The short answer is: yes — but it depends on how you approach it.

There is a strong and growing demand for online tutoring. However, like most things in business, success isn’t just about what you offer — it’s about how you deliver it and who you are supporting.

How our approach has evolved

Prior to 2020, all of our lessons at Clara James Tutoring were delivered one-to-one in the child’s home.

I genuinely believed that if a child is in an environment where they feel comfortable and familiar:

• they are more likely to engage

• it’s easier to build rapport

• and concentration tends to come more naturally

I also felt we could also make lessons more interactive using physical resources and games.

Then lockdown happened.

Like many businesses, we were faced with a choice:

• pause everything

• or adapt

So we adapted.

Where we are now

Since then, we have continued to offer both online and in-person lessons.

Interestingly, some families now actively prefer online tutoring and have chosen not to return to face-to-face sessions.

This highlights an important point:

Online tutoring can work (and work well) but it needs to be thought about.

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

The potential challenges

That said, online tutoring isn’t without its challenges.

Engagement can be harder to read

Sometimes confidence prevents a child from turning their camera on and that can make it 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.

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

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.