Advice on starting a tutoring business

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>(I'm not sure if this is the right section to post this in, so it might get moved, but I thought people on here may have done something similar.)</p>

<p>I'm 16 and I'm interested in starting a math and science tutoring business. I've never started a business before, so here are some of the questions I've come up with, if anyone has any advice. Sorry if any of them are stupid or make me sound incompetent.</p>

<p>1) I live in a rural area where the median income is around $30,000. Is $10 an hour a competitive price or is it too much to charge since I have no real qualifications other than knowing the subjects and explaining things well?
2) I don't think I'll get many "clients" from my high school because the NHS does tutoring for free (only for half an hour a day, though), so I was thinking of advertising near the local community college because there are probably people having trouble with the required algebra and calculus classes. Do you think this would work or should I only target people younger than me?
3) Do I have to put my age on the flyers?
4) Should I buy some textbooks?
5) What kind of places can you put flyers? Should I just ask around? How else can I advertise?
6) Is it okay to ask people to meet me at the library rather than me going to their house or something? There are less distractions, it seems more professional, and I'm not a fan of going to strangers' houses alone.</p>

2

<p>Having paid tutoring experience myself, here are my answers: </p>

<p>1) 10 is a good starting rate.
2) Don’t expect many clients. Most HSers will be </p>

<p>a) too cynical to seriously consider the prospect of having someone tutor them
b) unwilling to admit they need tutoring (free or otherwise)
c) unwilling or unable to pay for tutoring
d) too apathetic about grades to pay for tutoring (much less, show up for tutoring, free or otherwise). </p>

<p>But don’t get discouraged. You’ll perhaps bump into that one person who desperately needs or wants tutoring. Remember, persistence pays off. The chances of getting paid by sitting around are next to 0. The chances improve as you actively seek out potential clients. Good luck. </p>

<p>3) I wouldn’t indicate age at all. I wouldn’t even put “high school tutor” on flyers. </p>

<p>4) The people you tutor should bring their own materials. What are you tutoring? Plus, there are free online resources. I only bring my laptop to tutoring sessions. Gives me all the answers immediately. </p>

<p>5) Flyers are a little too 20th century. Try Craigslist and Facebook. </p>

<p>6) Libraries are great places to tutor others; make sure you can reserve private rooms beforehand though.</p>