How to Become a Tutor and Start Your Home Tutoring Business

They say that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. So, if you have a passion for teaching and helping others, then you’re more than likely wondering how you can become a tutor. If you want to get started as a tutor, you'll want to begin advertising your service and find students to teach. You can also create your very own profile on a platform such as Superprof, and off you go! If you’re looking to become a tutor for high school students, then having a diploma would likely be satisfactory for many students. If you want to become a university-level tutor, then having your four-year degree behind you will also qualify you in that area. In this article, we’re going to pull back the curtain on the process that stands between you and your dream profession, so let’s get into it.

What Does a Tutor Do?

First things first, before we get stuck into the meat of the article, we need to arrive at an understanding of what a tutor does exactly and how it differs from being a teacher, which generally requires specific teaching qualifications. For the most part, tutoring jobs help students boost their academic performance and develop key skills beyond regular classrooms. So, it’s typically a supplementary resource for students looking to keep up with the pace of their classes, learn a new skill or review for an upcoming exam. Often, it offers a personal approach to learning that students typically don’t get inside a classroom environment, helping them advance through quick ways to understand and solve problems.

One-on-one vs group tutoring

So, if you imagine becoming a tutor is the finish line, the first hurdle that stands between you and it is deciding how you’re going to teach. So, you’ll first have to choose between individual or group sessions. One-on-one tutoring gives students personal attention that matches their needs, weak areas, and learning style. On the other hand, group tutoring involves teaching multiple students at once, usually two to six learners. The former will allow you to tailor the content to the specific needs of a single student, potentially being that bit more effective. The latter may increase your earning potential, seeing as you’ll be offering a reduced rate, but to more students. After all, nobody is going to hire anyone to teach English online who does not speak the language or a calculus tutor who cannot solve linear equations.

Subjects and levels tutors cover

With that behind you, you’ll need to shift your focus to the subjects and level you intend to tutor. Not every tutor must hold advanced degrees; only they should be proficient in his/her discipline and at least one year beyond the level they wish to tutor at. If you are an undergraduate, you may tutor GCSE and A-Level candidates in exam preparation, homework help or general academic support.

For this part of the decision process, you’ll want to consider the demand for the subject. Core subjects like mathematics, English, or science are always in demand as students sit standardised tests year after year. This means you’ll have a consistent flow of students, but perhaps more competition as a result. Choosing a more refined subject area could see a lower demand, but less availability of tuition, which might just allow you to charge a higher rate for your time. Many tutors also help with international qualifications and adult education that supports career growth.

Online vs In-person tutoring

Next, you’ll need to decide whether you’re going to be teaching online or in person. In-person often allows you to charge more for your service, but online learning will allow you to reach more students and cut out all of the hidden expenses associated with commuting to your lessons. You’ll want to note that these avenues of provisioning tuition require different skill sets, too. Operating your classes online will require a familiarity with various digital tools in order to offer the optimal learning experience to your students. In spite of that, face-to-face teaching makes it easier to show concepts, especially for subjects that need hands-on work.

What You Need to Get Started

Now that you’ve a good understanding of how your tutoring is going to look, you can begin taking steps towards your goal. You’ll be glad to learnt that UK tutors don't need formal teaching qualifications, unlike school teachers. With that said, having a relevant degree under your belt will boost your credibility and make you more effective. Keep in mind that parents and students are always going to prefer to place their learning in the hands of a tutor who has degrees in their subject areas.

Your ability to help students reach their goals is ultimately what matters most. So, whether you want to offer your service at a reduced rate or free of charge at the beginning, you’ll be able to gain testimonials and proof of success that will help you gain more work going forward. Of course, if you’ve got any professional certifications, you’ll also be able to leverage them as a means of demonstrating your expertise and qualification in your subject area. A great tutor, above all, will analyse how their students learn and adjust their tuition accordingly. When you promote your lessons as a private teacher, you should emphasise that you have these abilities.

Not only will you need to have sufficient knowledge in your subject area, but you’ll also need to work on the skills that make you an effective tutor. You’ll need to be patient with your students, work on communicating ideas clearly, being empathetic, being positive and listening to the students’ needs.

Actionable Steps on How to Become a Tutor UK

The first step if you’re starting out as a tutor here in the UK is that you’re going to need to refine your knowledge in your subject area. If you wish to become an in-home personal trainer, you must have a valid Level-3 certificate. In most other cases, being a private tutor requires a certain level of skill and expertise. It is up to you to advertise your credentials accordingly and decide whether you are competent to tutor in a certain subject.

You’ll need to make sure you know the material that you’re going to be teaching inside out. This can be anything from a college course to an online certification. Organisations like The Tutors' Association (TTA) can add to your credibility, as it will show your commitment to professional standards. Things like getting familiar with syllabi, textbooks and exam formats can also help you better tailor your tuition to the student. Do your research on what teachers and exam boards are looking for as well as how grading systems and mark schemes work. Parents value tutors with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, so getting one makes sense if you'll work with children.

Set your rates and create a profile

It doesn't matter if you're wondering how to become a private tutor or how to become a maths tutor, before you can get into tutoring, you’ll need to arrive at a price for your sessions. This can always be changed; don’t worry too much about finding the perfect rate from the outset, but it will impact the demand for your service. It’s advised that you do some market research for your subject area, and offer a reduced rate until you get some more experience under your belt and build up some positive reviews.

