In this episode of the Classroom to Business podcast, I discuss the power of business cards in your tutoring business, in today's digital age. While many people have moved away from using business cards due to the prevalence of mobile phones and online contact information, I believe that business cards can still be a valuable tool, especially in the tutoring industry. In this episode, I share: * How you can use business cards as a powerful tool in your business * Things to consider when creating...
Jan 24, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Welcome back to a brand new year and another episode of Classroom to Business. In this episode I share a theory that I have…. The 7 Month Freak-Out. If you’ve been in business for more than a year, then you will have experienced it. If you are in the first 12 months of your business then you might be experiencing it right now! And if you’re starting your business this year, chances are you will experience it some time in the next 7 (ish) months. It’s something that I come across at least once a ...
Jan 10, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 32
This is a bit of a controversial topic, but I’m going to go out there and say it….. You NEED a really good website for your tutoring business if you are taking it seriously and want to grow your numbers and revenue. And to have a really good (amazing) website, there’s a fair chance you will need to outsource this… Not go at it yourself. In this episode, I share What a website can do for your business Why some tutoring businesses need them and others don’t What you need for a good website Why I s...
Nov 28, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 31
When we play a game, the only way for it to succeed is if everyone knows the rules. Well, your business is very much the same. If you haven’t created rules, if you haven’t shared them with the other players and if you haven’t ensured that everyone is following them, then your game isn’t going to fair so well. Some people will start to ‘cheat’ (knowingly or not), and this will lead to all sorts of issues for you, the game and the other players. In this episode, you will discover: Why you need to ...
Nov 19, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Last weekend I ran our first ever ‘Teachers in Business Retreat’ at Cabarita Beach, northern NSW, and it was a huge success. It was the perfect balance of work, relaxation, connection and fun! Over the weekend, a main focus for the ladies was to really get serious with their goals (and set them up seriously, not just as wishy-washy words that sounded good), and then work together to create super clear action plans for the next 6-12 months to help them achieve those goals. Lots of brand new ways ...
Nov 01, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 29
The Christmas holidays are coming up and that means most tutoring businesses are about to lose all their regular students and hit a VERY slow period, which means a decrease in revenue. It might not seem like a big deal, but from my own experience, I know that 4-6 weeks of little-to-no income can have you stressing out and really struggling to stay afloat. To avoid this, we need to be proactive. NOW is the time to be figuring out what you are going to do, so that you don’t end up running out of m...
Oct 18, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In this episode I chat to special guests Alison Perry and Jacinda Vaughan from Sounds-Write. Alison is an experienced Sounds-Write trainer and speech pathologist based in Brisbane. She founded Soundality with the goal of supporting educators and parents to help every learner achieve their full potential in reading and spelling, using evidence-based methods and resources. She is also a mum to two busy boys. Jacinda’s role as an in-house trainer for Sounds-Write Australia sees her support schools ...
Oct 03, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 27
If you are wanting to start your own tutoring business, then this is the episode for you! Inside my course Tutor Bootcamp I show you step by step (with all of the tools and templates), how to create your own tutoring business, but today I am summarising this and sharing the 4 main stages that you will need to go through to ensure you have your business all set up and ready to open the doors for 2024. In this episode, I share The 4 key stages of starting a tutoring business What you can do NOW, s...
Sep 19, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 26
I think all of us have those ‘memorable moments’ in our teaching careers (possibly more than one), where something has really hit a nerve. It’s made us want to do more and it’s made us even question if what we are doing in the classroom is enough. In this episode, I talk with Kristy Haworth from ‘All Kids Can Education’. Kristy opens up and shares what drove her to start her own tutoring business, how she has created a successful business that’s more than ‘just her’ and how she goes beyond just ...
Sep 05, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 25
If you’re like me, you probably don’t like confrontation. It makes me feel all sorts of uncomfortable and uneasy. In business (and even in the classroom), we can come across parents who are unhappy with something, and often we end up on the receiving end of anger, disappointment, confusion, overwhelm, etc. I found the best approach was to be calm, positive and prepared! Now we can’t prepare for all situations, but there’s a LOT of things that we can have in place and be aware of, to minimise the...
