Is your next side hustle a test prep business?

Similar to a tutoring business, a test preparation business is a niche service offered to a specific audience: students. Your area of ​​expertise and ability will determine whether students are recruited from local high schools or colleges. So without further ado, let me show you how to start a test prep business.

When exam time approaches, students eagerly stick their noses in their books and absorb as much as possible to ensure a good result. But not everyone can do it themselves. Sometimes you need help. It can be used to create study notes such as flashcards and mind maps, to aid study discipline, or to explain difficult concepts you don't yet understand. With a large number of subjects to choose from at different grades and levels, finding the basics on which to build your business is easy. What's even better is that you don't have to run a technology-heavy business and require less investment. You can start using just your smartphone!

identify your needs

Young entrepreneurs under the age of 18 and adults alike can consider starting a test preparation service. The starting point is to identify your area of ​​expertise.

If you are under 18:

Which subjects are you good at? Do you consistently get the highest marks in a particular subject? Can you articulate a problem and clearly explain how to solve it? Do you have any tools you rely on, such as old exam questions, flashcards, or creating mind maps?

For adults:

Are you knowledgeable about a particular subject? Have you worked in a particular field? Do you enjoy the subject and share your knowledge about it?

Next, identify what your student is struggling with. Contact your local library, high school, or higher education institution. While some topics may seem obvious, such as math or science, you may be surprised to see people needing help with languages, economics, or computer science.

Define the service

Based on the research we have conducted, we will decide what services we can provide. These are:

Exam-specific tutoring: This type of tutoring occurs only before the exam and focuses on the content of the exam itself. Teach learning techniques: Use your own experience and creativity to explore your learners' learning styles and help them develop learning strategies and tools that help them retain information better than before. Exam Prep Bootcamp: This is a sprint session in which one or more students participate in one or two full days of practice exams. They learn to race against time and answer as clearly and quickly as possible. It can also help show where students are stumbling on the exam, such as specific questions, specific exam lengths, or topics that students are struggling to understand.

You will need to indicate whether your client prefers one-on-one preparation or if a group setting is sufficient. There are pros and cons to both, such as being able to earn more in a group setting, but you should consider whether this will have a negative impact on your students.

Set up your price list based on the services you provide. For example:

Tutoring sessions cost R100 per hour per student. Bootcamps cost a similar amount, but there are additional supplies, such as printing worksheets, so you need to factor in cost. Study techniques may also require supplies such as stationery, but you can keep costs down by having students bring their own supplies.

Note: You don't need to register your seasonal solo business like a tutoring business, but like any other side hustle, you need to declare your income legally and accurately. If you are under 18, you do not need to declare your income.

find a place

Providing exam preparation services from home can present logistical challenges. So find a suitable space.

First, contact your client's school or higher education institution. If you need a laptop, ask about spaces such as empty classrooms with blackboards, desks, chairs, and electrical outlets.

You can also ask libraries, community centers, and churches. Because they are community-focused nonprofit organizations, they do not have to charge fees for the use of their space.

attract customers

As mentioned earlier, you can start this business with just your mobile phone. In this case, WhatsApp for Business is a great tool. You can list your services, business hours, or “school hours” and a link to a sign-up sheet.

Tools like Google Forms and Google Sheets are free to use and easy to integrate. By sharing this link with students who are interested in your business, you can let them know which classes or services they need help with.

You can create a WhatsApp group from your list of customers and coordinate the days of the week on which you offer specific classes. For example, on Thursdays at 15:30 I teach economics to Year 11 students, but on Friday evenings I have group sessions for all ages where we learn study techniques.

For many students, exam preparation can be make or break. This is why this is a great business idea that is always in demand. It's also seasonal, so you don't have to work full time and can plan ahead.