How to Make Money from Tutoring

If you are a teacher or a retired teacher you know the value of tutoring and probably know that tutoring can be a successful and fulfilling part-time business. But non-teachers, too, can make money from tutoring if they have knowledge or skills that are in demand. Most students can make much faster progress with a private tutor than in a classroom because of the individual attention provided. Here is a roadmap for getting started tutoring for money.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet Access
• Knowledge
• Motivation

Instructions

1. Decide What Subjects You'll Be Tutoring

   First you'll need to identify the market need you'll be serving. Will you tutor in math? Reading? Writing? English? Science? Foreign language? SAT/ACT preps? Cooking? Music? Piano? Dance? Whatever you decide, you need to be good at it yourself. If you haven't used your talent(s) in a while then you'll need to brush up a bit before going to market with your service.

2. Do Your Marketing Homework

   Assess the local market for your potential tutoring business. If you are in an urban or populous suburban area, then there will be plenty of opportunity but probably lots of competition, too. Do your own market research on what others charge and what their service consists of.

   Use the yellow pages to find the big guys and shop their services first. You will need to know their pricing cold and you will need to offer your services for less to get started. Your first requirement in marketing is a thorough understanding of the market - service offerings, prices, and delivery options (your place or theirs?).

3. Develop a Plan to Acquire Clients

   OK, you're organized and ready; the next step is obtaining clients. How best to go about it? There are a few avenues to follow. The first one is to network with friends, relatives, and acquaintances to make them all aware of your new business and to ask for their help in identifying potential clients.

   The second route is, if you will be tutoring in academic subjects, to get to know local teachers of the subject you'll be tutoring. Teachers will know students who can use the extra help and can refer you to their families once they are comfortable with your abilities. Teachers and other school personnel (guidance counselors, for example) will probably be your best sources of clients, especially once they've seen the difference you can make.

4. Consider Working for Someone Else First

   An alternative to starting your own tutoring business right away is to get a part-time job with one of the major providers such as Sylvan. If you need structure and want to gain experience this could be an excellent way to go, if job openings exist.

5. Consider Making Money from Tutoring Online

   Another alternative is to tutor or teach online. You may have to pass tests and acquire a fair amount of knowledge about technique to get hired, but this is a very viable alternative, and will permit you to work from home. Please see the Resources section for articles on these options. There may not be immediate openings, however.

6. Reward People Who Send You Referrals

   If you do decide to pursue your own tutoring business you'll need to find appropriate ways to reward teachers and others who send clients your way. Referrals are the primary source of tutoring leads and customers. So make sure you listen to and pay attention to the teachers in the community. They are your natural allies and they tend to know what they are talking about.

Tips & Warnings

• Making money by helping others, especially the young, can be extremely satisfying. So if this is something you want, make sure that you become really good at it and the rewards will follow.

• Helping the young is very serious business and a precious trust. Make sure that you never say or do anything that could possibly be regarded as inappropriate.

Resources

• How to Make Money Tutoring from Home
• How to Get Online Tutoring Jobs
• How to Make Money Tutoring in Math
• How to Make Money Tutoring English