If you have a talent for helping others learn, then the time is now to start your own tutoring business. This booming industry will only continue to grow as more and more parents struggle with the burden of paying for their children’s education. Tutoring also doesn’t require any qualifications or previous experience, so it makes for an excellent start to a new career!
Start with Research
There are many opportunities for tutoring, but make sure you only work in an area where you are truly interested. For example, if you are skilled in a subject that not many people are good at tutoring in math or science, then this will be your biggest asset! You can either start your own business or get hired by an established business or small tutoring center. If you decide to go for the latter, you can always look up your town or city and tutoring jobs available there. If you happen to live in southeast England, you can google a local tutoring school by searching “Colchester 11 plus exam tutoring” and get all the available info on how you can become a tutor. If you are not sure about undertaking this journey alone, you can always reach out to the people who have already taken the tutor exam in the past and ask them for advice.
On the other hand, starting your own business comes with its own benefits. For example, you will be able to make your own hours and set your own prices. However, starting off can be tough until you get the hang of it. You can also chat with people for whom you know have children so they can recommend you to other parents.
Registering a company
Make sure to register your business. This can be done with the help of your local government’s registrar’s office, where you will have to pay for a company name. If you are just tutoring one student or a particular student, then this is not necessary.
When you are a registered business, you will have a set of obligations. You will need to pay taxes, file annual returns, and keep proper financial records. This is important for both your business and your reputation.
Business Insurance
Next is insurance. This is a particularly important aspect of starting a business because if anything ever happens to one of your students on the way to or from their tutoring sessions with you, you could be held liable. Liability insurance, along with general liability errors & omissions insurance, are good policies to consider when starting up your tutoring service!
Establish Credibility
To be successful in starting a business like this, you should consider establishing credibility. Oftentimes people coming into this industry don’t know how long tutoring companies have been around, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into here. Establishing credibility starts with having a good website that explains who you are and what your company does, then marketing yourself in the right places.
Marketing Your Company
Now comes the fun part – marketing! Just like any other business owner trying to sell his or her services, you need to put yourself out there. Use your network to spread the word about your tutoring services, and leave flyers at local schools or preschools. You can even set up a website for free that adds legitimacy to your business. And don’t forget to sign up with online tutoring sites!
Choose a business name and logo that can be easily associated with you. Social media is a great way to spread the word about your service and allows you to share resources and testimonials from students or parents that love what you do. Social media is the leading platform for reaching out to potential students and parents.
Also, make sure to use local resources such as newspapers and magazines to get the word out there. Make flyers for distribution around schools and community centers. Remember that not all students prefer one-on-one lessons, especially during the COVID pandemic, so consider creating online videos or presentations that can be used in lieu of direct tutoring.
Decide on pricing
As far as pricing goes, you will have to figure it out on your own, considering all the time you are putting into doing what you love while also earning money for yourself in the process. Some people might be fortunate enough to get paid by their clients, while others would rather not take any risks by charging an hourly rate. Once again, market research can help tremendously, because understanding how other businesses price their rates is always beneficial before deciding on how to price your own.
The average rate for tutoring is around $40-$60 per hour. It can be difficult to determine your own rates because there are many variables that cannot be controlled, but whatever you do decide on, make sure it’s something that works for you and will benefit your future business.
Working with Parents
It’s important to get on the same page as parents who are considering hiring you. For example, come up with a schedule for tutoring sessions that works well for both parties. Also keep communication open between parent and tutor – for example, if the student struggles with a concept, find out why before moving on. And make sure to lay down ground rules in your introductory meeting, so that there aren’t any surprises later on.
Benefits of Online Tutoring
Some parents may not want their children to be tutored by someone they’ve just met, or because of the worry from COVID, which is where online tutoring comes into play! You can find your tutee online through a lot of websites, so make sure to look for them. This allows you to connect with students who need help right away. It also means that parents don’t have to meet you first, which can make the process a lot easier on them.
If you’re considering starting your own tutoring business, it’s important to do some research first. You’ll need to register with the local authorities and find out if there are any local or regional laws that affect what types of services you can provide. Then, decide on your pricing for various levels of service, so parents know exactly what they’re getting when they contact you about hiring a tutor. It is also helpful to build relationships with other local businesses in order to cross-promote each other’s offerings or offer discounts for new customers who buy something else from them while their children are being tutored by you or one of your employees. Finally, make sure you understand all the benefits available online (including live video chat) before signing up!