List your teaching experiences, including one-on-one or group situations, and can be anything from training the new wait staff at a restaurant to teaching swimming lessons at the town pool during the summer. There are no state requirements or licensing for becoming a tutor, but the more relevant experience you have, the better your odds of attracting clients are.
Define the setting. Will you tutor out of your home or will you travel to the client’s site of choice? Some parents are uncomfortable leaving their child alone at a stranger’s house and may request a more neutral setting, such as the town library. The more flexible you are, the larger your list of prospective clients.
Create a resume that spells out the ages and grades of prospective clients, as well as the subjects you specialize in. You can be as specific or general as you want. Your objective should be followed up by the dates and duties of any relevant experiences from the list you created in step one. Your contact information, education and computer skills should also be included in your resume.
Before you begin marketing your services, determine your pay rate. Will you charge hourly, weekly or monthly, and will there be an additional charge for travel expenses and supplies? If you are supplying necessary tools such as pens, paper, computer programs or Internet services, incorporate these into your rate. Typically, the only costs associated with a tutoring business are those for your resume and travel expenses.
Visit area schools and introduce yourself to as many guidance counselors, teachers and school administrators as you can; parents often ask them for referrals before hiring a tutor. Tell them about your teaching experiences and the subjects you are qualified to tutor in, and give them your resume. Make note of every person that you speak with so that you can follow up with them in the future. Introduce yourself to the front desk clerk at the school’s main office; ask them if they can put your resume in all of the teacher’s mailboxes.
Post your resume on community bulletin boards and at local recreational centers and sports facilities. Tell your neighbors, friends and family about your new business; ask them to help you spread the word. Talk to coaches and other instructors who work with your target audience; notify them of your qualifications and availability. Buy advertising space in your weekly community newspaper.
The best marketing tool for a tutor is word-of-mouth referrals. It only takes one happy parent to recommend your services to a friend or relative.