How to Start a Tutoring Business

If you have a teaching background and want to make a side income or work at home full time, you may want to start your own tutoring business.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Teaching background
• Calendar
• Various Teaching Supplies

1. Decide how much you will charge for your tutoring services. Call local tutoring companies for an idea of what the going rate is for your area, factor in your experience and financial needs, and set your price.

2. Decide on a cancellation policy. While this is not necessary to start a tutoring business, you will find it very helpful down the road, and will take all the guess work out of what to do when a parent calls you 30 minutes before they are supposed to show up, telling you that their child is sick. A typical policy is to require 24 hours notice, and to charge 1/2 of the agreed upon price for the session if the notice is less than 24 hours.

3. Advertise. Word of mouth is the best advertisement there is, but you can also get a free listing on several online sites as well. Getting your first couple of students signed up will be the hardest, after that, word will start to spread.

4. Earn your business. Once you have the first few students sign up for tutoring, it is important to do a good job. If parents decide that they are not getting what they are paying for, they will look elsewhere for help. Be creative and energetic.

Tips & Warnings

• Create a test to assess students' abilities to find a starting point.
• Send notes home to the parents each session telling them what you worked on that day.
• Keep records of all of your earnings and expenses for tax purposes.
• Consider having parents sign a registration form so that expectations are in writing.
• You must put a lot of work into tutoring to make it a successful business.