Online education business ideas you can run from anywhere
39 ideas
These 39 online education ideas suit people who know a subject well and enjoy helping others learn it. Some are live and personal, like online piano lessons or an online tutor for school subjects, where you earn by the hour.
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
Online music lessons
Teach your instrument or singing over video to students anywhere, from home.
- A$150-1k
- Side hustle
- Online
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
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
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
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
Online maths tutor
Tutor maths over video calls with a shared digital whiteboard, from anywhere in Australia.
- A$200-1.2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online acting and audition coaching
Coach students one-on-one or in small groups over video on monologues, auditions and self-tapes.
- A$100-1k
- Side hustle
- Online
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
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
Online guitar lessons by video call
Teach guitar live over video to students anywhere, with no travel or room hire.
- A$200-1k
- Side hustle
- Online
Self-paced online short courses
Turn a skill you know well into short online courses people can study at home, paying a fee per course.
- A$500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Live online training for small businesses
Run live video workshops and short programs that teach staff practical skills, sold to local employers.
- A$1k-5k
- Part-time
- Online
Online calligraphy lessons
Teach calligraphy by video call or recorded lessons to students anywhere in Australia.
- A$200-1k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online exam prep classes
Run live online classes and exam courses for students across your state or the country.
- A$200-2.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online piano lessons
Teach piano over video call to students anywhere in Australia, with flexible hours and no travel.
- A$200-1.2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online Chinese language classes
Teach small live Chinese classes by video to children and adults from your home.
- A$300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online one-to-one language tutor
Teach your language by video to adults and school students, from your spare room.
- A$200-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online singing lessons
Teach singing over video call to students anywhere, with flexible evening and weekend slots.
- A$200-1.2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online language classes
Teach your language to adults and school students in small live online groups or one-to-one lessons.
- A$300-2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online modelling and portfolio coaching
Teach posing, camera confidence and portfolio building through live video sessions and feedback on student photos.
- A$500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online telecoms and networking courses
Teach telecoms and network theory through recorded lessons and live Q&A, sold to learners and employers.
- A$500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online German tutor
Teach German one-on-one over video to adults and school students from your own home.
- A$200-1k
- Side hustle
- Online
About these ideas
Others, such as self-paced online short courses, take longer to build but can be sold repeatedly once they are made. Start by working out what you can teach with confidence and who would pay to learn it. Think about how much time you can offer each week, whether you prefer one-on-one or group sessions, and what equipment you need, such as a decent microphone, camera and reliable internet. Also check whether your topic needs any qualifications or checks, particularly if you will be working with children.
More ideas
- Online French tutor
- Live online cooking classes
- Online shogi coach
- Online Mandarin tutor
- Online public service exam coach
- Online private tutor
- Online tutor for school subjects
- Study in Australia adviser for international students
- Online accounting and bookkeeping exam classes
- Online drum lessons
- Online real estate course coaching
- Online Japanese tutor
- Online software skills classes
- Online agent placing overseas students in Australia
- Online evening classes for adult learners
Questions
Do I need formal qualifications to teach online in Australia?
It depends on what you teach and who your students are. Music or hobby classes often rely on skill and experience, while school tutoring or accredited training may expect more. Check any requirements for your subject and for working with children in your state.
How should I price online lessons or courses?
Look at what similar tutors and course creators charge, then consider your experience, session length and preparation time. Live lessons are usually priced per session or block, while courses are priced per enrolment. Test your pricing with early students and adjust as you learn.
What should I check before starting an online education business?
Check whether you need an ABN, how income is taxed, and whether any insurance suits your work. Also look at platform terms, privacy of student information, and copyright rules for any materials you use. An accountant can confirm what applies to you.