Becoming a self employed tutor or working for a tutoring agency can be fun and satisfying, as well as make you some extra cash. Many kids are looking for a tutor, especially during the school vacations and you don’t necessarily need to have teaching experience to provide this service. These tips can help:

1) Decide on Subjects, Age Groups and Grade Levels

Of course, you should tutor those subjects which you are knowledgeable about, and some formal training is useful. You will also have to decide which grade level and age group to focus on, based on your experience, interests and preferences.

2) Establish Your own Teaching Method

Websites like Core Standards can be useful for understanding current methods of teaching, and creating lesson plans. Adapt your lessons to the age of the students; older students expect technology such as PowerPoint in their lessons, while younger children will appreciate educational games and activities.

3) Communicate With Your Students, Teachers and Parents

Communication is important, and includes touching base regularly, finding out specific needs and devising a lesson plan around them. Parents and teachers like to be kept in the loop, and doing that also means your lessons mirror the classroom content.

4) Certification

Although it isn’t a requirement, it may boost your credibility by becoming certified and joining a professional organization.

5) Flexibility is Important

Being flexible means being willing to change the times or locations of your lessons, as well as the content, based on the needs of your students.

6) Sell Yourself

Promote and market your tutoring services as best you can, including online job boards, although many tutors find word of mouth is the best marketing.

7) Work For a Tutoring Agency or Center

Working for a tutoring agency may be the answer, if you find it difficult to get regular clients. They will take a predetermined percentage of what you earn, but can guarantee steady work.

8) Get Paid What You Are Worth

Tutoring rates can range from about $25 to $85 per hour, depending on your experience and qualifications, the subjects, and the age of the students being taught, making it important to do some research. And many parents today prefer to pay their tutor with PayPal, Apple Pay or another online or app payment system.

9) Take It To the next Level

That means having your own website, personal business cards, connecting with other local tutors and anything else to make your tutoring into a business rather than a sideline.