyj]

Depending on the price point kids will need tutoring ANYWHERE, so that should be an advantage for you. West County is typically one of the wealthier areas, and it's possible that as demographics go, parents are more likely to press for additional education to assist their child in reaching "head of class" status.

My assumptions however, the best districts will most likely have some in school tutoring options available to the students. I'd be unsure however whether or not the this is geared towards increasing future opportunities or remedial training, but most likely both. The poorer performing districts will probably give you the highest numbers of students who need tutoring to simply improve their education potential, along with opportunities to assist higher performing students with furthering their education. Unfortunately, St. Louis' highest wealth districts have the best school systems, and the worst school systems are in some of the poorest areas, making a catch 22. The people who could really use the extra tutoring can't afford it, and the one's who can afford it don't need it.

So, with that said, i'd setup shop in Maryland Heights. You'll be "West County" enough that the Chesterfield Elite won't raise their noses at you, and down to earth enough that kids from North County won't feel out of place visiting your "palace of higher learning" either.

[1greatcity]

If most of the existing tutoring centers are located in West County, as you said, then why not try to start one in an untapped market? Clayton/U-City sounds like a good option. Or what about South City or South County?