Do you have an advanced knowledge of a certain subject? Do you want to help students with their education? Then starting a tutoring business is just what you need.
As more and more students enroll in schools, the teachers’ ability to dedicate themselves individually to every member of their class is getting lower. Not to mention that the parents don’t have a lot of time to help their children with the studies and the tests are more and more frequent. All of this increases the need for tutors.
In fact, you can earn quite a bit of income from tutoring students. Aside from that, you get the satisfaction of participating in their success. So, if you’re willing to start your own tutoring business, here I offer you all the information you need to know. Cheers!
What Is A Tutoring Business?
According to the President of the National Tutoring Association, Eric Clark, “Tutoring is a $6 to $8 billion industry.” And you can grab a part of these huge numbers by becoming a tutor yourself.
By definition, a tutor is someone who provides help and instructions to individuals or small groups. He/She does this during private lessons held at a previously agreed location or even online at sites like Tutor.com. Having said this, the main aspect of starting a tutoring business is finding a way to reach the students. Whether you decide to hold your classes at your own home or you’re more comfortable going to theirs or taking a classroom in their school, you need to make sure you’re on the same page with them and their parents.
It’s worth noting that when you’re working at your business you’re an independent tutor. This means that you get to choose your working hours and a 100% of what you earn is yours. But this is only the beginning of all the pluses tutoring brings.
To begin with, it’s great for your self-improvement both personally and professionally. Helping others with their studies shapes your competency and develops your way of thinking. As you figure out how to teach the subject, your mind comes up with so many theories and strategies that improve you and your skills. Aside from this, your knowledge of certain topics expands. That leads to a better understanding of the matter you’re teaching. Also, you’ve got quite a lot of free time for other activities such as taking another job or devoting yourself to your family if you have one.
As with everything, running a tutoring business has some minuses. First of all, you’re alone in covering your expenses. That may include transportation, taxes, retirement and health plans and such. On top of this, building a base of students that require your services can take some time. At the beginning, the payment may not be so regular, too. But you have to be patient because, in the end, it’ll be worth it.
How Much Can You Make As A Tutor Per Hour?
On average you can earn as much as 50 dollars per hour. The rate depends on the area you’re living in, the living standard of the people, your experience as well as the competition and the additional materials.
Overall, tutors that are still in high school charge $10 to $20 an hour. However, the ones with a university degree or a lengthy experience in teaching can charge anywhere from $30 and even up to $85. Understandably, if you provide notebooks, workbooks, tapes, handouts, and other materials, the hourly rate will be higher. That’s not the case when the students buy the materials by themselves.
Another factor that plays a big role when determining the hourly pay is the subject you’re going to teach. For instance, Maths and Biology will get you more bucks than languages.
As I mentioned before, the numbers can vary a great deal. So, it’s best to explore the market and see what is the maximum rate in your city or try an online tutor rate calculator.
Identify Your Skills
The basic thing you need to be a successful tutor is knowledge of the area you’re teaching. No matter if you’re still a student or you have a degree, you have to develop your skills so that they match the needs of your students. Let’s say that you give guitar lessons. In this case, you should at least know how to read the notes and form an ear-pleasing melody. On the other hand, teaching science can’t go without you being an excellent maths whiz.
That’s why before starting a tutoring business, make sure you determine what your best skills are and improve them. How? By turning the library into your second home, rereading your college books, surfing the Net or asking people who’re already in the business to help you.
Aside from your knowledge, a vital aspect of tutoring is showing empathy. Your students don’t want someone that’ll push them too hard or pressure them to do something. Instead, you should understand them and emotionally connect with their situation. If they see that you’re truly invested in helping them, they’ll respect and listen to you more.
To lessen the tension, you also need to have a couple of jokes up your sleeve. Humour creates a unique bond between you and the student. Let’s face it; no one will open up to you if you’re serious and cold all the time. That’ll make you a stranger in their eyes. So lead your lessons in a positive manner and encourage your students to learn by occasionally making them laugh.
As starting a tutoring business can take quite some time and dedication, you need to work on your patience skills. Sometimes your students won’t be familiar with what you’re teaching or you’ll get snowed under an infinite pile of questions, but you shouldn’t give up. Connected to this, you should love what you’re doing. And you have to make sure that your passion and enthusiasm shows. That will help you continue working and it’ll motivate your students as well.
Finally, one of the basic skills you need to possess is the ability to teach. Not everyone can transfer their knowledge to others. So you have to have a way with words and easily present the matter to your listeners.
Check The Market
The competition will take away all students if you don’t keep up with them. Try, even, to outrun them and be better. But in order to do this, you need to check the market’s pulse.
Start by finding your target audience – elementary-school kids, high-school students, college grads, adults, and everyone else in between. Then, do a little research to determine which skills are required around you. Ask parents, neighbours, teachers even and fellow tutors to give you an insight in the fields most students struggle with. That way you can efficiently plan your tutoring experience ahead of time.
How To Find Clients
Opportunities for finding clients are everywhere around you. You just need to focus your attention on the right ones. Here I’ll help you out with some of the most efficient ways to let people know of your existence as a tutor.
- Let your family and friends know that you’re running a tutoring business. They’re the ones that’ll understand you and help you most. You can even ask them to share the information with their circle of friends and acquaintances.
- Hand out fliers on campuses and at schools nearby. The more students see your services, the better.
- Pin your contact information and service description on bulletin boards.
- Join tutor networks. The fellow tutors can help you a great deal with your search.
- Appear online. In the Internet era, everyone is online, so chances are that they’ll see your tutoring business there. Set up an eye-catching website where you’ll post your qualifications, talk about yourself and the services you offer. What’s more, you can open profiles on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. This way you’ll be able to connect with more students and their parents.
What Do You Think?
Now it’s your turn! Share your thoughts and opinions on starting a tutoring business and nurturing it. What do you think? Do you plan to start a tutoring business yourself? Would love to hear all you have to say in the comments!
