How I launched a tutoring business without a plan
“My stats test is coming up, and I am feeling the pressure”, my colleague and friend Grace told me one day at work. As I am good with statistics and I truly enjoy helping others, especially fellow aspiring psychologists like myself, I couldn’t help but offer my assistance. “What if I help you?” I proposed. “I’ve never formally tutored anyone before, but I have helped friends with stats assignments in the past. No need for you to pay me”. Grace accepted, and during the Christmas holidays of 2023, our stats revision began.
As I tutored Grace, I became aware of my talent for simplifying complex concepts using real life examples and adopting an accessible language.
Upon returning to the office after the holidays, Grace joyfully announced she scored a 74 on her exam. “I couldn’t have done it without you; you should really consider starting a tutoring business!” The more i thought about it, the more I realised that her idea was not a bad one at all. With my newfound tutoring experience and considering all the times I had helped my friends in uni with their assignments, I decided to give this idea a go. At that point, I had two options: preparing before I actually started, or just getting started. I chose the second option.
I decided to create a website to showcase my services, which would have allowed me to inform potential clients about my background and experiences. One weekend, I logged into my Canva account, selected a template from their “website” section, and crafted a professional-looking platform. Utilising a free Canva domain, I launched the site. Grace also added a lovely testimonial, which added value to my endeavour. Here’s the final result:
Next, I began promoting my services on Facebook groups and LinkedIn. Soon enough a psychologist needing help with the stats selection tests for her Clinical Psychology Doctorate Application, reached out to me. Instead of quoting a price, I asked her what she was willing to pay, and agreed on a rate. I also offered her a 15-minutes free consultation to explore her goals and areas to work on during the session. The free consultation happened last Friday, and we decided to start on Monday, with sessions twice a week.
That’s when it hit me: I was so unprepared and had no material ready for the session. I spent the whole weekend putting together PowerPoint slides for the following week. The final result was pretty good. The first session went well, and she sent me the payment through PayPal promptly.
After the session, I rushed to create more PowerPoint presentations to stay ahead with work. This made me realise the time-consuming nature of slides preparation. That’s when I had the idea: why not create a stats revision course, to publish online, and that people could purchase? Such a resource could aid aspiring psychologists in navigating their academic journeys and preparing for Doctorate selection tests. Perhaps, this could mark the inception of an “Aspiring Psychologists Academy” business.
Lessons learned:
When starting a business, flip the script: launch first, prepare later. By taking action immediately, you’ll sidestep procrastination. Plus, once you’ve launched, you are less likely to backtrack.
Offering your services for free is a powerful way to kickstart your business journey. Also, additionally, starting by gauging how much your customers are willing to pay can help you attract clients who trust you.
Even if you’re just dipping your toes into the business, fake it until you make it! Exude confidence and act like a pro by curating professional contents. This will draw in clients who believe in your expertise.