Private tutoring has emerged as a highly effective method for academic improvement, offering personalized attention that builds skills, confidence, and enthusiasm in students.
With billions invested annually in tutoring services, there's ample opportunity to make a difference in students' lives while pursuing a rewarding career.
As a tutor, your passion for education and dedication to helping others are your greatest assets. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to kickstart your tutoring journey, from choosing subjects to attracting your first clients.
Let's get started.
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What Subjects Could You Tutor In?
It goes without saying that tutoring in academic subjects is the bread and butter of the tutoring industry, and for good reason!
Historically, in-home tutoring centred on teaching mathematics, science and English. That trend continues still today, in tutoring centres all over the country and in private tutoring.
The distinguishing feature of academic tutoring is that there must be a measure of demonstrable proficiency on the tutor's part.
After all, nobody is going to hire a French tutor who does not speak the language or a calculus tutor who cannot solve linear equations.
By that we don't mean that every tutor must hold some level of a degree; only the s/he is proficient in his/her discipline at least one year beyond the level s/he wishes to tutor at.
Are academic subjects the only ones people seek tutoring for? Goodness, no! Today's keen minds hunger for experience, and knowledge is the most effective way to gain it.
To that end, eager students seek out tutors for:
From holidaymakers to aspiring polyglots, more and more people are realizing the benefits of speaking more than one language.
In today's high-stress societies, people are finding ways to disconnect - through painting and clay-making, photography, acting, singing, sewing and sculpting.
especially in larger cities, more and more people are turning inward to find holistic ways of reducing their stress by learning how to meditate and practising yoga. Others feel the urge to tone and strengthen their bodies, so they seek personal training to guide them onto that path.
In finance and accounting, in interpersonal and communication skills; managers may seek out voice coaches or even a life coach to keep themselves balanced through their demanding professional life.
In short, whether you are a highly degreed professor or talented in some niche skill, there is a market for you to tutor.
What Qualifications Are Needed to Become a Private Tutor?
When it comes to becoming a private tutor in Canada, the good news is that you don't necessarily need a long list of qualifications to get started. Here's a breakdown of what you do need and some helpful insights to guide you along the way.
No Formal Requirements 😎
Unlike some professions that demand specific qualifications, there are no formal prerequisites for becoming a private tutor in Canada. Whether you're a seasoned educator or a recent graduate, the door is open for you to share your expertise.
Know Your Stuff 😎
While there's no set academic qualification required, it's essential to be proficient in the subject you plan to tutor. As a general rule, aim to have knowledge at least one level above what you intend to teach.
Setting Limits ✋
It's wise to establish your tutoring boundaries based on your own level of expertise. For example, if you're an undergraduate student, you might focus on tutoring secondary students or students writing a provincial standardized test.
Highlight Your Strengths 💪
When advertising your tutoring services, emphasize your strengths and qualifications, whether they're academic achievements, professional experience, or personal qualities like enthusiasm, perseverance or motivation.
Varied Backgrounds are Welcome 🤗
While many tutors have a background in education, it's not a prerequisite. Students may prefer a certified teacher for their knowledge of the syllabus, but others may find value in different perspectives and skills offered by individuals with diverse backgrounds.
Subject-Specific Expertise 📚
Tutors specializing in niche subjects like IT or media often come from industry backgrounds, bringing real-world experience to their teaching. Professional experience can be invaluable for students considering careers in these fields.
Personal Assessment 🧐
Ultimately, it's up to you to assess your ability to provide effective one-on-one tutoring in your chosen area. Reflect on whether you possess the knowledge, skills, and passion necessary to support your students' learning journey.
Experience Matters 👌
While formal qualifications are beneficial, experience and personal qualities like enthusiasm and dedication are what truly set great tutors apart. Remember, it's the human connection and commitment to student success that make the most significant impact.
What about a criminal record check? A criminal record check isn't a necessary requirement but it can be another qualification you can get.
Want to give private lessons?
Join the Superprof community and share your knowledge with inquiring and motivated students.
How do I Report my Income for tutoring?
As a private tutor in Canada, you're not just helping students excel academically; you're also running your own business. This means you have certain responsibilities when it comes to reporting your income and managing expenses.
Here's what you need to know about reporting income and deducting expenses as a tutor:
When you offer tutoring services independently, you're considered self-employed in the eyes of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This means you're responsible for reporting your income and paying taxes on your earnings.
You must report all income earned from tutoring on your annual tax return. This includes income received from individual students, tutoring agencies, or any other sources related to your tutoring business. Keep detailed records of your earnings throughout the year to ensure accurate reporting.