Aug 22, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 24
All too often tutoring business owners bury their heads in the sand when it comes to their business finances. I get it. We are educators by trade. We don’t all love numbers and some of us totally freak out at the thought of maths beyond year 2, so trying to understand business financials seems like such an impossible task! Plus we have lesson planning to do, resources to create and students to tutor! In this episode, I talk with Malisa Clarence from The Ask Hub . With 21 years of bookkeeping exp...
Aug 08, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Back in episode 4, I covered ‘What to Charge for my Tutoring Services’ but today I am going one step further to a place that scares the heck out of so many people and makes most of us kind, caring educators feel super uncomfortable… raising prices in your tutoring business. In this episode, I share… The most common reasons why people don’t raise their prices in tutoring businesses The benefits of raising our prices The consequences of not raising prices What to consider when raising prices When ...
Jul 25, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Let's be honest, offering JUST 1on1 tutoring can only get you so far. There are only so many hours in a day, which means only a certain amount of students that you can work with and only a certain amount of revenue that you can make. In this episode, I talk about the many benefits of running groups in your tutoring business and how you can effectively introduce them to your families. I also discuss the pricing considerations you will need to take on and some of the different types of group servi...
Jul 11, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 21
A lot of us in tutoring businesses have big, kind hearts and are really passionate about making a difference and ensuring every child has access to the support we are providing. This is not a bad thing, however when it’s at the cost of our business, our profits and our own families, then it’s definitely not a good thing! In this episode, I share some examples of when my feelings and emotions have gotten the better of me in my tutoring business, why being kind and super caring isn’t actually alwa...
Jun 27, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 20
A lot of business owners think branding is just about the logo, colours and fonts that are used for their businesses, BUT what most don't know is that it's also about the personality of your business and how you make your audience feel when they are interacting with you. This is so important when it comes to effective marketing. In this episode, Donna Hann and I cover some really important topics that align with both dance studios and tutoring businesses… How to attract your ideal potential cust...
Jun 13, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 19
If you have never invested in business coaching before, it can seem like an ‘expensive risk.’ But after being in business for over 12 years and knowing what I now know… I look at it as an 'essential investment.' In this episode, I share the path that I initially started taking, when I was planning on starting my first tutoring business. I also share the challenges I had with finding a suitable business coach and other like-minded women to support me (and hold me accountable), and I share the mas...
May 30, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Sonia from Support to Excel in Adelaide, shares with us the very moment that she knew she had to make a change and start her own tutoring business. She talks about what drives her and where she is planning to take her business next. She also walks through what an average day for her looks like, and how she has been able to create more flexibility and freedom with her business. We also touch on the impact that we can make as educators, outside of the classroom and the hope that that brings for a ...
May 16, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 17
I see it all the time. Ladies who have started their own tutoring businesses, with the goal to have more freedom and the same (or more) income as they did in the classroom. They do a great job at the teaching side of the business, BUT they really struggle with the business side and find themselves… Frustrated, because they don’t know how to get more students Unsure of how to actually grow their own business Afraid to set boundaries, which then means they are over-working and having regular cance...
May 02, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 16
When Jacinta started her business, she was a member of the Tutoring Growth Membership. She was in the start-up phase of her business and had no business experience or real idea of the true potential that her business had. She was second-guessing herself and at times wondering if it was worth pursuing. In this episode, Jacinta Palmer from Watch Us Bloom - Mindful Munchkinz, shares the story of her business journey. The challenges she faced, the wins she had and how she has created a tutoring busi...
Apr 18, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Whether we like it or not, people judge on looks… and this is why that first impression of you and your tutoring space REALLY make a difference. In this episode, I go through why it absolutely matters what your space looks, feels (and even smells) like, and how you can ensure you are putting your best foot forward, and creating a positive first impression for your new families, so that they want to enrol and come back again. If you feel like your tutoring business needs a shake up, some fresh ey...
