What you need to know about opening a language school in Spain

Getting a job as a language teacher is one of the classic ways into the country for Brits, Irish, Americans and Australians wanting to move to Spain. Many French and German nationals also use the teaching route as an introduction to Spain, whether for a season or longer-term.

Many do this as auxiliares de conversación while working in Spanish schools (literally meaning 'conversation auxiliaries', mostly referred to as language or teaching assistants) but there’s also a huge and growing number of academies across the country.

There’s certainly no shortage here, whatever the language, which would suggest firstly that there’s demand to learn languages among Spaniards and, secondly, that it’s a profitable business.

READ ALSO: Ten things I wish I'd known before I started teaching English in Spain

What do I need to do to set up an English language school in Spain?

Before worrying about locations and licenses, firstly think about some of the classroom specifics and whether you’re actually capable of opening and running a language academy in Spain.

Competence and language skills: To set up a language school, you need to have professional teachers who are highly competent in the language. Most go for native speakers; many academies only hire native speakers with a decent level of Spanish (B2 minimum).

Dialect and accent: Say for example you decide you want to open an English academy: do you want to teach British English, American English or a mix? This will impact on the teaching staff you hire and the resource materials you’ll need to buy and supply to students.

Training and teaching experience: Do you have experience? If not, you’ll need to hire experienced language teachers, preferably with experience of teaching in Spain. Most academies will require some kind of certificate such as TEFL.

Curriculum and teaching materials: You’ll need to design an effective curriculum tailored to the needs of your students. Research and select appropriate teaching materials, such as textbooks, audio and visual resources, and interactive tools, while thinking about the age and attainment level of your students. Are you going to teach toddlers or adults going for their C1 exam?

Market knowledge: Conduct a local market analysis to determine the demand for languages courses and the existing competition in your area.

Financial resources: Set a realistic budget to cover the initial costs and running expenses of your language school. Include items such as set up costs, rent, teacher salaries, teaching materials, and extracurricular activities.

READ ALSO: The pros and cons of being a language assistant in Spain

What about the location and premises?

The commercial premises you choose for your language school is a crucial factor.

Size and layout: Choose a premises that's spacious enough to accommodate your students. How many classes are you going to have? How many students per class?

It should have classrooms that are large enough for the expected number of students, as well as common areas, a reception area and a waiting room. Make sure you have enough space for the necessary furniture, such as desks, blackboards and shelves.

Location: Choose a strategic and accessible location. Look for areas close to schools, universities or residential areas with a high demand for language lessons.

Infrastructure: Check that the premises has the necessary facilities like high-speed internet access, good lighting and disability access points. Also, consider the availability of heating or air conditioning systems depending on where in the country you want to set up.

Parking and public transport: If possible, choose a location with nearby parking to make it easier for students to arrive by car. Also, check the availability of public transport in the area, which will allow your students to easily come to class.

Permits and licences for setting up a language school in Spain

When setting up a language school, it’s important to comply with legal requirements and obtain the necessary licences and permits.

Registration: You’ll need to register your language school as a legal entity, either as a sole trader or limited company. You’ll also need to think about your staff: are you going to employ them full or part-time, or as freelancers?

Crucially, you must register with the Spanish tax agency and obtain a Tax Identification Number (CIF).

Operating licence: You’ll need a license to operate, something usually handled on a municipal level by local ayuntamientos (town halls).

Regulatory compliance: Ensure that you comply with current regulations and standards regarding safety, data protection, insurance, employment contracts and any other legal requirements applicable to your academy.

Contracts and legal documents: Prepare enrolment contracts, terms and conditions, cancellation policies and other legal documents necessary to give to students.

Personal data protection: If you collect and store personal information about your students, you must comply with Spain's personal data protection laws. Make sure you obtain the appropriate consent and implement security measures to protect the information.

What information do I need to provide customers?

According to El Confidencial, Spain had over 3,500 language academies in 2023. The number is now likely more than that, and though there are no exact numbers available, it’s safe to say English academies are the most common and there are therefore at least a few thousand in Spain.

That is to say: you’ll need to make your academy stand out from the crowd and communicate exactly what your business is offering and what makes it different from the rest.

Your academy will need to display and advertise online the following information in an accessible and visible place:

• Name
• Logo (if applicable)
• Natural or legal person who owns or runs the academy
• Opening hours, including seasonal variations (many academies shut down over summer in Spain)
• Procedure for handling queries or complaints.
• Courses offered, timetables and tutors.
• Terms and conditions for enrolling on courses.

It is also important to note that another requirement for opening a language school is that the course registration form must include all information relating to the price, duration and conditions of the courses.

How much does it cost to open a language school in Spain?

Obviously, exact prices depend on where in Spain you are and what your budget is. Start-up costs for an academy in a small town in southern Spain would be significantly less than doing so in Madrid or Barcelona.

You’ll need to think about the cost for any refurbishments including furniture and fixtures, plus computer equipment and software. A big chunk could come from any deposits needed for the rental on the building, which could be significant for a commercial premises.

All your initial stock, as well as suppliers, mean this initial setting-up cost will likely run into the thousands.

And don't forget that you also need to take into account the monthly payments you will have to make. Rent for a decently sized-locale in a Spanish city will likely cost well over €1,000 per month, if not much more.

You’ll also need to purchase monthly supplies of classroom resources, as well as pay business expenses and staff salaries, which will also run into the thousands depending on how many teachers you hire.

All in all: setting up a language academy in Spain won't be cheap. Spain has no shortage of language schools and many fail or struggle to break even. Don't expect this to be an easy business venture.

Perhaps one comment on social media about language academies (found while researching this piece) put it best: "It's easy to make a million running a language school in Spain... You just need to start with two million."

READ MORE: ‘Hard to stay afloat’ - Is working for an English language academy in Spain worth it?