Learn how to start a private tutoring business from scratch. Discover tips and strategies for marketing, pricing, and growing your tutoring business successfully.
A few of you have asked how Jhone started his private tutoring business. To give you a summary, he started his tutoring business at 19, fresh out of high school, while studying pharmacy at university. Unsure about becoming a pharmacist but pursuing it due to parental expectations, he began tutoring English on the side. Over the next five years, he tutored an average of 26 students per year, making roughly $52,000 annually. After becoming a pharmacist, he realized they absolutely hated it. After just 11 months, he quit and focused on tutoring full-time. Tutoring proved rewarding, offered flexible hours, and provided a higher income than pharmacy.
Since then, he built Lisa's Study Guides into a team of over 35 tutors, looking after 200 students each year, and generating over two million dollars in sales. It's been an epic journey, and on his channel, he share the lessons learned along the way, offering tips on current market trends and how to grow a tutoring business.
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| How to Start a Successful Private Tutoring Business: Tips and Strategies |
Marketing Your Tutoring Business
When starting your business, there are many free marketing strategies that still work. The tutoring business clients use these strategies to get students regularly. Start with your inner circle—friends and family. Spread the word that you are offering tutoring services. Since tutoring is a service-based industry, being personable is important. Leveraging connections with friends and family can help you get your first few students more easily than posting on social media, where it takes time to build trust.
Beyond that, leverage your local community. Think about local libraries, cafes, or even distributing flyers if it’s allowed in your area. Localization is beneficial, especially for in-person tutoring. People appreciate not having to travel far for services.
Next, think about where parents and students are online. Are they in certain Facebook groups or local community forums? For example, if you’re coaching parents to help their children sleep better, you’d want to join parenting forums. These cost-effective and low-effort strategies can help you quickly get your first students.
Pricing Your Tutoring Services
When determining your pricing, consider whether you’re offering one-on-one sessions, small groups, or classes. Also, think about whether you’re tutoring in person or online. If in person, are they coming to you, or are you traveling to them? These factors affect how much time you invest in tutoring, not just the session itself.
Look at the market rate for tutors with similar experience and subject expertise as a starting point. However, don't feel obligated to charge the same rate as everyone else. Wherever possible, aim to increase your prices. Charging above market rate can feel uncomfortable, but it's essential to overcome self-limiting beliefs about pricing. Reflect on any guilt or fear you have about charging more, as these emotions can prevent you from operating with a CEO mindset. Charging more can position you as a premium service provider and can ultimately benefit your business.
Defining Your Ideal Student
Defining your ideal student is crucial. At some point, you’ll encounter students who are not motivated, inattentive, and inconsistent in attending sessions. These students can be challenging to teach and may not provide positive word-of-mouth for your business.
Focus on attracting students who are engaged and motivated. For me, ideal students are those who are averaging in English and need help advancing their skills. When you attract students you are best at helping, you produce better results, leading to more referrals and business growth.
Retaining Your First Students
Your first few students are crucial in building a solid foundation for your business. Retention is key. If students drop off after the first session, you're not building a sustainable business. Plan your first session carefully to showcase your tutoring skills and build rapport with your students. Confidence in your first session is vital for making a lasting impression and retaining students.
Should You Offer Free Trial Lessons?
This topic is contentious. If you can charge for your first session, do so. Your time is valuable. Offering free sessions can attract people who are only interested in free services with no intention of signing up. Instead of a free trial, consider offering a free consultation call to address any questions potential students might have. This approach can save you time while still providing value and encouraging sign-ups.
Conclusion
In conclusion, starting and growing a tutoring business involves leveraging free marketing strategies, setting appropriate prices, defining your ideal student, retaining your first students, and being mindful about offering free trials. If you found this artecal helpful, please thumbs it up and share your self-limiting beliefs about starting a tutoring business in the comments. Thank you for reading this article.
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