What will I be doing?

People want to learn. Learning may not always be enjoyable, but it is often necessary. If you are knowledgeable on a topic, you can make it more enjoyable—or at least easier—for others to learn. You can be a tutor. Alternately, you can help people find qualified tutors.

As a tutor you will help others learn facts or skills about a subject in which you are proficient. Tutors help students learn remedial or advanced topics.

What will I need to start?

To teach a subject you must first have extensive knowledge on the topic. You don’t necessarily have to be an expert, but you must at least know more than the student. You must also know how to transfer that knowledge to your student. Practical experience with the topic may be all that’s needed to make the subject come alive. For example, in teaching physics, conducting experiments can help the student visualize concepts and learn faster than reading from the book. So, depending on your subject, you may need lab equipment.

In some states, tutors must be certified and licensed. Check with area colleges on requirements for tutors in your state.

Who will my customers be?

In most cases your customers will be the parents of high school students or college students themselves. You can reach the parents or students through advertising and brochures. They may also be adults who are going back to school. Referrals from teachers are very useful.

How much should I charge?

Your hourly rate as a tutor will depend on the topic, complexity of the material, your credentials and your teaching skills. As a successful tutor you will be able to establish a higher rate than new tutors. Typical rates are $25 to $50 an hour with most tutors on the lower end of the scale—unless the subject is graduate-level quantum physics.

Some tutorial services offer a package deal like this: On-call tutoring is
offered as needed and priced by course. For example, a chemistry tutor will help a student throughout the course whenever a question arises or to prepare for an upcoming test for a flat fee of $200 per course. One tutor located in the Midwest has a toll-free number for students and charges services by the hour to their credit card.

How much will I make?

About 80 percent of your time will be billable once your business is established. Overhead expenses for reference materials, telephone, office supplies and some advertising will range from 20 to 40 percent. So a tutor working 30 billable hours a week at $25 an hour with 20 percent overhead will net $600 a week, or more than $30,000 a year.

How can I get started?

If you have little or no experience as a tutor, develop your skills by volunteering to tutor others on your primary subjects. Develop your resources. If one or two textbooks are most popular in your field, buy them or ask for them from students whom you’re done tutoring.

Ask for referrals. If you’re in college, ask teachers and professors if they would recommend you to lower division students. Also ask your students for referrals. Produce a flier on your skills and include your telephone number or another way to contact you. Include references or testimonials.

The SIC code for tutors and tutoring services is 8299-09.

How can I use computers to increase profits?

Many tutors use computers to develop lesson plans, correspond with students, research information on the Internet, schedule tutoring sessions, and track income and expenses. Using the Internet, you can help students anywhere in the world from your own home.