As a self-employed individual, you're required to pay both income tax and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions on your earnings. Depending on your level of income, you may also need to make quarterly installment payments to the CRA to cover your tax liabilities.
To ensure compliance with tax regulations and maximize your deductions, it's essential to maintain accurate records of your income and expenses. Keep receipts, invoices, and other documentation related to your tutoring business organized and accessible for tax purposes.
Deductible Expenses
One of the advantages of being self-employed is the ability to deduct certain business expenses from your taxable income. As a tutor, you may be eligible to deduct expenses related to your tutoring business, such as:
- Educational Materials: Expenses for textbooks, workbooks, teaching aids, and other educational materials used in your tutoring sessions can be deducted.
- Office Supplies: The cost of office supplies such as pens, paper, printer ink, and stationery used for administrative purposes is deductible.
- Home Office Expenses: If you have a dedicated space in your home used exclusively for tutoring activities, you may be able to deduct a portion of your home expenses, such as rent, utilities, and internet costs.
- Transportation: If you travel to students' homes for tutoring sessions, you can deduct eligible transportation expenses, such as mileage or public transportation fares.
- Professional Development: Expenses related to professional development activities, such as workshops, conferences, or courses to enhance your tutoring skills, may be deductible.
- Advertising and Marketing: Costs associated with advertising your tutoring services, such as website hosting fees, business cards, and online ads, can be deducted.
Navigating the tax implications of self-employment can be complex, so it's wise to consult with a tax professional or accountant who specializes in small business taxation. They can provide personalized advice tailored to your specific situation and help you optimize your tax strategy.
Taxes aren't the only legalities you have to worry about. Tutors should also check into other legal aspects of tutoring.
Insurance can also be of interest for those looking to start their tutoring business. Often times tutor insurance covers any liabilities that may happen. It is up to the individual whether they want to get tutoring insurance for there business as it is not legally required.
What Can You Expect to Earn as a tutor?
Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer because there are so many factor that influence your earning potential:
- Your subject matter - teaching a mainstream subject such as maths or science will obviously provide more clients than, say, basket-weaving, batik or macramé
- Your degree of expertise: obviously, a PhD holder may charge more for his/her expertise than an Undergraduate Degree student
- Your experience: if you've cooked in Michelin-starred restaurants, your cooking classes will generate more revenue than somebody who has only ever put together bacon sarnies.
- The level you tutor: working with 5-year-olds, your sessions would not last as long or be as intense as helping a high school student prepare for an exam.
- Instruction delivery: travel time and expense can really take a bite out of your per-hour earnings, and even tutoring exclusively online cuts into your possible income because tutors generally charge lower rates for online instruction.
- How much you tutor also plays a part. Taking on only a couple of students per evening will clearly will impact your earning potential.
- When you tutor: you must be available when the students have time for lessons - after school hours and on weekends.
- Your geographical location: Larger cities typically will cost more for tutors due to high costs of living.
The upside of all of these factors is that they demonstrate that your business will be what you make of it.
Average Per-Hour Rates for Tutors Across Canada
Taking into consideration the factors outlined above, it is still possible to estimate average per-hour rates for tutors in general, across Canada.
| City | Average Rates per Hour |
|---|---|
| Toronto | $25.00 |
| Montreal | $24.50 |
| Vancouver | $28.50 |
| Calgary | $25.60 |
| Edmonton | $24.00 |
| Halifax | $21.00 |
| Regina | $22.00 |
| Fredericton | $22.60 |
You must keep in mind, however, that what you teach is a most important factor in determining your schedule of fees, as is the availability of tutors in your area that teach the same subject(s) as you do.
It is likely you will compete with more tutors for clients if you teach academic subjects than if you teach a specialized skill such as yoga or drawing.
How to Set Your Rates for Tutoring
Passionate and altruistic though you may be, just like the rest of us, you need to earn your living - unless you are independently wealthy. So, determining how much income your tutoring business needs to generate is a prime consideration.
It might be tempting to set your rates high, so that one hour of tutoring would yield the same income as a day's wages working in a shop.
On the flip side, you might think that, as you are just starting out as a tutor, setting a very low price for each hour of instruction would attract a lot of clients.
Neither of these strategies are an effective way to set your hourly tutoring prices.
Unfortunately, there are no formal or official guidelines for establishing a schedule of fees for tutoring. Into that void leaps Superprof, to offer a couple of suggestions.
- How much do other tutors in your area charge for teaching the same subject as you?
- What do you bring to the table that other tutors don't? (more experience, more education, a skill not many other tutors have...)
