Can I make a successful tutoring business just offering online lessons?
Yes, there is a strong demand for online tutoring, however as with most things there will be various factors to consider, including how you will present your lessons and the children you are working with.
Prior to lockdown all our lessons were one-to-one in the child’s home. This way I believed the child was in an environment with which they were comfortable and familiar, we could make the lessons more interactive, and it would be easier to maintain their concentration.
Then March 2020 we went into lockdown. This meant either the lessons stopped and the business ceased to trade or we adapted.
We had no choice but to adapt.
For the past couple of years, since we came out of lockdown we have offered both online and in person lessons.
For some parents/children online lessons have proven to be preferable and have chosen not to swap back.
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Online tutoring can work (and work well) when it’s delivered thoughtfully.
The advantages of online tutoring
There are several clear benefits to offering lessons online:
Efficiency
Without travel time or the need to create physical resources, lessons can be more time-efficient for tutors.
Accessibility
Lower costs and increased flexibility can make tutoring more accessible to more families.
Interactive tools
Platforms such as Zoom allow you to:
share your screen
annotate work
use games, slides, and worksheets
This means lessons can still be engaging and interactive.
Convenience
There is no travel for either the tutor or the family — which removes:
time pressure
bad weather concerns
logistical challenges
(or the family to feel the need to spring clean before you arrive!)
The potential challenges of tutoring online
That said, online tutoring isn’t without its challenges.
Engagement can be harder to read
If a child chooses not to turn their camera on, it can be more difficult to:
read body language
gauge understanding
spot confusion early
Concentration varies
Some children thrive online, while others find it harder to focus without someone physically present.
Technology isn’t always reliable
Internet issues can interrupt lessons, which can be frustrating for both tutor and student.
Home distractions
Both tutor and student may experience interruptions from others in the household.
I also felt that if I offered to drive to them it would make their lives easier, especially on days when it was cold, wet, dark...
So… can you build a successful business online?
Yes — but success comes from more than just being online.
It comes from:
how you structure your lessons
how you engage your students
how well you understand your learners
and how you adapt your approach to suit them
Online tutoring isn’t “less than” face-to-face — it’s simply different.
Why this matters when building a tutoring business
As I continue developing the Clara James franchise, this is something I am thinking about carefully.
It’s not about telling tutors they must work online or must work face-to-face.
It’s about helping them understand:
the strengths of each approach
the potential challenges
and how to adapt their teaching to suit the child in front of them
Because building a successful tutoring business isn’t just about choosing a format — it’s about delivering consistently high-quality support, whatever that format looks like.
A final Thought
A final thought
If you are considering building a tutoring business online, it’s worth asking yourself:
👉 Which students does this work best for?
👉 How will I keep lessons engaging?
👉 How will I build rapport through a screen?
Because ultimately, whether lessons are online or in person, the goal remains the same:
To remove barriers, build confidence, and support each child in the way that works best for them.
Just some of the kind words said about Clara James over the years
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