The Pros & Cons of Tutoring From Home – Tina B's World
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The Pros & Cons of Tutoring From Home

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If you’re getting stuck while trying to think of ways to earn additional money, have you maybe thought about tutoring?

Tutoring offers a lot of great opportunities. Not only does it give you the freedom to be your own boss eventually, but it also lets you make a living doing something you love.

a woman tutoring a small boy

Let’s discuss what you need to know, so you can decide if tutoring might be a good career path for you.

what is tutoring?

In a nutshell? Tutoring is offering to teach others your skills.

Tutors are private teachers, helping their students develop their knowledge and skills.

You can become a tutor in practically anything, so what are you proficient in? 

  • Music? 
  • Math?
  • Business?

Whatever knowledge and skills you’ve generated over the years, you can use tutoring to earn money through them. 

where can you find work?

It’s easy to find work as a tutor.

You can create a one-page website to advertise your services to local customers or offer tutoring services entirely online.

Find customers:

  • on social media
  • through offline advertising like ads in newspapers and stores 

Offering your tutoring services on a freelance individual client basis or work through local schools and universities. 

What are the pros & Cons?

Let’s talk about some pros and cons to consider when deciding if tutoring is for you.

the pros

The main advantages include:

  • There is always demand for tutors
  • You can do what you love
  • There aren’t any real start-up costs
  • Lucrative pay
  • Be your own boss

Consistent demand for tutors is definitely one of the main benefits. It means you probably won’t have to worry about finding work (or more work) if you need to. This level of stability is rare in self-employment so it’s a great option. 

Provided you have the right level of knowledge, you will be able to share what you love and what you’re passionate about with others. Doing something you truly enjoy is great for a work-life balance.

NOTE: you don’t need to be an expert to teach. You just have to be a step ahead of whoever you’re teaching. 

You also won’t need to pay much in the way of start-up costs. You might need a little equipment, but that depends on the type of tutoring you’re offering.

Example: if you teach music, you may need an instrument for yourself and a spare instrument for students to use. If you compare it to other side hustles or careers, this is one of the most affordable to set up.

The pay is also really good for private tutoring. You set your own rates and people will happily pay you based on your expertise.

One major benefit?

You also get to be your own boss! 

the cons

The main disadvantages include:

  • You’ll need to adapt your teaching style
  • Erratic working hours
  • It can be slow to get going

Everyone is different, so you’re not going to be able to teach the same way you learn. The good news? You can adjust and tailor lessons to each individual client.

Another thing to consider: you might end up working mainly on evenings and weekends, particularly if you’re private tutoring students.

Two suggestions if you do teach music:

  1. Look for homeschool groups. Parents might be looking to outsource their music classes and that’s where you come in!
  2. Consider looking into building learning into your lessons. Schools pay decent money to bring in special shows, like puppet shows or the circus.  

A major downside to tutoring? It can be slow moving while getting started and building an audience. I recommend starting a YouTube channel to put your skills out there.  

While there are some disadvantages to consider, the benefits do far outweigh the challenges.

Becoming a private tutor can be a really rewarding side hustle or career.

It would be a great addition to your income or you could become completely self-employed and run it as a business.

Fiverr

Sign up for a PRO account, then post your skills.

On this site, the job offers will find YOU! 

Chegg: Skill Building

Find help with skills you need to freelance.

Check their job boards to see if any tutor jobs crop up. 

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