Online tutor for school subjects
Teach school subjects by video call to students across your city or province.
- C$50-500
- Side hustle
- Online
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
Live one-to-one or small group lessons over video, using a shared whiteboard and digital worksheets, from your own home.
Your first three steps
- Choose subjects and levels, and test a video and whiteboard setup with a friend
- Set up a simple booking page with prices and a way to take online payments
- Offer a trial session and ask happy parents for reviews or referrals
Who pays
Parents of school-age children, and older students such as high school or first-year college and university learners.
How it makes money
Hourly rate for one-to-one sessions, or a per-student price for small group sessions, often sold as monthly packages.
Skills that help
- Strong knowledge of your subjects
- Comfortable with video tools and online whiteboards
- Clear, engaging teaching
Watch out for
- Protect children's privacy: check parental consent and how you store student information under your province's privacy rules
- Check whether you need professional liability insurance
- Check curriculum differences by province, and French-language needs in Quebec
- Online tutoring platforms charge fees and have their own rules, so read them before you sign up
- Check whether you need to register for GST/HST once revenue grows
🔒 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 soonQuestions people ask
How much does it cost to start an online tutoring business in Canada?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $50 to $500, depending on the equipment you already own, the tools you choose and any insurance you decide to take. Monthly revenue is estimated at about $300 to $2,500.
What should I check about privacy and insurance before tutoring children online?
Check parental consent and how you store student information under your province's privacy rules. Also check whether you need professional liability insurance, and whether you need to register for GST/HST once revenue grows.
How much time does online tutoring take each week?
Estimates suggest at least about 4 hours a week to get started. You need strong knowledge of your subjects, comfort with video tools and online whiteboards, and clear, engaging teaching. Check curriculum differences by province, and French-language needs in Quebec.
Other ways to run this business
In-home tutor for school subjects
Visit students at home for one-to-one help in maths, reading or science.
- C$100-600
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Small group tutoring centre
Rent a small room and run after-school group sessions for local students.
- C$8k-35k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Similar teaching and tutoring ideas
Online shogi tutor
Teach beginners and improving players shogi over video call, one to one or in small groups.
- C$100-500
- Side hustle
- Online
Online Japanese tutor
Teach Japanese one-to-one or in small groups over video to learners across Canada and beyond.
- C$100-600
- Side hustle
- Online
Evening and weekend babysitter
Look after children in their own homes while parents work late or go out, paid by the hour.
- C$50-400
- Side hustle
- Out and about
After-school and school holiday sitter
Pick kids up from school and look after them at home on weekday afternoons and during school breaks.
- C$100-600
- Part-time
- Out and about
In-person home tutor
Visit students at home after school for one-to-one or small-group lessons in your area.
- C$50-600
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Local shogi classes and club coaching
Run shogi lessons and workshops at libraries, community centres, schools and cultural groups near you.
- C$150-700
- Side hustle
- Out and about