Naturally, you are free to set your rates however high or low you'd like but, unless you hit that happy balance where clients can justify the expense of tutoring with the benefit they derive from it, you will most likely price yourself right out of the tutoring market!
How Can You Advertise Your Tutor Jobs & Grow Your Business
To get started, put yourself in the shoes of a student and ask yourself some simple questions they may want to know the answer to, such as:
- What personal or professional qualities and experience do you have?
- Do you have any qualifications in your subject area?
- What makes you a great tutor?
Advertising your experience and success is an important way of catching students’ eyes. If you have previous experience working in teaching or in an appropriate professional field to your subject, then your service will stand out amongst other offers, so be sure to mention this in your ad.
Classified Ads 📰
There are many other ways to advertise your tutoring service online. Classified sites like Gumtree, Freeads or social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are a great way to advertise and find jobs in and around your community, so make use of them!
Post on community pages as well as putting a small ad on your personal profiles. You may even want to start a business page for your services on Facebook and LinkedIn where students can find out more about what you offer as well as leaving reviews - this is a good option if you want to keep your personal and tutoring lives separate.
Building a Web Page 🖥️
Not only does a web address give you ample room to promote your business by allowing you to expand on your knowledge, skills and experiences but it gives your potential clients a point of reference through which to view you. A website gives your business an authenticity that you might not have by simply posting a free advert on an online classifieds service.
Having your own web page permits you to share success stories of previous students through their testimonials, written for you to feature on your page. Not only will these show off your teaching skill, but they may also be useful to other parents and students who are looking for something in particular.
Posting Flyesrs 📜
Distributing flyers and putting up ads in your local school, shop, cafe or library are useful ways of advertising your service - but do ask for permission before you do this!
Posting small advertisements in busy areas is a great way to get your name out there; even if it's not somewhere popular with parents, your ad could catch the eye of someone who will pass your name on to a potential customer.
You may even consider your local schools - they have bulletin boards too. And don't forget student centres and dorms in your city's local universities!
Word of Mouth 👄
Speaking with family, friends and people in your local community can also help spread your services by word-of-mouth. For those who live in an especially close-knit community, word travels fast, so the power of word-of-mouth should never be underestimated.
Make sure you tell everyone about your services. Even if they don't require them, they may know someone who does.
When it comes to advertising, the idea is that you make your name a go-to whenever anyone thinks of tuition in your subject, so knowing how to market yourself is essential. As a self-employed tutor, you are running a business - so, build a brand!
Whether it's using a particular slogan on your flyers and web pages, or using specific teaching methods as a selling point, making yourself memorable will put you ahead of the game.
Tutoring with Superprof
Finding tutoring jobs isn’t always an easy task. Online platforms are a great way to access thousands of private tutoring jobs. Simply create your free profile and advertise your tutoring service to students across Canada and worldwide.
Superprof takes much of the worry and hassle out of finding clients and advertising by providing every tutor with a page uniquely theirs.
Free online platforms like Superprof offer an enormous online community, ensuring that your profile has a wide audience and that your prospective students are able to learn as much as possible about you before getting in touch.
All you need to do is build your profile and make it live, and then the students looking for someone like you to tutor them will be able to find your advert.
We have lots of tips for becoming a tutor and making your service stand out.
To get the most out of free online tutoring services, you should aim to make your profile as detailed and attractive as possible and market yourself to the student in a way that makes you stand out from the crowd.
On our platform, Superprof, students are able to find and interact with private tutors who suit their needs in order to find the perfect match. The student will be able to view your tutoring profile, compare price and experience, and talk with various tutors to help find their ideal tutor to provide supplemental instruction.
On Superprof, you can create a detailed personal profile to showcase your experience, qualifications, location, hourly rates and availability with this comprehensive guide, all at no cost to you.
A complete and detailed profile will target and attract suitable prospective students so that you can start working and building your online tutor reputation immediately.
Superprof in 6 Simple Steps
- Register for an account and start creating your profile.
- Verify your details and qualifications with Superprof.
- Make your tutor ad live so students find you.
- Wait for students to contact you through Superprof.
- Review their request and decide whether to accept or decline.
- Arrange when and where to host your lessons.
It’s as easy as that! Here at Superprof we pride ourselves on providing expert tutoring and a quality service available to everyone - this means tutors as well as students. Our online platform connects tutors and students of all ages and for all kinds of learning, either in person or online.
Are you ready to start your tutoring business now?
Want to give private lessons?
Join the Superprof community and share your knowledge with inquiring and motivated students.
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Me interesa saber como ser tutor de español.