Starting an in-home tutoring service is a small business that doesn’t require a lot of start-up costs or training. Essentially, this service is a great business for stay-at-home moms who love dealing with kids and making some money. Other than that, this home business provides time flexibility as the tutor would only need to spend a few hours each day on tutoring. Of course, more classes can also be scheduled according to personal preferences.
In fact, a tutoring business can be carried out within the comfort of the tutor’s home or in the students’ home. This essentially eliminates the need to pay rental costs of any kind, with the only cost being transportation costs and time spent in classes.
Startup Costs and Funding Sources:
Starting a tutoring business does not require much in start-up costs. In fact, the essentials you need to buy are pencils and paper, as well as a few books, all of which will set you back less than $20.
Pricing guidelines for the service:
Tutors typically charge between $15 and $40 per hour for their services. Fees depend on the subjects and levels being taught, as well as the location where the services are offered. Naturally, services offered in larger cities will cost more.
Advertising and marketing:
Advertising and marketing your tutoring service is one of the most crucial steps in ensuring success in your business. In fact, there are many ways to market tutoring services. The first thing you need to do is create a profile for yourself. Please list your credentials, including details of your degrees, as well as any previous tutoring experience you may have. Aside from that, other teaching-related experience such as peer tutoring while in college can also help build a strong profile.
Next, think about what area of study you are interested in teaching, as well as the specific age group. Most tutors specialize in specific subjects such as Arithmetic or History, while others may only deal with primary school students.
Once you have your resume ready, you are ready to approach schools to market yourself. Tell any school teacher you know about your expertise, experience, and the services you offer. This is because many parents consult with school teachers about where they can send their children for tutoring, which makes teachers the best people to promote it. Alternatively, you can also approach your school counselor or principal about their services, as they may be constantly looking for tutors to refer to parents of struggling children.
The next thing you can do is to paste a small advertisement on the bulletin boards located in the shops in the city. You can find these boards in laundromats, convenience stores, and supermarkets. Some parents may notice your ad and call you for a tutoring commitment. Aside from that, you can even design a nicely printed brochure highlighting your services and credentials as well as your contact information and send them to mailboxes within your area.
Another thing you could do is contact a local homeschool group in your location. Many parents of homeschooled children require tutoring in certain subjects and may be seeking tutors for this purpose.
Recommended Training, Experience, or Skills Required:
A tutor does not necessarily need to have a teaching degree to be qualified to tutor. However, teaching experience will help build a profile, as parents will be more confident in your abilities. Also, as a tutor, you need to research the latest programs and texts that are used in the classes to ensure that your teaching is aligned with the current educational system.
Also, a trip to the library might help you get lists of books specifically about tutoring in your areas of focus. In addition, you will be able to find a wide variety of material to present to your students in class from your local library. You can even get creative teaching and tutoring ideas that will help engage your students during class.
Income Potential:
The potential earnings from a home tutoring service really depend on the efforts and commitment of the individual. If more time was spent on tutoring, then more income would be generated.
There have been tutors who have successfully made an annual income of $10,000 to $15,000 tutoring just 20 hours a week from home.
Target market:
Students from Elementary Level to High School
Success Tips:
One of the factors that influence the success of a home tutoring service is the level of education and guidance that has been provided to the students. Usually, this is measured by the results obtained by the students. Once a student earns an ‘A’ in a subject area in which he or she has been deficient, her or his effective tutoring work will travel quickly by word of mouth as parents make good recommendations to other parents. In fact, word of mouth is the channel that facilitates the rapid growth of your business.