Computer Training Source
Computer Training Source is a privately held, Chicagoland-based vocational training company founded in 1991 that delivers instructor-led software, IT certification, and project management classes at three centers and online to working professionals, corporate clients, and WIOA/TAA-funded job seekers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Computer Training Source does
Computer Training Source, Inc. is a privately held, Illinois-based vocational training company founded in 1991 that delivers instructor-led computer software and professional certification courses to individuals, corporate clients, and government-funded job seekers in the Chicagoland market. Operations are centered on three physical training centers in Downtown Chicago, Schaumburg, and Naperville, supplemented by a remote learning platform that lets students control classroom computers from home while instructors assist in real time. The core curriculum spans Microsoft Office applications, QuickBooks, Adobe Creative Cloud, web development, CompTIA and Cisco IT certifications, project management programs (PMP, Agile/Scrum, ITIL, Six Sigma), and a recent expansion into AI prompt engineering, Azure, AWS, Python, Tableau, and Power BI. The company is approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and is a WIOA/TAA training provider, which gives it access to fully-funded tuition through Illinois WorkNet and American Job Centers.
The business model is primarily transactional course enrollment, with paid classes ranging from roughly $300 to $900 for individual software classes and $1,295 to $3,795 for certification exam prep programs such as CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and PMP. Revenue is diversified across standalone class fees, copackaged combo programs, business coupon packages (10 to 50 vouchers), one-on-one tutoring sold in 3-, 6-, 9-, or 12-hour blocks, training room rentals, and Microsoft Access and QuickBooks consulting at customer locations. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through the website, phone, and email, with a 10,000+ subscriber newsletter and referral flow from Illinois WorkNet career coaches supporting demand generation. Corporate training is captured through direct sales, onsite private classes, and bulk coupon programs, while unemployed individuals gain access via WIOA/TAA grants that cover tuition, materials, and certification exam fees. The company is independent, with no disclosed venture or private equity backing and no public reporting.
Computer Training Source firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Computer Training Source
- Legal name
- Computer Training Source, Inc.
- Website
- https://ctstraining.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Computer Training Source is a privately held, Chicagoland-based vocational training company founded in 1991 that delivers instructor-led software, IT certification, and project management classes at three centers and online to working professionals, corporate clients, and WIOA/TAA-funded job seekers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Computer Training Source industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Training Services
- NAICS
- Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Information Technology & Software (EDAAAPAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Vendor/Authorized Certification Training (Microsoft/AWS/Cisco, etc.) (BPAEANAA), Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB), Productivity & Office Software Skills (EDAAAIAC)
Keywords
Where Computer Training Source is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Computer Training Source business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Course Enrollment Fees: Individual course fees charged per class session. Prices range from approximately $300-$900 for single classes, with discounted combo programs and coupon packs available for businesses.
- Tutoring Services: One-on-one tutoring sessions sold in blocks of 3, 6, 9, or 12 hours at hourly rates that decrease with larger purchases.
- Access Database Consulting: Consulting services for Microsoft Access database design and troubleshooting at customer locations in Chicagoland.
- QuickBooks Consulting: Consulting services for QuickBooks setup, troubleshooting, and optimization at customer locations.
- Training Room Rentals: Computer training lab rentals for companies that have their own instructors but need professional classroom space.
- Business Coupons: Bulk coupon packages allowing companies to send employees to various classes at discounted rates. Business Coupons valid for any Microsoft Office or QuickBooks class; Creative Coupons for Adobe classes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Class Enrollment - Business Software |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Class Enrollment - Creative Software |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Certification Exam Prep Programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | One-on-One Tutoring |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Business Coupon Packages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Creative Coupon Packages |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Computer Training Source product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Computer Training Source delivers instructor-led, hands-on computer software training and professional certification preparation at three Chicagoland training centers (Downtown Chicago, Schaumburg, Naperville) and via live online classes. Its catalog spans Microsoft Office applications, QuickBooks, Adobe Creative Cloud, web development, CompTIA/networking certifications, project management/business analysis, AI prompt engineering, and cloud computing (Azure, AWS), with supplementary tutoring, consulting, training room rentals, business coupon packages, and WIOA/TAA-funded programs for eligible unemployed individuals.
