Last updated on March 5th, 2024 at 08:30 pm
Private tutoring is not only a lucrative side income stream, it can be a great soft landing in your teaching exit– a way to provide a cushion of funds while you’re planning your next move. Leaving teaching doesn’t have to be a drastic change– it can be transitioned out of by this lucrative side business. If tutoring is on your radar, I’d next consider how to refine your tutoring offering to what your community needs for maximum income potential. Here’s how:
Research the tutoring gaps and demand in your area
Before you start tutoring, it’s worthwhile to see what the needs in your community are. What are parents and their children needing the most help with? If you’re aware of this, you can not only hone certain areas of your craft to give your tutoring clients the best possible instruction, but also gain confidence in your tutoring business and the rates you charge.
First– is there demand for tutoring? As I write in 2023, prices are up, the housing markets and inflation seems through the roof, and purchasing a humble carton of eggs now distinguishes one as *fancy*. Can families even afford tutoring?
Numerous sources seem to think so, and they predict an expansion of the tutoring business. Fortune Business Insights clocked global private tutoring revenue around $93 billion USD in 2020– and they project it to soar to around $172 billion by 2028.
So, what kind of tutoring is in demand?
A 2018 report revealed that math was the most commonly tutored subject, followed by physics. But this was an international study. For an idea of local demand, I conducted a quick search on two area Facebook groups: a moms group and a word of mouth group. (Try a search of your own by joining these groups for your area and typing “tutor” in the search box.)
Parents in my area were looking for tutors for: 6th-9th grade math, college admissions test prep such as SAT and ACT, and 1st grade reading. Really, I found posts for every grade K-12. But these were the areas most in demand in my town in March 2023.
Consider offering evergreen tutoring specialties
In general, we can expect some areas of education to have a consistent, or evergreen, need for tutoring.
College entrance test prep opportunities
There continue to be high-stakes tests like the GED, SAT, ACT and GRE that students and families have sought extra support for. I’m predicting that these will be evergreen areas of need, though it’s helpful to take into account the amount of players in the niche.
If your town is overflowing with SAT prep tutors, it may not be the best time to go all-in on this particular specialty.
K-12 Standardized test preparation
It’s 2024, and standardized tests still loom large in the U.S. public education system.
Add in the fact that states seem to routinely change up their standardized tests in content, format and skills tested, and you’ve got an equation for a whole lot of testing anxiety.
Parents and guardians of children having to go through these tests may seek tutors to give them a leg up. In fact, one of my tutoring clients a few years ago came to me for this very reason.
Demand for specialized tutoring tailored to passing a standardized test can be even higher for the “make or break” tests– the ones schools use in decision-making over whether the student can move onto the next grade level or be held back.
In my home state of Florida, this has typically been the test given in the third grade. So by third grade, there’s a palpable feeling of panic among families who aren’t confident if their child can pull through.
A private tutor can help the student enhance his or her skills to get the job done, with the added bonus of test-taking confidence as well. Don’t underestimate this particular need as a driving force behind demand for private tutoring.
Milestone and grade level transition opportunities
There will also generally always be milestone needs. Approaching a new school transition is a common need, for instance. Parents want to ensure their preschooler is ready for Kindergarten and their 8th grader is ready for high school and juniors/seniors are ready for college. It may be worthwhile to hone in on certain subjects needed to pass these levels.
If an eighth grader, for instance, is trying to win a place in an elite high school program but just can’t seem to muster the few final points to pass the prerequisite math class, (let’s say it’s Algebra 1), then it’s not improbable that parents may pay someone to help the student clear that last hurdle.
Reading instruction opportunities
Another need that will probably be long-lasting is reading assistance. Right around first grade is when children typically try to learn to read, so parents might seek support in that crucial area. By 2nd or 3rd grade, it can get urgent if their child is below level approaching the third grade state tests, where there’s a possibility to be held back if not on grade level. Learning to read is a big deal, and families will probably continue to seek support for this crucial proficiency.
Extracurricular opportunities
I’d be remiss not to mention the myriad of sports, arts and other hobbies and skills instruction in demand. Though these aren’t the core academic subjects, there’s a market for one-on-one instruction for these extracurriculars from private piano teacher to tennis instructor to ceramics tutor. Put out feelers for the demand in your community– but if you have the skill, I think it’s worth looking into, especially over the summer when families are more likely to have the time to send their children to lessons.
Honing a tutoring business to meet specific demand
I hope this gives you ideas and confidence for moving forward with your private tutoring gig. I think there will continue to be a need for tutors, even if the needs may transform based on world circumstances. Just look at the increased need for “pod teachers” that arose during the pandemic and online learning era. Who would have seen that coming?
Tutoring can be a great source of income– tailor your offerings to specific demands in your area, and it can be even more lucrative.
Teachers looking to exit the profession: If you’re not sure if tutoring is the right ramp off for you, I’ve written about five other side hustles I’ve tried. I also put together a post detailing alternative career ideas for teachers and top teacher skills that transfer well into other professions. Best of luck in your journey!
