So you’re thinking about starting a business, but you don’t know what kind of business to start? You may want to consider children’s education and tutoring. With the price of a college education on the rise, parents are trying to give the best advantage available to the children. Preschools have become highly competitive and the market for tutoring, test preparation services, and supplemental content has grown over the past 3 years.
As you sign up as tutor you get a really wide range of teaching options. You can go for online classes, private tuitions, or you can enroll yourself as teacher in an institution. This is a really handy and easy way for students to pay for their college on their own and for professional teachers then can earn good money with this as well.
According to TimWiley, a senior analyst for K-12 Solutions at Eduventures, online tutoring has grown to the tune of $115 million and is most popular with high school and middle school students. So, as you can see tutoring is a very hot business in today’s educational arena. Tutorial skills are highly marketable to schools, but you will have to meet all requirements established by the state, regional and local governments.
Currently, reading and math are most needed for the third through the eighth grades. Expect the need for science to increase over the next few years. However, preschool education will probably take the biggest jump, especially as more states are making it mandatory for all children.
Special needs education is also on the rise. With the advancement in medicine allowing learning disabilities to be diagnosed early in children, so grows the need for someone to teach these children and educate their parents on how to teach them the necessary skills. A gentleman named Marc Stelzer started a business in 2006 called learningbreakthrough.com and marketed on the internet to the tune of $400,000 his first year out. Here are some tips for getting started:
Buy only the materials necessary to get started. Most of what you need can probably be printed on the internet. See who your clients are before you buy specific materials. The library is also a good resource for materials.
Set up clear policies and procedures. Pricing and makeup policies should be made clear upfront. It is best to get paid in advance and to have a schedule for your clients to be able to make up missed sessions.
Advertise your business where parents will find it. Schools, of course, are the best place to advertise, but libraries and community centers are also a good place. Any type of daycare that students attend after school is a good option for clients. Advertise anywhere that children frequent. The parents will be there sooner or later.
Start out locally. Start in your own school district. You will be most familiar with what they will expect and it will be easiest to start with them.
Watch your cash. This is important in any business. Find out how often you will be paid if you are working for school or business. You will have to manage your money accordingly.
If you like working with children a tutoring business is a great way for you to make some extra money and get started in your own business. There are many resources online to help you get started in this rewarding business.