Product overview
Computer Training Source offers instructor-led computer software training classes and professional certification preparation programs in the Chicago metropolitan area and online. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of training offerings organized into eight main product categories: Microsoft Office application training (Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Project, SharePoint, Visio, Windows), accounting software training (QuickBooks Online and Desktop), Adobe Creative Cloud training (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Premiere, After Effects, Captivate), web design and development training (HTML, CSS, WordPress, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, Bootstrap, SEO/Online Marketing), technology and networking certification prep (CompTIA A+/Net+/Security+, CCNA, CISSP, Salesforce), project management and business analysis training (PMP, Agile/Scrum, ITIL, Six Sigma, Tableau, Power BI), emerging technology training (AI Prompt Engineering, Azure, AWS, Python), and WIOA government-funded training programs. The company differentiates through small class sizes with hands-on computer access, free retake policy within six months, multiple training formats (in-person at three Chicago-area locations, online live, private/on-site), and supplementary services including tutoring, training room rentals, and business coupon programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Microsoft Office Training
Quantifiable outcome
- Small class sizes ensuring personal attention from instructors
Companies that use Computer Training Source
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Computer Training Source technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature2 records
Computer Training Source partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Computer Training Source competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ONLC Training Centers: ONLC Training Centers operates instructor-led IT and software training across multiple U.S. cities with similar remote and onsite delivery options, making it the closest direct competitor to CTS's regional, multi-location model.
- Certstaffix Training: Certstaffix delivers computer and IT training across U.S. locations with both in-person and live online formats, mirroring CTS's hybrid delivery model and competing for the same professional upskilling customers.
- New Horizons Computer Learning Centers: New Horizons is a global IT training franchise offering Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco, and Adobe certification prep with similar instructor-led classes, directly competing with CTS for the same corporate and individual learner segments.
- Learning Tree International: Learning Tree provides IT and business skills training with instructor-led courses at training centers and onsite at client locations, overlapping directly with CTS's corporate training and certification offerings.
Emerging players
- Udemy: Udemy is a marketplace for on-demand video courses covering Microsoft Office, Adobe, and IT certifications at low price points; it competes with CTS on convenience and cost for entry-level software training segments.
- Coursera: Coursera is a global online learning platform offering university and industry courses and certificates in IT, data, and business; it represents an emerging threat to CTS's basic software training market with much lower-cost, self-paced alternatives.
Broad incumbents
- General Assembly: General Assembly is a broader professional education provider offering courses in tech, data, design, and business, with multiple U.S. campuses; it overlaps with CTS on tech-certification and digital skills training while serving a wider portfolio.
- Pluralsight: Pluralsight is a leading online technology learning platform offering on-demand courses across software development, IT ops, and cybersecurity; it competes with CTS for self-directed learners in the same subject areas but via subscription rather than live classes.
- Skillsoft: Skillsoft is an enterprise-focused corporate learning provider offering IT, leadership, and compliance training content and platforms; it competes for the same corporate training budgets as CTS but serves them through digital rather than instructor-led delivery.
- Global Knowledge: Global Knowledge is an established enterprise IT training incumbent offering vendor-authorized courses across a global footprint; it competes with CTS on the same CompTIA, Microsoft, AWS, and Cisco certification tracks but at much greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Computer Training Source social profiles
Digital presenceComputer Training Source compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Computer Training Source financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Computer Training Source leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Computer Training Source funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Computer Training Source M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Computer Training Source
What does Computer Training Source do?
Computer Training Source delivers instructor-led, hands-on computer software training and professional certification preparation at three Chicagoland training centers (Downtown Chicago, Schaumburg, Naperville) and via live online classes. Its catalog spans Microsoft Office applications, QuickBooks, Adobe Creative Cloud, web development, CompTIA/networking certifications, project management/business analysis, AI prompt engineering, and cloud computing (Azure, AWS), with supplementary tutoring, consulting, training room rentals, business coupon packages, and WIOA/TAA-funded programs for eligible unemployed individuals.
Is Computer Training Source a public or private company?
Computer Training Source is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Computer Training Source founded?
Computer Training Source was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Computer Training Source based?
Computer Training Source is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Computer Training Source make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Course Enrollment Fees are the primary driver. The others are tutoring Services, access Database Consulting, quickBooks Consulting, training Room Rentals and business Coupons.
Who are Computer Training Source's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ONLC Training Centers, Certstaffix Training, New Horizons Computer Learning Centers and Learning Tree International. Emerging players are Udemy and Coursera. Broad incumbents are General Assembly, Pluralsight, Skillsoft and Global Knowledge.
Does Computer Training Source have an API?
No public API is recorded for Computer Training Source.
What industry is Computer Training Source in?
Computer Training Source's product category is Professional Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAPAB, Information Technology & Software, with a secondary code of BPAEANAA, Vendor/Authorized Certification Training (Microsoft/AWS/Cisco, etc.). Its NAICS code is 611420 and its SIC code is 8200.