When I first left the classroom, I wasn’t worried about what to teach, how to teach, or even where to find students. I knew my skills as an educator would carry over. What I was worried about? The business side of things — bookkeeping, taxes, time management — plus all the things I assumed would be complicated or out of reach.
As it turns out, much of what I feared was simpler than I thought, and much of what I thought would be simple took more unlearning than I'd expected.
Here are seven things I wish I’d known sooner:
1. I Could Have Charged More From the Beginning
When I started, I charged $50 for an hour of direct instruction plus an additional hour of asynchronous practice. That’s two full hours of value. Now, I charge $80/hr for that exact same service — and my clients happily pay it. Lesson learned: price based on the value you provide, not your own fears.
2. My Monthly Business Costs Could Be Almost Nothing
I thought I’d need to spend hundreds a month on tools and programs. The truth? My monthly operating budget stays between $40–$50. There are incredible free and open-source resources out there. You don’t need fancy software to get started — or even to scale.
3. Bookkeeping and Taxes Aren’t as Scary as They Seem
I assumed I’d need to learn advanced accounting skills to keep my business afloat. Instead, I started with a simple spreadsheet and a habit of setting aside a percentage of every payment for taxes. Then I started using Wave(free version) and synced it to my bank account. At tax time, I print out reports from Wave and send them to a hired tax professional. It has been worth every penny.
4. Managing My Own Schedule Is Liberating
I worried I’d waste time without a strict schedule to adhere to. In reality, setting my own teaching hours, blocking admin time, and protecting days off gave me more focus and energy than I’d ever had in the classroom — so much that I now have time for my family and even hobbies.
5. Parents Trust Me More Than My Credentials
Parents don’t care about my degrees, certifications, or methodology jargon. They care that I can help their child and do what I say I’ll do. Overloading them with credentials or lesson plan details can actually backfire — keep your communication simple and focused on results.
6. “Niching Down” Means Something Different for Teachers
In most industries, niching down means narrowing your service to one hyper-specific thing. For teachers, it’s more about who you work best with — the type of student, their learning needs, and the situations where you shine. Services can evolve, but your ideal student profile is your anchor
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7. Start Before You Think You're Ready
Your business will always be a work-in-progress — and that’s a good thing. Done is better than perfect. You’ll be tweaking things indefinitely. It’s better to involve your audience in your journey than to spend months building behind the scenes only to launch to crickets. Start making connections, share what you’re working on, and invite people in before you’re “officially” open.
If you take nothing else from this list, take this: You don’t need to wait for perfect conditions. Your business, like your teaching, will grow with you. When you start sooner, you start learning sooner — and that’s how you find your stride. And if you want someone to walk beside you, I'm here.
Best wishes always 💕
~ Rachel