Private swim instructor for families

Parents wanting extra help beyond group classes, nervous adult beginners, newcomers to Canada and families with children on waiting lists for municipal lessons.

A fee per lesson or a prepaid block of lessons. Your margin is the lesson fee minus any pool rental, so a few regular students booked back to back works best.

• Recognized swim instructor certification
• Patience with children and anxious adults
• Clear communication with parents

• Liability insurance, and whether the pool owner's cover also applies to you
• A police vulnerable sector check is commonly expected when teaching children, check what clients and facilities ask for
• Pool owners and condo boards may set their own rules or refuse outside instructors
• Lesson cancellations and pool rental costs can eat into earnings, so set a clear cancellation policy

Estimates suggest startup costs typically sit around $500 to $2,500, depending on your certification, insurance and how you access pools. Pool rental costs can eat into earnings, so check them before you set prices.

Estimates typically put monthly revenue at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many lessons you teach and your pool costs. Set a clear cancellation policy. The idea assumes at least about 6 hours a week.

Check liability insurance and whether the pool owner's cover also applies to you. A police vulnerable sector check is commonly expected when teaching children, so check what clients and facilities ask for. Pool owners and condo boards may set their own rules.