Starting a Martial Arts School?

I have been involved in Martial arts for 6 years and am looking to start my own Martial Arts school. I look to focus not just on physical aspects but more importantly mental aspects of the martial arts. I plan to include meditation and philosophical discussions in my classes. Etc. Anyway I am running away from the point. What I would like to know is the average cost for starting a Martial Arts school. How much is a typical rent? What about some equipment? I don't plan on having a top notch fully equipped school at first, I plan on getting there eventually but what I'm looking for now is advice on how to start. Thank you.

Wow, to tell you the truth your questions is really HUGE and would take a long time to answer but I'll do my best. First and foremost check out the link I supplied. They have resources and calculators that you can use. Also a handbook on starting your own school. Rent can vary depending on the location and fluctuates from $300 to $5000. So look in your local newspaper and see what you can get. Also, try and devise a monthly budget. You should try and have an operating budget for at least six months in savings. Now having said all that, keep in mind that a lot of the big schools didn't start that way. A lot of schools started in basements and garages or churches. So starting a retail location is not necessarily a must. Ask around. Talk to schools and churches and see if they have space you can use or rent for cheap. Then start shopping for very basic equipment like Mats. In all reality that's all you really need, Mats and a couple of hand pads. You can start with a handful of students paying monthly and build from there. If you can't afford to outlay for uniforms start in sweats. You don't have to follow the uniform and routine to make a difference, sometimes all you have to do is just think outside the box. Good Luck!