Starting a tutoring business can be a rewarding option if you are a retired teacher or a professional/aspiring tutor looking to work independently.
All you need is exceptional knowledge of subjects and niches people need help with, the ability and interest in teaching, and the setup and material necessary.
Online tutoring sites are in high demand these days. They help make the studies easy and interesting for both learners and teachers.
Advantages and disadvantages of starting an online tutoring business
If you plan on starting a tutoring business, first consider whether it is the right fit for you. Aside from having a genuine interest in teaching, you must also be confident that you will be able to connect and collaborate with your potential learners.
Advantages of online tutoring
1. Personalized teaching approach
A regular classroom is generally overcrowded with a large number of students as larger classes require fewer costs. But that is not beneficial for students as the large class size implies less attention given to individual students.
Teachers would be unable to answer to each student and have to keep a fast pace to complete the classes according to the syllabus. As each student is unique, everyone won’t be able to catch up with the pace.
This is when online tutoring proves to be beneficial for students as it is a personalized approach where students can learn at their own pace.
2. Less distraction
A more extensive classroom environment can be greatly distracting for students, preventing them from using their time efficiently. But as online tutoring happens in a peaceful environment that is convenient for both teachers and students alike, there are fewer distractions.
In an online tutoring setup, teachers can give students their complete attention so that students can fully focus on the subjects taught.
3. Convenient and time-saving
Starting your own online tutoring business is convenient and saves time for both teachers and students. As soon as the learner is ready, he/she can access lessons at a convenient time and pace. Or, if the classes are delivered live, students can join the video conferencing when the teacher is ready, eliminating the chances of potential delays from both sides.
This is particularly helpful when teaching students who are located in different geographical locations with different time zones.
4. Flexibility
Online tutoring offers the flexibility to both tutors and students to interact with each other and modify the delivery of lessons according to the learners’ convenience. Both of them can mutually decide which areas they need to focus on more and which areas should be avoided.
This is not always possible in a physical classroom due to a limitation in the interaction between teachers and students. Online tutoring also facilitates exchanging feedback, making improving both teaching and learning effortless.
5. Better student performance
As students are able to have one-on-one time with their tutors, they can grasp concepts at their own pace and are guided by intrinsic motivation, which can help them score better in examinations.
Online tutoring allows teachers to personalize the learning environment to suit the unique requirements of the students, which may lead to them making fewer mistakes.
6. Startup costs are minimal
A significant advantage of starting an online tutoring business is that the initial startups costs are very minimal. If you already have a laptop with a good camera, then you are all set to start your tutoring business from the comfort of your home.
As you grow, you can build your online platform using online tutoring software that comes with all the necessary features essential for running a tutoring business online, including web hosting.
PinLearn is one such software that’s best suited for small and large tutoring businesses. It comes with important features that will help you set up and run your online tutoring website with ease.
7. Create and store learning resources digitally
Unlike teaching in a classroom where you have to create notes and distribute printouts to students individually, online tutoring allows you to create and store notes digitally. This is not only convenient but also helps save money.
Digital learning resources are also great for the environment as they help reduce paper waste. Additionally, it is harder for the learners to permanently lose them.
Disadvantages of online tutoring
While the advantages of online tutoring outweigh the disadvantages, like any other business, there are also a few drawbacks. Let’s see what the disadvantages of online tutoring are.
1. Technology-related issues
As online tutoring entirely relies on technology, technology-related problems are the leading cause of concern. Not all students would have access to a stable and fast internet connection, which can create a not-so-smooth experience.
To ensure both you and your students enjoy the benefits of online private tutoring, make sure you have access to a fast and stable internet connection and power back up so as to avoid any interruptions or disconnections.
2. Difficult to decide on the pricing
Unlike real classroom teaching, tutors find it challenging to decide on the pricing of their online classes, as most students and parents are reluctant to spend more on online private tutoring.
The fact that the market is saturated with teachers who offers online classes for negligible costs also makes it difficult for deserving tutors to price their classes according to the value they deliver.
3. Students miss the classroom interaction
As most students, especially those of young ages, are accustomed to classroom teaching, they would miss the kind of interaction they usually have with their teacher and peers. However, this can be covered by offering classroom-like learning activities that keep them engaged.
While this stands as a disadvantage, if you can cover it using engaging learning activities, you can use it to help students develop their self-learning skills.
Conclusion
While starting an online tutoring business comes with its own unique set of challenges, as long as you have a passion for teaching, you will always find a way to make it work out. There are countless tools and resources available on the internet to help you run a successful and profitable operation.
Just like with any other business, make sure that you are mentally prepared for an uphill battle – particularly in the early stages. With time everything will get easier and all the initial challenges will become negligible.
