How to Start a Tutoring Business

There are many types of private tutors, varying in terms of the scope, subjects and ages of the students they teach. Some offer one-to-one tuition, some take place exclusively online, while others do a little of everything. 

One of the primary factors likely to influence what kind of tutoring services you offer is whether or not you have a specialist subject. After all, it’s unlikely you’ve entered the world of tutoring to take a punt on teaching a topic you don’t have expertise in. And while you don’t require specific qualifications to be a tutor, you may need to have qualified teacher status if you’re teaching academic qualifications. 

However, some tutors are more general and teach younger students a broad range of topics to help them at different Key Stage levels. 

It’s also important to understand where your potential clientele is based. A much larger share of those in the top quartile of household income (31.6%) have had private tutoring, compared to just 12.8% in the lowest quartile, according to The Sutton Trust. It’s a similar picture for those with professional (23.9%) and degree-level educated parents (25.8%). Just 11.1% of children in working-class families and 12.8% of children whose parents have no degree have had private tutoring.  

That’s not to say that you should exclusively offer your services to families higher up the socio-economic ladder; just that you’re likely to find a higher demand for tutoring services if you live in, or can promote yourself in, a more affluent area. 

You should also research what types of tutoring services are prevalent in your area or online. The Sutton Trust found that maths and English are by far the most popular subjects for tutoring in the UK, with 68% of 11- to 16-year-olds who have been tutored receiving maths tuition and 50% receiving English tuition. So, you could start a maths or English tuition business, but you may have a harder time breaking into the market and standing out from the competition. 

Here are some of the different types of tutoring businesses. Note that these are not mutually exclusive:

• Primary school children: Parents may employ tutors to help their children increase their confidence and subject knowledge ahead of important assessments like Standardised Assessment Tests (SATs), the eleven-plus, or secondary school entrance exams. They may have a child who needs more academic support than the school can provide because they have a learning difficulty or simply because the school environment isn’t the best way for them to learn. Alternatively, they may have a particularly academic child who is keen to learn beyond their school curriculum.
• Secondary school children: Parents may want a tutor to help coach their child towards GCSE or A-level success, or they may want extra support for a child who is finding a subject challenging.
• Adult tutoring: It’s not just kids who use tutors. Adults returning to education after an interruption or simply to advance their learning can also benefit from tutoring services.
• Specialist: Whether it’s maths, English, music or psychology, many tutors are subject specialists and focus entirely on teaching one topic. 
• Online: The advantage of online tutoring is that you’re not limited to teaching students in your local area and you don’t have to spend time and money travelling. 
• In-person: The advantage of tutoring in person is that it can be easier to build a rapport with your student when you’re face to face, and it may be easier to demonstrate certain concepts if you’re in the same physical space

Starting a tutoring business is a relatively low-cost opportunity. However, you should still create a business budget to work out how much capital or funding you need to get it off the ground.  

• DBS check: A Disclosure and Barring Service check is a search through your criminal record to see if there is anything that would disqualify you from working with children or vulnerable adults. It costs £18 for a basic DBS check. If you’re self-employed as a private tutor, you’re not legally required to have a DBS, though parents may be wary of employing you if you don’t. However, if you offer your services through a tutoring agency, they may require you to have a standard or even enhanced DBS check.
• Curriculum materials: If you’re teaching school children, you should have the relevant curriculum materials, such as textbooks and past exam papers. While you’ll need to pay for textbooks, you can find recent exam papers free online
• Equipment: A laptop with a strong broadband connection will be essential if you don’t already have one, especially if you’re teaching online. You may also invest in some stationery if teaching in person. While not essential, studies have shown that some children learn better with pens and paper.
• Travel costs: Fuel or public transport costs should also be factored into your budget if you plan on visiting your students’ homes or meeting in an agreed-upon place.
• Insurance: If you’re a sole trader, there is no insurance you’re required to have. However, you could face a claim if a student is injured or you damage their property, or even a claim of negligence if a student fails to achieve a grade or pass. This last eventuality is why you might consider getting professional indemnity insurance to protect you against claims of negligence. Public liability insurance will protect you against injuries or accidents involving your students. You could also protect your laptop and phone with portable equipment cover. This insurance will cost from around £8 to £15 a month.

With a market in mind and a budget drawn up, it’s time to think about the legal structure of your tutoring business. This process involves deciding on a company structure and then registering your business. 

Many private, freelance tutors are likely to operate as sole traders. This is the simplest business structure to set up and run, and a majority of private businesses in the UK are run this way.

However, you also have the option of running your tutoring business as a limited company or setting up a partnership. Our guide to choosing a company structure explains the perks and drawbacks of all your options – as well as walking you through the registration process for each one. 

You can register your tutoring business as a limited company at Gov.uk.

» MORE: Should I register as a sole trader or limited company?

There are no standard qualifications or licences required to become a tutor in the UK. This means there are no obvious legal hurdles you’ll have to jump over before setting up your tutoring business. 

But bear in mind that if you plan to run your tutoring business from home, you will be legally responsible for ensuring that this is a safe environment. We also recommend you read up on safeguarding and follow best practices in this field from the moment you set out on your business journey.

Now would be a good time to consider the advantages of undergoing a DBS check. As mentioned above, some parents may look for this before hiring you, while if you work for an agency it may be a prerequisite. 

Consider taking out any relevant insurance to ensure that your tutoring business is protected from the get-go. 

You can’t be expected to know, to the penny, exactly how much seed capital it will take to get your tutoring business off the ground. However, your budget should help you make an educated guess about start-up costs. 

Because of the low start-up costs associated with the tutoring business model, it’s possible that you won’t need a fortune to get your business going. 

This means that you may be able to fund your tutoring business using your savings – allowing you to retain full control of your business. If you do go down this path, however, just make sure you don’t endanger your own financial wellbeing in the process.
Before committing to anything, it would be wise to consider all your other funding options, from start-up loans to business grants. To get schooled on all the possibilities, check out NerdWallet’s guide to funding a new business.

Once you have secured the money you need to start your tutoring business, you may need to open a business bank account. 

For sole traders (assuming your bank account permits business transactions), this can be an optional step – although separating your finances may make life easier when you file your tax return. 

Limited companies and partnerships, however, have a legal obligation to keep personal and business finances separate. In these cases, a business bank account is an absolute must. 

With many established providers and individuals vying for business from potential students, you’ll have to stand out from your competitors. Spend some time and effort marketing your services. Most people will probably search for a tutor online, so a website that is optimised with relevant keywords is a must as well as a compelling social media presence. 

Ask for testimonials from satisfied students, or their parents, that you can display on your website and in your marketing materials. It will help to lend you credibility. Offline methods can also be very effective, especially if you’re offering services locally. Approach schools to ask if you can promote yourself to their students and advertise on online neighbourhood networks and in local shops or other public spaces. 

Lastly, word of mouth is the best form of free advertising, and the way to benefit from it is simply to do a good job. Parents talk, and a recommendation of a good tutor from a friend is a very powerful marketing tool.