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r/teaching•
PreviousWater

Tutoring as a side job

Career Change/Interviewing/Job Advice

Hello I'm a certified teacher at a public school, 6th grade science, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Recently rents everywhere here have been spiking out of control mostly due to increased demand (I don't want to blame people from New York but that's who it seems is moving here in the largest numbers, perhaps they dislike all the covid restrictions). We are looking at an astonishing $600 to $800 rent increase when my wife and I renew our lease if the current market keeps up. Now I really like where I live and I don't want to move, so I'm considering getting a part-time job to help pay rent, and I figured tutoring is the most natural part-time job I could pick. I already put up some flyers around my apartment complex.

Now I realize the optics of the situation. I am a grown man asking for time to spend with children. So I wrote on the flyers that I can teach the students at the gazebo for safety, which is near a walking trail in our complex, and well within the sight of passers by and it's surrounded by apartments in every direction. As a bonus it's also safer for covid because it's outdoors.

I'm looking for your opinion. Do you think this is a good idea? If I put new flyers should I change anything? I was thinking about charging $20 an hour which is much cheaper rate than they could get at a local tutoring place or even from the district where the tutors are paid $25 an hour. Do you think this is a good rate or should I charge more? And where could I put flyers where parents would see them? I am a very friendly and outgoing person and I also have a very non-intimidating appearance, mostly because I'm in my thirties but have a severe baby face, people usually trust me very quickly when they meet me, I'm wondering if I should put my face on the flyers. Kids usually like me immediately, I'm still not exactly sure why, but it's okay because I'm actually really good with kids of all ages. I'm also well known around the apartment complex because I have a dog I take for walks every day.

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day

Posted Jan 18, 2022, 9:06 PM UTC

3224
OliverTBeans•

Ask for more. A lot more. Also gazebo or library is the way to go

45
PreviousWaterOP•

Thanks, everyone is saying the same thing, I think I'll start at 50 per hour! That seems reasonable.

2
hopefullygoodbf•

Since it sounds like you have been teaching for a little bit, you can probably start at 60 an hour. If you go cheaper (50 or below), your best business model will come from word of mouth from your first few students. Also put up some flyers at the local ymca.

Also, the going price for nyc is 150. I remotely tutor in ny for 70 an hour.

6
shinyspartan•

Most tutors I know work out of their local public library. Is than an option? Many will also have a bulletin board for your flyer as well.

19
colincita•

You could also try tutoring remotely, via Zoom or another platform. No commute, no pants required.

14
MiraculousFIGS•

I get why you mention it as a perk but… something about teaching kids while not wearing pants rubs me the wrong way 😅😅

12
whistlar•

I think it’s the rubbing part that raises questions.

12
[deleted]•

[deleted]

12
tarragonin60seconds•

Hey come to NY, the COVID restrictions don’t really affect my daily life, I’d wear a mask anyway, but tutors can charge 150 an hour. The good thing about people being COVID conscious is that all of my tutoring is done from home now.

All seriousness, I’ve done a lot of tutoring and built up a base the last 6 years or so, it’s hard to build up a client base, nextdoor has been a good source for me, but at this point most of the new clients I get come from other teachers who tutor other subjects and we give each other work when the family needs help in another subject. Once you get a family or two ask if they have friends, you never know which family is going to give you lots of work through their network. What subject are you? Specialization through harder classes helps. I’m in high school and wasn’t finding much in the regular level, but found a lot of work when I learned the AP curriculum.

7
PreviousWaterOP•

Thanks for your reply! I'm very liberal so I'm not trying to knock New York for covid restrictions. However I do blame New Yorkers for moving here in droves and driving the rents higher

Edit: just realized I literally said I don't blame them in my original post. Whoops, guess I lied trying to be polite!

3
PahpiChulo•

Don’t rule out Zoom either. I’m in the same county but teach math. All of my clients right now are on Zoom, but your face to face locations are also good.

Also, charge more! I know it’s easy to sell yourself short, but right now I’m charging 50/hr for former students and 60 for non former students and my after school schedule is FULL. I’m considering more for face to face, like 75/hr. Don’t sell yourself short, you’re in one of the wealthiest counties in the country!

6
PreviousWaterOP•

Thanks, this was reply was extra helpful! You're right. I think I'll start at $50 an hour

1
amyrberman•

I tutor with Wyzant (over 400 hours) and I started at $50/hr four years ago. They take 25% but it’s better than nothing!

5
markur•

$20 an hour???? I charge $60/h and I’m a second year teacher.

4
MsFay•

Other options to get the word out is in Facebook community groups like ‘buy, sell, trade’ type things. (They are really big in my area, I don’t know about Florida.)

I would also make a website that you can put additional information on like pictures and maybe a sample lesson video that might make people more comfortable with you.

My school keeps a list of people that offer tutoring so you might call around to area schools to see if they keep lists and what you would need to do to get on them.

You can also add tutoring services to websites that connect babysitters and nanny’s like care.com

Check out some online tutoring sites as well. I have seen some advertising on Reddit. I will comment with some that I have seen.

3
Dependent_Ad_3014•

Just do it online. It’s a lot easier for everybody and the kids still learn as much as in person

3
Gunslinger1925•

First thing I’d do is check with your district. Make sure you can do it. I’m in Duval. I can charge a fee to tutor a student from another county, but not Duval during the school year. Especially if they go to my school.

The next thing I’d do is look at the rates in your area and charge lower. Just slightly to attract the clientele, but enough that it’ll improve your situation. Maybe give a slight discount if they attend remotely. Also keep your lower income students in mind. Could profit if everyone else put prices them but you’re able to get them with your rates.

3
DarkTyphlosion1•

I’m a reading tutor and get $35/hr, 5-6 hours a week. Bring home about 500/month extra. Can be lucrative in the right situation.

2
hannahxbananaxhannah•

$60-80 an hour ;) people WILL pay; also, remember u dont need go just tutor the subject u teach!

2
KenzieL10•

Also, just an idea, if you want to put a picture on the flyer you can put a pic of your dog and say something like “____ might also make appearances” if it’s in the park. That might help the people around who know you without you having to stick your face on the flyer (idk my face on a flyer would make me uncomfy but it’s just an idea!)

2
bunbun411•

I've been tutoring math and reading for a long time. I charge $40/hr. Meet at the library or my home. It's a great side gig

2
PreviousWaterOP•

Thanks to everyone who replied! It would be too much for me to message everyone who replied because I'm lazy, but please know I did read all of them. Message received, $20 per hour is way too little. I'm really glad I posted here before I had my first client! I'm also glad I didn't list my rate in the flyer haha.

2
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1
dtwillia•

I tutor at the local library. They have study rooms you can reserve and use. I charge between $60-$70 an hour. Sometimes I even do $100 an hour to tutor two siblings at the same time. Never had a complaint with the cost.

1