Can tutoring really replace my current income, or is it more realistic as a side hustle at first?
This is one of those questions that will haunt many people and prevent them from taking the leap, especially if you're already juggling a job, a mortgage, or a family.
It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about risk, identity, and the need for reassurance before making a change.
I will try to present this article as honestly as I can.
With more and more people promoting themselves as tutors, it is getting harder to be seen and to stand out from the crowd.
But it can be done if that is what you want. Be prepared for hard work, sleepless nights, and moments of frustration alongside the joy and fulfilment.
There will be highs as well as lows, but if you commit, it could be one of the most rewarding things you ever do.
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Reflect on Motivation and Goals
Before you begin tutoring, it is worth reflecting on why you want to become a tutor. Is it to escape the commute and bureaucracy of your current job? Is it because you are ready for a change and want to support others in a subject you love? Being clear on your reasons will help you stay focused when things feel difficult.
The Journey
If it is possible, I would suggest starting as a side hustle.
When I first started, I set myself the goal of finding 10 students. If I achieved that I would be able to leave the job that I was in.
It took me just under 6-months, however for the first couple of months I was too afraid to tell anyone that I was starting tutoring as I feared failing and people judging me for it.
Why start as a side hustle?
Because building a full-time tutoring income takes time. Some tutors do achieve it, but rarely overnight. It takes time for people to recognise you as a tutor. You may be fortunate enough to start with family and friends, but that won’t sustain you forever.
In the early days, you may put out adverts and hear nothing back. You might have conversations that seem promising, only for them to lead nowhere.
It can feel discouraging, especially when you know you have bills to pay and responsibilities to meet. But if you can be patient, things do grow. Word of mouth, reputation, and persistence will help you build a steady stream of clients. As with most worthwhile things in life, it takes time, effort, and consistency.
If you are patient things will grow. Word of mouth, reputation and persistence will help you to build a steady stream of students.
What are the options?
There are a few options available to you at this point.
The first one might be to consider working for an agency and let them find the work for you. They will have an established reputation and a marketing system in place. They will have a marketing fund to help to get your name out there and eliminate many of those early days of silence. To buy into a franchise might be another option.
If these are avenues you might want to consider, I would suggest reading this article: https://clarajamestutoring.co.uk/what-is-the-best-way-to-become-a-tutor
Once you have thought about your motivation, it helps to see the possible paths you might take:
The Side Hustler
1–3 students a week, a few hundred pounds a month
. Finding your first students may come through friends, family, or local groups. You might even offer a few sessions for free in exchange for testimonials to build credibility. It takes persistence, but this can give you the confidence and experience to grow.
The Steady Grower
5–10 students, part-time income with flexibility.
At this stage, you will probably need to do more active promotion. National platforms, adverts, or creative marketing ideas can help.
One of the first things that I did was to buy some magnets for the side of my car. (I think they cost me approximately £25 but that was over 10 years ago, and the prices will potentially have gone up in that time). But they got complete strangers approaching me in carparks, when I was filling up with petrol.
The most significant time was when I was working with a young girl one evening the car was parked on their drive and halfway through the evening the mum popped her head around the door and said that she was going out to dinner with friends. Evidently during dinner the magnets had become a conversation piece and they had ended up speaking about the fact that I was at her home working with her daughter and what a difference it was making.
The following day both of the friends phoned to ask if I could support their sons as well. Would the conversation have occurred if I hadn’t of had those magnets on the car? I don’t know but it definitely helped. From there the business skyrocketed.
The Full-Time Tutor
15+ students, running it like a business
Maybe your goal is to throw yourself in. To run this like a business and take a full-time income from it. I think in this case one of the biggest lessons I have learned over the years is that you can’t do it all by yourself.
Creating a tutoring business can provide a strong income, but it comes with responsibilities. As your earnings increase, so will your expenses. You may need an accountant, a business bank account, and a marketing budget. If you employ other tutors, you will also take on responsibility for their pay. It can be stressful, but it also offers independence, the chance to shape your own work life, and the privilege of supporting many students.
Each path requires a different level of commitment and comes with its own challenges. What they share is the potential for real achievement and impact.
The Non-Financial Wins
Tutoring doesn’t just affect your bank balance. It can transform your confidence, give you a renewed sense of purpose, and improve your work-life balance. Most of all, it gives you the privilege of helping children believe in themselves again.
Parents only get one chance to shape their own child’s learning journey. As tutors, we get to make a difference to many children’s lives. That is powerful.
Here is an email I received from a parent that captures this:
“I wanted to say a huge thank you to you for everything you’ve done for F. You have helped him so much in his maths and English. But for him it’s more than that. Before starting with you he was in a really bad place. He felt education wasn’t for him and had no hope of passing anything or achieving anything. But by teaching him maths in a way he understood he started to believe that he wasn’t totally stupid and maybe he could pass. And then that spiralled as he got better at maths he started thinking he could maybe do other things and it’s really changed his whole outlook. I never thought I’d be sitting here with him discussing A levels let alone him considering going to college after 6th form to study computing. He is like a different person!”
That is why we do what we do. We have the privilege of changing lives.
Just some of the kind words said about Clara James over the years
So, What comes next?
What’s Next?
So perhaps the real question is not only “Can it replace my income?” but also “What kind of life am I trying to create?”
If you are still exploring how to get started and how to get seen as a tutor, I created a free 5-day Visibility Challenge to help with those first steps. You can sign up if it feels right for you.
Free 5-day Visibility Challenge for your Tutoring Business
Tutoring is an incredible opportunity, and I hope it brings you as much happiness as it has brought me over the years.
Copywrite: Clara James Tutoring 2025