When you decided to give tutoring a try, the most cost-effective way to do so was via a freelance site. It required only a monthly fee to find work. This was an ideal way to test the waters and see if tutoring would earn you sufficient money.
However, some of the frustrations of freelancing might have become apparent, such as sacrificing part of your fee to a freelance platform. It may be time to transition into creating your own business. Here is how:
Background preparations
Do not leave your freelancing job to start a business without a transition period. During this time, you continue earning money for living expenses and to put into starting your business. For example, opening a tutoring enterprise without tutor management software could spell disaster. Tutor Cruncher gives business owners a chance to schedule tutoring sessions, issue reminders, and source potential employees.
Use the time between freelance tutoring sessions to work on vital aspects of starting an endeavor, such as drawing up a business plan. It indicates what capital outlay and other inputs are necessary to start your enterprise.
Create a digital presence
Even if you offer in-person tutoring, clients will find you online, demanding a strong digital presence. Your name should be among the first to appear if they search for a tutor. Register on Google Business to rank in an online search. Hire a website professional to design a functional website that offers details about your services. This work can be done before you launch the business, as a website will only go live once you are ready.
Ensure that your website includes payment mechanisms. Try to offer a few options as not all clients can utilize the same payment methods. If you include a direct payment system on your website, ensure that it is fully operational.
Determine rates
Look at tutors offering comparable services in your area to see what they are charging. This acts as a guideline in calculating your fees. Do not undercut other tutors by too much as it might get you many clients but not the income you need. However, do not price yourself out of the market either.
Tutoring rates vary from $20-$80 an hour. It depends on what subjects you are tutoring, whether you work with special needs learners, and if you tutor online or in-person. Another factor could be a desire to offer group tutoring sessions. Clients would want to pay reduced fees for these as a student is not getting 100% of your attention.
Marketing
Start marketing your tutoring business using social media platforms that link to its website. This might require sponsored posts that you pay for so they enter users’ timelines. You could also use Google Ads to boost your online presence.
All marketing efforts should aim to collect potential client details and include them in a database. You can use this information to continue marketing through email and text. All posts and adverts should link users to the website for more details.
Prepare for growth
If everything goes according to plan, you will soon have more clients than tutoring spots. Put hiring processes in place during the planning phase so you can hire additional tutors at short notice. Hiring decisions should be objective to ensure you get qualified tutors who build your brand’s reputation.
As a passive moneymaker, you could offer some tutoring materials for sale on your website. Some people may prefer to buy these before signing up. Do not be tempted to sell too many resources online, as it could compromise your client base. Instead, sell resources that will persuade buyers to register for tutoring.
You need to register in order to submit a comment.