Getting Started

• Educational institutes require qualified teachers with a graduate or post-graduate in the subject they wish to teach. As a home tutor, however, you need to have the time, aptitude to teach and mastery over the subject.
• Begin by tutoring students from your building or neighbourhood or the children of family members and friends. Subsequently, more students will come to you through word-of-mouth publicity.
• Distribute pamphlets in your neighbourhood and outside schools with details such as subjects and classes taught, timings and fees. Ask your local newspaper vendor to insert and distribute those pamphlets along with newspapers.
• Place an advertisement with the local cable operator or in the area-centric newspaper supplement.

What You'll Need

• Depending on the number of students and the amount of money you are willing to spend, invest in a white or a black board. Accordingly, you'll also need markers or chalks and a duster.
• For subjects such as geography and the sciences, you'll need maps, charts and diagrams to better explain a particular topic.
• At a more professional level (engineering, medicine, etc), you could also use a slide projector or a LCD player and other audio-visual equipment.
• A spacious room and seating arrangement; includes tables and chairs.

What it Takes

Teaching is definitely not an easy task as it involves handling students with different aptitude levels. You have to be patient and understand how best to explain a difficult topic. Moreover, as a home tutor, your commitment level has to be high.

How Much Can You Earn?

• When you are just starting out, charge minimum fee as the idea is to have more students to enrol.
• Fees vary depending on the number of students, the subjects taught, at what level (primary, secondary, college), the locality you live in, the school board (SSC, HSC, ICSE, CBSE), etc.
• On an average, for specialised subjects such as mathematics and the sciences, economics, accounts, etc you can charge Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 per year at the school level. For college students, it could range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.
• Parents expect results. If your students perform well in their exams, you can increase your fees. Also, you can charge Rs 200 - Rs 300 more for students who are slow learners.

(With inputs from: Padmaja Hariharan, Secondary School Teacher; Bhanu Parameswaran, Primary School Teacher)

Author: Vidya Anand