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
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
One-to-one or small group coaching for exams such as selective school entry tests, scholarship tests and NAPLAN-style practice, run from a spare room or over video.
Your first three steps
- Choose one exam and age group you know well, then check local tutors' prices and what they offer
- Build simple lesson plans and practice papers, and set up a quiet space or an online whiteboard and video tool
- Offer a trial session to families through local community groups and school parent networks, and ask for reviews
Who pays
Parents and carers of primary and secondary students preparing for an upcoming exam.
How it makes money
Hourly rate per student, or a termly or term-block package, with small group sessions earning more per hour than one-to-one.
Skills that help
- Strong subject knowledge in maths, English or reasoning
- Patient, clear explaining
- Planning lessons and tracking progress
- Communicating with parents
Watch out for
- A Working with Children Check or equivalent: check your state or territory's requirements before you start
- Public liability insurance: check what cover suits tutoring
- Council approval for a home-based business: check with your local council
- Never promise results or places, and take care using copyrighted exam papers
- Demand is often seasonal around exam dates, so plan your cash flow
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: exam prep tutor (home or online)
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an exam prep tutoring business?
Startup costs are typically around $300 to $2,000, depending on your materials, setup and any insurance you choose. Take care using copyrighted exam papers, and never promise results or places. These are estimates only.
How much can an exam prep tutor earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $600 to $3,500, depending on how many students you take on and your hours, which can start at about 6 a week. Demand is often seasonal around exam dates. These are estimates only.
Do I need a Working with Children Check to tutor in Australia?
Check your state or territory's requirements for a Working with Children Check or equivalent before you start. Also check what public liability insurance suits tutoring, and whether your local council needs to approve a home-based business.
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Photo: annemcdon on Pixabay