How to start a tutoring center

(Photo Credits: Here)

With 10.2% unemployment rate in America, signs of times. Effects of recession continues to linger. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is affected by all these.

Out of the blue, I received an email from an OFW wanting to go home and is asking me for some advice on how to start a tutoring center. She opted not to be named and her email not published. She’s from Singapore.

Interestingly, I also wrote a blog entry in November 5, 2006 entitled How to start a tutoring agency. That was also a response to a request from another reader – Kutang Bato – who would eventually become a friend. She’s currently bludgeoning her MBA in Arizona. I was able to convince her that MBA still does matter.

Going back to the topic: starting a tutoring center, one must remember that this is not for everyone. In other words, you have to follow one cardinal rule: if you don’t have any competitive advantage, don’t proceed. What does that mean? It means – if you’re not skilled in what you’re going to be tutoring, it will be a disaster. So, the first question is – are you skilled enough for the service that you will be selling?

What you can offer as a tutor?

1. What about basic accounting and reading financial statements?
2. What about trigonometry, differential calculus or geometry?
3. What about photography?
4. What about how to soften your Filipino accent and turn it into an American accent?
5. What about blogging?

There’s a lot. Anything that you’re good at and where there is a market or a need for that talent. That’s from talent A to Z.

Opening a tutoring center is pretty cheap. There’s not much capitalization involved. A vacant room in your house or a one-on-one house visitation will do.

How do you market your tutoring agency? Have you heard about blogs? Blog it! But don’t forget the old print media called newspaper and put an ad in there. If the regular sunday papers are too expensive for you, advertise on weekdays. They’re cheaper. Print some flyers and distribute them.

Business registration and licensing is easy. Since you’re not opening a pre-school, technical vocational school or a full-blown university, so the only thing you need is a business name approved by the Department of Trade and Industry. You can register it as a sole proprietorship or if you intend to run it as a cooperative, they you’ll have to register it at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Of course, you’d have to apply and get the usual business registrations with BIR, SSS, Philhealth, Fire and the License to Operate or Mayor’s Permit.

Here are the suggested steps to follow:

Step 1. BN approval.
Step 2. Secure TIN from BIR
Step 3. Secure SSS, Fire and Health registration.
Step 4. Secure License to Operate or Mayor’s Permit.
Step 5: Invite Reyna Elena on your soft-opening

Good luck!

Tagged as: Tutoring