Advice For Private Tutors Providing Private Tuition - Becoming A Tutor

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Obviously it may also be in your interest to purchase a mobile phone. Nowadays there are many UK mobile phone providers who offer good business mobile deals.Before purchasing a mobile phone it may be advisable to compare business tariffs to choose the best rates and business mobile phone packages for you. Also if you have a PC and mobile phone you may want to consider the good mobile phone and broadband deals on offer.

If you wish to travel to your students you may wish to purchase a car if you are able to afford one. Remember you have then to consider petrol, car insurance, MOT etc.

What Times And Days Will My Students Be Available?

This depends on several factors. The more flexible you are the better. Most private tuition is carried out after 4:00pm weekdays and weekends due to the nature of schools finishing at around 3:30pm. However most post GCSE courses allow students free periods where private lessons can be offered the daytime. Also you must account that most students do not require private tuition during the Summer holidays These factors will effect your earning potential.

What Age Group And Subjects Do You Wish To Specialise In?

The more subjects you are prepared to tutor and the larger the age range the more your earning potential, although a word a caution on this one, quantity does not necessarily mean quality.

When you have decided what levels and age groups you have decided to tutor it is advisable to invest in books, stationary and national curriculum resources. It is essentials that you have up to date textbooks. You also have to remember that the education system in the UK is constantly changing so you must always be aware of the appropriate syllabi that you wish to tutor. You may also be required to supply past examination papers to your students.

Cancellation Fees For Private Tutors

When you start carrying out private tuition you always have to prepare for cancellations. When we began we found some students would call us half an hour before their booked session began to cancel. This is made even worse when you are very busy and some of your students have asked for extra bookings and you are so booked that you are unable to book them in. Often you may find that some clients do not even bother to call you and when you arrive for the lesson they are not there. A simple solution to this is to charge a cancellation fee. We ask for forty eight hours notice. We know of some tutors whom ask for payment in advance and if the student cancels that lesson then they forfeit the advanced payment. However we advise that on initial meeting you must state your terms clearly.

Business Cards For Private Tutors

Always invest in a good set of business cards. This provides the parent/student with your contact details that they can have at hand. We have also found that if we give several business cards at the initial meeting, the cards are often passed onto prospective clientele.

Business Accounts

Most business accounts offer free banking for the first year. However after this you will have to pay bank charges. The main problem here is when payment is made by cheque. We advise that if this is the case then to explain to your client that you are paying bank charges on cheques and ask them to add this amount to their fee when writing out the cheque.

Accounting Advice For Private Tutors

We advise that when you start your private tuition service that you keep up to date with your accounts. This can simply be set up by using a spreadsheet on your PC. If you do not like using your PC, you can alternatively buy book keeping / accounting books from most stationers i.e. Partners, WH Smith, Staples etc very cheaply. Save all your receipts for items that you have purchased for your private tutoring business such as advertising invoices, stationary, books, photocopying, petrol etc. Depending on how busy you are, we advise that you enter your total earnings and costs per month into your accounts, to stay on top of things. This way when you come to fill in your Self Assessment form, sent to you by the Inland Revenue at the end of the tax year, you will have a breakdown of your total figures to enter straight away.

By Jayne Thomas Co-founder of Home Tutors Directory

See some of our recent testimonials from the tutors and tutoring agencies advertising on Home Tutors Directory - personal endorsements from the advertisers on Home Tutors Directory. For more guidance regarding private tuition and to see another recommendation for Home Tutors Directory see Tutors Frequently Asked Questions, regarding online tuition advertising. If you are a private tutor or tutoring agency looking to place a private tuition advertisement online please click here advertising for private tutor. or visit our registration form.