Start advertising and finding clients

From here, you should be all set to begin tutoring your chosen subject. It’s just a matter of advertising your service and finding the right clients. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram can prove very helpful in getting the word out there. You can try joining any community groups that have to do with your subject, and advertising your tutoring there.

A website will also help interested students get in contact with you while also helping you attract new students. A web address gives you ample room to promote your venture. A website gives your efforts legitimacy, something you might not get by posting a free advert online. Having your own web page permits you to detail your venture and share success stories of previous students through their testimonials. Those will validate your skills for other parents and students who are looking for something in particular.

Distributing flyers and putting up adverts is a practical way to advertise your service. Many high-traffic locations like shops, cafes and libraries have bulletin boards for just that purpose. Posting small advertisements in busy areas is a great way to get your name out there. Even if it's not somewhere popular with parents, your ad could catch the eye of someone who will pass your name on to a potential customer. You may even consider your local schools and university dorms, they have bulletin boards too.

Family, friends and former colleagues; even people in your local community can help spread your venture by word-of-mouth.

Make your name the first on everyone's lips when the subjects you tutor come up.

You could also opt for the old-fashioned way and venture on down to your local school or university yourself.

Create a tutoring profile on Superprof

The easiest path to becoming a tutor would be to sign up with the most popular online tutoring platform here in the UK. Superprof handles all of the heavy lifting when it comes to pairing you up with suitable students looking to learn your subject.

Countless students across the UK and beyond use Superprof as a means of finding the perfect tutor for their learning needs. When students search for lessons in their area or online classes, your profile will appear in their search results. This avenue is loved by tutors, seeing as it means that they don’t have to worry about advertising their tutoring; students simply reach out through the platform via chat and begin scheduling their first lesson. We'll touch more on this at the end of the article!

Reporting Your Income for Tutoring Jobs

One of the most important parts of working as a private tutor is reporting your income and paying your taxes. As a tutor, HMRC considers you a self-employed sole trader. Check that box when you register as self-employed to accurately report your income - even if you only tutor part-time while working somewhere else. If you live and tutor in Scotland, you must register with Revenue Scotland.

As a sole trader, you will have to complete a self-assessment tax return every year after the 5^th of April (when the tax year ends), which you can do online. As someone who runs an enterprise, you are personally responsible for its finances. In the same way that your full-time place of work sorts out the amount of tax you should be paying based on your earnings, you'll need to do the same for yourself as a self-employed tutor. HMRC offers more information about working for yourself. Their website includes advice on setting up as a sole trader and the appropriate forms to complete for your application. You can also find out the facts about disclosing what you earn in our companion article.

Getting Insurance to Become an Online Tutor

You are not legally obliged to have insurance to work as a private tutor in the UK.

Public liability insurance covers the cost of claims made by members of the public for damage or injury that has occurred in connection with your enterprise.

Public liability insurance is recommended for freelance workers, particularly for those who offer personal tuition at home or outside their homes.

Should a student get hurt or damage occur to anyone's property, you'll be covered. Even if you will tutor exclusively online, it is a good idea to insure yourself!

What Are The Legalities of Working Private Tutor Jobs?

As there are no legal requirements to work as a private tutor in the UK, it is up to you to advertise your services, decide which precautions to take and which checks you may wish to have done. It generally takes around eight weeks to get a DBS check. The time it takes to process the check depends on the level of the check required, the accuracy of the details provided, and the police forces that need to be involved in the check. The benefits of having a DBS certificate include making students, parents and other tutors feel safe. Providing this security assurance helps you attract more students to your service.

Taking the time to get a DBS check also shows that you're serious about the services you are providing, however little or often you may tutor. It's also handy to have if you're applying for any other jobs which involve working with young people or vulnerable adults. If you are self-employed, you cannot apply for a DBS check. There are alternatives to the DBS check, which include a free ‘subject access request’ which you can apply for from your local police station.

Become an Online Tutorwith Superprof

Earlier, we touched on how Superprof takes much of the worry and hassle out of advertising and finding clients. Seeing as this is one of the easiest paths for anyone looking to become a tutor, let's dive a little deeper into the process. On your Superprof profile page, you may say as much as you'd like about your pedagogy, experiences and qualifications.

To get the most out of free online tutoring platforms, make your profile as detailed and attractive as possible. Market yourself as a stand-out by detailing what you offer that other tutors don't; perhaps as a tutor whom pupils are excited to learn with. On Superprof, students can find and talk with private tutors whose profiles most closely match their learning needs, winnowing their choices down to their ideal match. The platform gives you total control over how you get paid. At Superprof, we pride ourselves on providing an online platform that connects tutors and students of all ages for online and in-person learning. The best part is that you're in charge of your business. You decide your rates and organise your schedule.

You can start tutoring with Superprof in 6 simple steps:

1. Register for an account and create your profile
2. Verify your details and qualifications with Superprof
3. Make your tutor advert live for students to find you
4. Wait for students to contact you through Superprof
5. Review their request and decide whether to accept or decline. Upon accepting, your contact details will be made visible to the student
6. Arrange when and where to host your lessons

Online tutoring jobs provide a secure and resourceful service to help you share your expertise. You can tailor your work to suit your schedule by choosing your hours, and you can work from anywhere, anytime. All you need is an internet connection and a webcam. Now that you know how to become a tutor, are you ready to start your tutoring venture?