Apr 04, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 14
We often come into this industry with preconceived ideas about what a tutoring business should look like.. And I’m here to tell you, it’s not always helpful. I am hoping that this interview with Peita and Rob Mages from Clever Cookie Academy , absolutely blows your mind and helps you to not only crush those ‘safe’ limiting beliefs that you have, but also helps you to rethink the way you run your business, and what’s truly possible when you have a strong brand and offer amazing services. You’ll f...
Mar 21, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Why would anyone want to work for you? Why wouldn’t they just go and start their own tutoring business? In this episode of Classroom to Business, I share the secrets behind why someone WILL want to work for you, what you can do to avoid awkward situations with your staff and what you should be looking for when you are employing your first tutors. If you haven’t yet got an Employee Handbook, you can download my FREE template HERE . And if you need an employee contract for your staff, I highly rec...
Mar 07, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this episode I welcome our very first guest to the Classroom to Podcast podcast, Emma Lyon from Set for School in Sydney . Emma and her sister started Set For School in 2022 and joined the Tutoring Growth Membership nearly straight away. (Smart girls!) Emma shares about her experience of starting her own educational business as well as some of the challenges and wins along the way. Emma also touches on their big vision goals and what they are focussing on in order to help them get there. If y...
Feb 21, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 11
There really are a lot of tutors out there, BUT there are also a LOT of students and families who need your help. It’s just a matter of standing out and being clear about what you offer. In this episode of Classroom to Business, I share the truth about the tutoring industry and ways that you can ensure you stand out and don’t get lost amongst the noise! If you want to start your own tutoring business, but don’t know where to start. Join Tutor Bootcamp and get my simple framework that shows you e...
Feb 08, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 10
As teachers, we have kind, caring hearts and we genuinely want to help people and make a difference with the work that we do, BUT… We aren’t always great at charging (appropriately) for the services that we provide. In this episode of Classroom to Business, I share the top 5, biggest mistakes that many tutoring businesses make, when it comes to pricing. I also discuss ways to avoid making these same mistakes in your own business! If you enjoyed learning about what to do (and not to do) in your t...
Jan 24, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Dreams change all the time, but we should always dream big, so that we are forced to take big action. Otherwise we don’t challenge ourselves, we don't learn anything new and we don’t grow. In this episode of Classroom to Business, I share my experience of leaving the classroom and starting my own tutoring business and the impact that having big dreams had on my success. I also touch on some (possibly hard-to-swallow) truths that a lot of teacher-tutors struggle with, and what you can do to avoid...
Jan 10, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 8
It’s so crucial to sit down regularly and go back over your business, especially at this time of year as we review the last 12 months. It’s the most effective way for us to learn, improve and grow as business owners and in turn, create successful, profitable educational businesses. In this episode, I share the key areas that you need to review in your tutoring business. I cover areas such as finances, marketing, key metrics, sales results, team, systems and more. If you are not reviewing your bu...
Dec 28, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this day and age there are so many things to distract us, but the key to staying focused and on track is knowing WHY and WHEN we get distracted. Then we have to review these moments and make an actionable plan to ensure we stay on track and work towards our bigger vision. In this episode, I share the reasons why so many of us get distracted and what we can do to minimise and even eliminate these distractions. At the end of the day, as a small business owner, the buck stops with you in your bu...
Dec 07, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 6
It might sound a bit harsh, but often WE are the ones who are causing the problems in our own businesses and sometimes we don’t even realise it! In this episode, I go through the ways in which you may be holding the success of your business back, and what you can to, to ensure that you get out of your own way and create a tutoring business that enables you to create more financial freedom and lifestyle flexibility…. Whilst still doing what you love and making a positive impact on the lives of th...
Nov 29, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 5
"What should I charge for my tutoring?" It's a question that I get asked all the time. As teachers and educators, we have never had to put a price on what we do, or decide on an hourly rate for ourselves, so this is a very common challenge for many tutors. So, in this epsiode, I walk you through the key things to consider when deciding on the pricing for your tutoring services, so that you not only feel good about your pricing, but you also are charging your worth and continuing to make an impac...
Nov 15, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 4
