Laurie Hurley always knew what she wanted, a family, a nice home, and a business that afforded her the opportunity to enjoy the finer things in life. She worked in the hotel industry where she found herself shaking hands with two Presidents and escorting the Ambassador to the United States and the First Lady to functions at the famed Waldorf-Astoria hotel. During her professional life, she was one of two women in upper management. She lived the glamorous life in Manhattan, attending many celebrity functions at famous museums and restaurants, but almost always in an official “work� capacity, representing the hotel.
However, as many of those in Corporate America know, success in the Corporate world sometimes came at great personal sacrifice. This included 12-15 hour work days and very little, if any, time to enjoy the wonderful city in which she lived. There was also the struggle of working so effortlessly for someone else, watching them achieve enormous wealth, while watching your earnings increase only slightly each year.
Hurley knew that with her skills and experience, there had to be something better out there. And so began her journey into self employment. A journey that would lead her into a multiple six-figure income and also the opportunity to help others achieve this dream as well – all based from her home office.
A far cry from the bright lights of the big city, Laurie moved to sunny southern California and found her happiness as a tutor broker. A career she had never in her wild dreams imagined. A close friend of hers had started a similar business in Florida and told Laurie how satisfying it was to be able to provide in-home, private tutoring services to students in need of supplementary education. Realizing she would be fulfilling a much-needed niche in the educational industry, Laurie did her research and has established herself as the one to call when a parent needs help. Hard work, dedication and providing exceptional tutors to families has earned Hurley sales in the six-digit bracket, far exceeding her salary in the hotel industry. In the past seven years, Laurie has visited with more than 1000 parents and students and “matched� the perfect tutor.
In 2005, Hurley found even greater success when she began selling her business model to other entrepreneurs like herself – people who had either become disillusioned with a traditional full-time job, teachers who saw a need for more individualized instruction or stay-at-home parents who decided to return or enter the work force. Home Tutoring Business was born, www.hometutoringbusiness.com,
One amazing benefit Hurley discovered with the tutoring industry, is that no matter what happens in the economy, parents are always looking for convenient, affordable ways to supplement their children’s education. Therefore, the potential isn’t reliant on today’s economy.
Want to know how to start your own home-based tutoring business? Hurley shares her top seven tips on earning a six figure income starting a home tutoring business below:
1) Be realistic when defining the area you will service. You can always expand once your business takes off. Since you will be home-based, a good rule of thumb is to offer your services within a half hour drive or 30 miles from your home office.
2) Keep your overhead low. There is no need to rent or lease office space. Compare prices on phone service, a good computer, Internet service, etc., and budget accordingly. Whether it’s a hallway with a desk or a spare bedroom, be sure you have the necessities to conduct business from your home in a professional, comfortable way.
3) Shop around for a web designer that will optimize your site for maximum “hits� and exposure. Prepare for approximately 75-80% of your business to be web-generated. Be certain your website provides detailed information in a simple, friendly, informative way. Let your target audience get to know you by browsing through your site – your personality should be reflected throughout your web pages. Make sure one of your web pages is devoted to “press.�
4) Shop your competition frequently to ensure your rates are not the highest, but not the lowest either. Charge a modest one-time registration fee. Adjust your rates accordingly based on supply and demand; secondary math tutoring will always command a higher rate than elementary school tutoring.
5) Avoid turnover amongst your tutors – interview thoroughly and be sure you are comfortable with the people who will be representing your company in the field. Find a background check company and utilize their services to verify your prospective tutors’ identity as well as criminal records, etc. Better safe than sorry when it comes to sending tutors to your clients’ homes.
6) Get lots of press. Be sure to toot your horn. Write articles and press releases, get press coverage locally, sponsor a local sports team, and get your name out there! Order magnetic signs for your automobile, carry your business cards with you at all times, join a networking group that is comprised of parents with school-age children.
7) Focus on delivering excellent customer service – take care of your clients and your tutors. If you show you care about them, they will refer you and talk about your company in a positive way. Send out thank you cards when you land a new client or receive a referral from a client. Keep track of your students’ and tutors’ birthdays and send them a $5.00 gift card to a bookstore.
Owning a tutoring business is a rewarding career in many ways. Flexible hours, the ability to be home-based, and the ability to enjoy a lucrative six-figure income is a wonderful alternative to commuting and reporting to someone else.
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Laurie Hurley lives and works in Newbury Park, California with her husband and two daughters, ages 10 and 13. For more information on how to start your own tutoring business, contact vasb@ubzrghgbevatohfvarff.pbz or visit www.hometutoringbusiness.com for a complimentary consultation to see if your skill set is a good “match� for this business.
