Online chinese classes for adults and kids

Teach small group Chinese classes by video call to learners across Canada, in the evenings or at weekends.

Students and a teacher in a classroom practising Chinese writing at desks.
Startup costC$200 to C$1.5k
Monthly revenueC$400 to C$3k
Time needed6+ h/week
First incomeWeeks
  • C$200-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online

Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.

What it is

Live group classes by video call at set times each week, for beginners to intermediate learners of Mandarin or Cantonese. You build your own course and a small student base.

Your first three steps

  1. Design a short beginner course with a clear outline of what students learn each week
  2. Set up a simple website or booking page and test your video, sound and lighting
  3. Run a discounted pilot course with a small group and ask for reviews
Who pays

Adults learning for work, travel or family reasons, and parents of children learning Chinese.

How it makes money

Monthly or per-course fees per student, with small class sizes. Add sales of workbooks or recorded lessons if you want extra income.

Skills that help
  • Fluent Mandarin or Cantonese and clear teaching
  • Comfort with video tools and digital whiteboards
  • Simple marketing and communicating with students
Watch out for
  • Commercial general liability or professional liability insurance, check what suits online teaching
  • Parental consent and privacy when teaching children online, and check how your province treats personal data
  • Check if your province regulates private language training or career colleges, especially for adult courses with certificates
  • GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold
  • Standing out among many online tutors, so pick a clear niche such as kids or business Mandarin

🔒 Full research report for Canada

Real cost breakdown with current prices, licences and registration checklist, local competition, pricing, break-even and a 30-day launch plan, with sources.

Coming soon

Other ways to run this business

Weekend Chinese language school for kids

Run Saturday or Sunday Mandarin or Cantonese classes for children in a rented classroom or community hall.

  • C$1.5k-7k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises

Similar teaching and tutoring ideas

A bright teaching kitchen with an instructor guiding students at cooking stations.

In-home cooking lessons and private parties

Visit clients' homes to teach private cooking lessons for families, couples and small parties.

  • C$300-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about

Online live cooking classes and courses

Teach live video cooking classes and multi-week courses from your own kitchen.

  • C$300-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online

Workplace French lessons at your clients' offices

Teach French to teams at local employers, in their meeting rooms or by video, on contract.

  • C$300-1.5k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about

Online posing and portfolio coaching

Coach aspiring models by video on posing, presentation and portfolio building, from home.

  • C$300-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Music teacher guiding a pupil through a piano lesson at home.

Home studio music lessons

Teach piano, guitar, voice or another instrument to local pupils in a spare room at home.

  • C$200-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
A tutor teaching a small group of students at a table in a classroom.

Home-based exam prep tutor

Coach small groups or one-on-one for exams like the SAT, ACT, LSAT or provincial tests from your own home.

  • C$200-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • From home

Photo: PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay

More ideas →