- The function of a tutoring business is to provide assistance to students struggling with their academics. In order to provide quality assistance, it is important to evaluate the needs of your students either formally with your own assessments or informally through observation, review of school work, and speaking with the students' teachers and parents. A positive rapport, strong organizational skills, and open communication with all parties involved will be essential for a student to succeed. The success of your students will lead to more recommendations by parents and teachers to your tutoring business.
- Some tutoring businesses offer small group tutoring while others offer one-on-one tutoring. However, regardless of whether your tutoring business provides group tutoring or one-on-one tutoring, it is important to keep a communication log. You may choose to log what was completed during each session and communicate with the parents and/or teachers weekly or monthly via oral or written communication. Part of this communication may also include periodic evaluations on skills where the student is struggling.
- When starting your own tutoring business there are many things to consider as part of your business plan. First and foremost, consider what grade levels and subjects you are willing to tutor. Next, decide what you will charge for your hourly rate: this should be based on your experience and the going rate in your area. It is not necessary to have a professional certificate of any kind to tutor, but parents are normally more willing to pay someone more if they do. Additionally, consider how you will handle payments. Will you ask for payment at each session or bill your clients using an invoice sheet. Then decide where you will conduct the tutoring; your home, the student's home, or maybe a library. Also, be sure to take into consideration how far you are willing to travel to provide your tutoring services and the maximum amount of time you are available for services each week. Finally, consider how you will advertise and the possible expense associated with that. Word of mouth seems to be the best form of advertisement when it comes to services such as tutoring. You could also contact local schools and churches and ask if you could provide them with flyers and advertise online.
- Once you have developed your business plan for your tutoring business, the time it takes to actually get your business off the ground will first depend on how long it takes to obtain a business permit or license in your area. Seek the advice of the Small Business Administration (see resources) for extensive resources on getting your tutoring business going in a well organized and timely manner.
- The initial investment in a private tutoring business is small, especially is you are not renting an office space. Many tutors today are able to charge $30 or more an hour and have clients begging for their services. It is best to start with a few clients, receive positive feedback and recommendations and build your tutoring business from there. The earning potential is only limited by your availability.
- Be sure to have all terms of a tutoring agreement in writing this includes payment and cancellation policies. It is best to have an attorney review this contract before using it with your first client. Also, rather than tutoring a child in your home, it is safer to tutor a child at her home with an adult present or in a public location so no false accusations can be made.
