If you’re a teacher looking to earn some extra money outside school hours, there are plenty of ways to put your existing skills to work. Some could also develop into a full-time business if you eventually want to leave teaching.
Private tutoring is the obvious option, but there are plenty of others. Teachers can also earn money from training, writing, editing, consultancy and other types of self-employed work.
You can start most of the ideas below alongside your existing job, and several cost next to nothing to try.
Here are 10 small business ideas for teachers in the UK.
1. Private tutoring
This is probably the easiest place to start, particularly if you teach a GCSE or A-level subject.
You can tutor locally, teach online, or do both. Some teachers concentrate on exam preparation, while others work with younger children who need extra help with maths, English or reading.
You can also decide how much work you want to take on. A couple of pupils a week might be enough if you’re looking for some extra income, while if you’re happy to teach a larger group of regular pupils, it could become a substantial business.
Your teaching experience and knowledge of the curriculum should help when you’re looking for your first clients.
If you work with children independently, read our guide to enhanced DBS checks for self-employed people.
2. Exam revision sessions
You could also offer revision sessions in the run-up to GCSEs and A-levels rather than tutoring throughout the year.
These could be one-to-one sessions or small groups, either online or at a suitable local venue. Easter and half-term are obvious times to run them.
Group sessions can pay well because you’re teaching several pupils at once, although you’ll need to think about venue costs and insurance if you’re running them in person.
3. Sell your own teaching resources
Teachers spend an extraordinary amount of time creating worksheets, revision notes, lesson plans and classroom activities.
You could create your own resources and sell them online to other teachers or parents. Worksheets, revision packs, classroom displays and complete lesson bundles are all possibilities.
There isn’t much to spend upfront, so you can put a few resources online and see what happens before devoting too much time to it.
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Make sure anything you sell is your own work, and check that your school doesn’t own the rights to material you’ve produced as part of your job.
4. Educational consultancy
This is more likely to suit experienced teachers, heads of department and people who have held senior roles in schools.
Schools and education businesses use outside consultants for curriculum work, assessment, teacher training, SEND, school improvement and specialist subject advice.
You don’t need a huge client list. Even a few consultancy days each month can provide a worthwhile income if you have experience that schools are prepared to pay for.
If you’re giving professional advice, consider whether you need professional indemnity insurance.
5. Proofreading and editing
If you spend a lot of time marking essays and other written work, proofreading and editing is another option.
You could edit reports, website copy, training materials and other business content. Your subject knowledge may also help you find more specialist work. A science teacher, for example, could edit technical or scientific material.
You can do the work from home, and you won’t need much more than a computer to get started.
Read our guide to home office expenses for sole traders if you’re going to work from home regularly.
6. Corporate training
Companies spend money training their staff, and teachers already know how to plan a session, explain a subject and stand up in front of a group of people.
What you can teach will depend on your background. IT and software training, languages, communication skills and presentation skills are some possibilities.
You can approach businesses yourself or work freelance for an established training company.
7. Children’s holiday clubs
School holidays give you another potential market.
You could run science sessions, coding clubs, art classes, creative writing workshops, music groups or revision days, depending on what you teach.
Hiring a community hall or other local venue by the day means you don’t need your own premises.
There is more to sort out when you’re responsible for a group of children, so check the safeguarding, insurance and other requirements that apply before taking bookings.
8. Music, language or other private lessons
Not every private lesson has to be about passing an exam.
Music, languages, art, drama, coding and public speaking can all be taught privately, and adults may be just as interested as children.
A modest number of regular pupils can provide a decent extra income without taking over your evenings and weekends.
If pupils come to your home, or you visit theirs, have a look at our guide to public liability insurance.
9. Educational writing
Publishers, education companies and training providers use freelance writers to produce textbooks, online lessons, exam questions, teacher guides and training material.
This can be a good fit if you know your subject well and enjoy writing.
You don’t have to become a full-time freelance writer either. You can take on individual projects when you have the time.
10. Online courses
You could also turn a subject you already teach into an online course.
GCSE revision is an obvious example, but courses could also cover languages, music theory, coding or other subjects you know well.
Don’t spend a fortune creating a complete course before you know anyone wants it. Try a paid online workshop or a short course first. If people sign up, you’ve got a much better reason to invest more time in it.
Can you be employed and self-employed as a teacher?
Yes. You can keep your teaching job and run a small business at the same time.
Your salary as an employee will continue to be taxed via PAYE, and you account for any additional self-employment income via Self Assessment each year.
Read our guide to being employed and self-employed at the same time for more information.
It’s worth checking the terms of your employment contract as well. Your school or employer may have rules about outside work, conflicts of interest or carrying out private work involving existing pupils.
When do you need to register with HMRC?
If your gross trading income is no more than £1,000 during the current tax year, you don’t need to register as self-employed, thanks to the trading allowance.
Once you go over £1,000, you’ll usually need to register for Self Assessment. Our guide explains how to register as self-employed with HMRC.
You’ll also need to keep records of your income and business costs. Our beginner’s guide to self-employed accounts explains the basics.
Try the idea before spending too much
You can test more of these business ideas without much financial risk. You can start by tutoring one pupil, or run a single revision session, or take on one writing job before seeing if you want to do more.
If you’re looking for other inexpensive ideas, see our 10 businesses you can start for £100.
We’ve also put together 10 business ideas for retirees if you’re thinking about self-employment later in your career.
