Do you really enjoy a school subject and have the awesome grades to prove it? If so, there are a lot of students who can use your help in just about any subject including math, writing, history, a foreign language or science. You can even help other students with topics outside of academic subjects, such as music.

PROS:
— There could be a widespread need for your services.

CONS:
— You may have to go into strangers’ homes
— You may have to enter into long-term commitments (e.g. entire semester or even the entire school year)

How to Get Started:
NOTE: Before you start your business, you should read the page on this website entitled “things to think about before you get started.” After you have taken the preliminary steps for starting any business, you can take the specific steps outlined below.

  • Word-of-mouth is the best way to promote your tutoring business. Get in touch with local schools, libraries and organizations, and tell them about your services, so they can then recommend them to parents. Of course, you could offer your services directly to classmates,  but generally that’s not the best approach — likely, they would expect your services for free.
  • Place fliers in libraries, community centers, supermarkets, and other places students and parents are likely to frequent.
  • Don’t forget about alternative schools and homeschoolers. There are many homeschool groups and organizations that work with school districts and other local businesses in and around most local communities.
  • Your teachers may also have a few students in mind that could really use your help. If so, ask the teacher to call that student’s parents to arrange tutoring.

How Much to Charge:
A lot of tutors charge $30 an hour or more, especially for help with math and science.

Taking it to the next level:
Here are a few ways you can make your tutoring business a success.

  • Consider having online presence and starting a blog. Sharing tips and information about your services is a great way to show families that you’re awesome in your subject.
  • Volunteer to help with tutoring workshops handled by your school. This adds great experience to your resume and shows your commitment to helping others.
  • Ask for references from your teachers and from students you tutored and/or their parents.

Taking it online:

Students still need help improving their grades. This is true for students who are being taught online or in a school setting.  You can be an online tutor, whether you previously tutored students in person, or if you’re just getting started as a tutor.

Consider (or reconsider) which school subject and age group to focus on for tutoring. Also, take some time to be sure you have what you need to give your clients a great learning experience as they work with you online.

The first thing you should do is make sure you have the right equipment:

  • A reliable desktop computer or laptop
  • A good webcam, headset with microphone, and speakers
  • Strong internet connection.
  • Videoconferencing software (e.g. Zoom, Google Hangouts or Skype) that’s user-friendly as well as free or inexpensive
  • A comfortable, well-lit, quiet, and nice-looking area for filming your videos 

After you pick a videoconferencing site, you can explore using that app’s different tools to share information with your students. For example, some apps let you share your screen while tutoring by simply clicking  the ‘+’ icon (usually near the bottom) on your screen, and/or choosing a ‘share screen’ option. You can also use these apps’ features to change how your background appears during tutoring sessions.