Education business ideas you can start for under $5,000
70 ideas
Education is one of the more affordable sectors to enter, because your main asset is what you know and how well you can explain it. These 70 ideas all have startup costs of up to $5,000.
Online English tutoring and small classes
Teach English to learners by video, one-to-one or in small groups, from your own home.
- A$300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Visiting music teacher
Travel to students' homes or teach at local schools and childcare centres.
- A$300-2k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Pop-up cooking classes in a hired kitchen
Run small hands-on cooking classes for home cooks in a hired community or commercial kitchen.
- A$800-4k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Online cooking classes and courses
Teach cooking skills over video, with live classes or a recorded course students follow at home.
- A$300-2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Home music studio teaching one instrument
Teach piano, guitar or singing to local students from a spare room at home.
- A$300-2.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Online music and singing lessons
Teach instrument or voice lessons over video to students across your state or beyond.
- A$200-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online classes for home-educated kids
Run small live online classes and learning packs for children who learn at home.
- A$300-2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Weekly learning day for home-educated kids
Host a once or twice a week in-person class day for home-educating families in a hired space.
- A$1k-5k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Community first aid and safety workshops
Run short, non-accredited first aid and safety awareness sessions for parents, clubs and community groups.
- A$800-3.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Casual babysitter booking agency
Connect families with checked local babysitters for date nights and last-minute cover, and keep a booking fee.
- A$1k-4k
- Side hustle
- Online
Adult short courses in hired halls and rooms
Run evening or weekend courses in a hired community room, teaching a skill, language or hobby you know well.
- A$500-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Online evening courses for adults
Teach live small-group courses over video in a skill, language or hobby, with no venue to rent.
- A$300-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Home-based maths tutor
Teach maths to school students one-on-one or in small groups from a spare room at home.
- A$300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Online maths tutor
Tutor maths over video calls with a shared digital whiteboard, from anywhere in Australia.
- A$200-1.2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Exam prep tutor (home or online)
Coach students one-to-one or in small groups for selective school and standardised exams, from home or online.
- A$300-2k
- Side hustle
- From home
Private dance lessons and wedding dances
Teach one-to-one or small-group lessons at home, at clients' places or online.
- A$200-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home-based study support group
Run small after-school tutoring groups from a spare room at home to keep costs low.
- A$500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Online short courses for workplace skills
Teach a practical work skill through live or recorded online courses for individuals and small employers.
- A$500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Workplace skills workshops at the client's site
Deliver half-day and full-day skills workshops at local businesses, so you need no premises of your own.
- A$1k-5k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Online computer and software skills tutor
Teach Excel, Microsoft 365 or basic digital skills to individuals and small teams over video.
- A$300-2k
- Side hustle
- Online
On-site IT workshops for local businesses
Run hands-on software training at small businesses, councils and community groups.
- A$500-3.5k
- Part-time
- Out and about
School and community chess classes
Run lunchtime, after-school and holiday chess classes for groups of kids at schools, libraries and community halls.
- A$300-2k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Guitar lessons from a home studio
Teach beginner to intermediate guitarists one-on-one in a spare room at home.
- A$300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Visiting guitar teacher for homes and schools
Travel to students' homes or teach small groups at local schools and childcare centres.
- A$300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
About these ideas
Some are almost entirely online, such as an online one-to-one language tutor or online software skills classes. Others are local and hands-on, like a pop-up playgroup at cafes and venues or small-group cooking classes at home. They suit teachers, trades people, parents and career changers who want to share a skill. Before choosing, think about who will pay, how you will find your first students, and whether your idea needs particular checks, qualifications, insurance or licences. Start with the audience you already understand best, then look at what the setup would really cost.
More ideas
- Self-paced online short courses
- Live online training for small businesses
- Home-based exam coaching for small groups
- Online exam prep classes
- Part-time dance classes in a hired hall
- Cookery classes in a hired kitchen
- Piano lessons from your home studio
- Travelling piano teacher
- Online piano lessons
- Weekend Chinese language classes
- Online Chinese language classes
- Online one-to-one language tutor
- Weekly language classes for kids and adults
- Home-based exam prep classes
- Small babysitting service with a few sitters
- Home studio singing teacher
- Online singing lessons
- Visiting singing teacher for schools and choirs
- Online language classes
- Online modelling and portfolio coaching
- Online telecoms and networking courses
- German classes in a hired room
- German training for businesses
- Themed holiday mini camp for kids
- Themed holiday workshop camps
- Small group French classes
- Small-group cooking classes at home
- Live online cooking classes
- Technical skills training for local employers
- Home study group for students
- In-person shogi classes and club
- Small-group Chinese classes
- Online public service exam coach
- Study pathways adviser for families
- Study in Australia adviser for international students
- Part-time driving instructor
- Online accounting and bookkeeping exam classes
- Weekly paid playgroup in a hired hall
- Pop-up playgroup at cafes and venues
- Home studio drum teacher
- Online drum lessons
- Adult skills and short course classes
- Online software skills classes
- On-site software training for businesses
- Evening classes in a hired local venue
- Online evening classes for adult learners
Questions
Do I need formal qualifications to start an education business in Australia?
It depends on the idea. Private tutoring or hobby classes often have fewer requirements, but driving instruction, childcare-style services and school-based work may need specific licences or checks. Confirm what applies with the relevant state or federal body before you start.
What costs should I plan for within a $5,000 budget?
Check materials, a website or booking tool, insurance, venue hire, and any working with children checks or licences that apply to you. Online ideas may need a decent microphone, camera and software. Add a small buffer for marketing while you find your first students.
How do I find my first students or clients?
Start with people who already know your skills, such as local parents' groups, community noticeboards, schools, or workplaces. Offering a trial class can help. Check whether any venue or school you approach has rules about outside providers or advertising.