There is never a bad time to start thinking about goals — as you look to 2016 and the goals for your company, your staff and yourself, think about the training necessary to make yourself competitive in the market.

Residential installations offer huge opportunities. The 2015 CEDIA Size and Scope Study predicts that by the end of this year, systems integrators and installers will complete more residential installation projects than in each of the last four years, and their average gross revenues will top $2.5 million, up from $2.2 million in 2014.

Home theaters and media rooms are the most popular projects, followed by multi-room audio and home automation and control. The total number of projects installers take on, and the average cost, will also rise for the third straight year. In 2010 the average cost of a home theater installation project was $16,400. In 2015, that average project cost rose to $39,000 — a two-fold increase.

However, these facts do not mean only the very wealthy can afford these projects. The median home theater price systems integrators sold was $16,666 (50 percent cost less), and the median audio installation was $11,000. In both instances, the average company also saw an increase in the number of home theater and audio installation projects in 2014, and the study predicted continued growth.

So that’s a lot of stats; what can you take away from that? We’ll say it again — there is money to be made in the residential market. There is one catch: in order to start handling projects beyond security you have to know what you’re doing.

Lucky for you, CEDIA offers year-round, hands-on training for both entry-level and those who are looking to advance their skills.

CEDIA’s Basic Residential Boot Camp focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to install low voltage infrastructure in the home. This three-day course provides comprehensive training for anyone new to the custom residential electronic systems industry.

A combination of classroom and hands-on learning will help participants learn a variety of home technology skills, including cable and connector fundamentals, residential codes, standards and jobsite safety, distributed audio and video in the home, and jobsite professionalism.

If you already have a good handle on the basics, then Home Theater Boot Camp could be right up your alley — do we need to point out again that the average project cost for home theaters was $39,000? This training will teach you everything you need to know to properly install, set up, and calibrate a typical home theater or media room system.

We recommend Home Theater Boot Camp for those who already have a basic knowledge of home theater setup. This training will elevate your skills as you learn how to configure a rack properly to include thermal management and ergonomics, install and mount a projector, and learn basic room acoustics.

So mark your calendars now because Boot Camps fill up fast! Join us at CEDIA Headquarters in Indianapolis for training.

Basic Boot Camp will be offered March 14 through 16, June 13 through 15, and November 7 through 9.

Home Theater Boot Camp will be offered March 17 through 19, June 16 through 18, and November 10 through 12.

Visit www.cedia.net to sign up or to learn more.