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Choosing to start an independent English teaching business is an exciting decision. Sharing your passion and knowledge without the restrictions of a traditional school can be incredibly rewarding. However, many teachers are surprised by how quickly their small teaching business becomes complex – especially as new students join.
Before long, you may find yourself juggling scheduling, payments, lesson planning, parent communication, and marketing – all while trying to deliver the best classes possible.
That’s why having the right systems in place from day one is essential. Tutor management software like TutorBird helps independent teachers stay organized, save time, and grow their businesses with confidence – whether they’re just getting started or managing a full student roster. In this article, we’ll explore exactly why business management software is a must-have for independent English teachers from the very beginning.
Scheduling made easy
One of the greatest pains for independent teachers is scheduling. Finding a time that works for you and your students can lead to countless emails that may end with no solution.
TutorBird simplifies this process with intuitive scheduling tools. Instead of spending hours defining schedules, you can set your availability, share your calendar with students, and allow them to book their lessons online. This reduces the need for dozens of emails and phone calls, freeing up your time and avoiding double-booking – as it is all done online in real-time.
Furthermore, TutorBird’s scheduling tools can help teachers manage their time effectively. By visualizing their schedule in a calendar view, teachers can identify busy periods and plan their workload accordingly. This helps ensure teachers have enough time for lesson planning, grading, and other administrative tasks.
Create a teaching schedule that works for you using these 5 tips.
Want to work for yourself? Read the free guide to
Three Ways to Be an Independent Online English Teacher
downloadEffortless payment tracking
Chasing down payments can be confusing, stressful, and time-consuming. When you’re managing every aspect of your teaching business, keeping track of payments shouldn’t add to your workload or your stress. Without a proper system, it’s easy to lose track of who has paid, what’s overdue, and when to follow-up. Manually sending reminders or dealing with cash and checks can feel awkward and outdated.
TutorBird’s payment tracking features eliminate the hassle of getting paid. You will have no more awkward conversations about payments. You can set your rates, generate and send invoices automatically, and track payments all in one place. Students pay their invoices online, making the process modern and straightforward. It guarantees you receive payment on time and removes the need for spreadsheets or manual tracking.
TutorBird also provides detailed payment reports, allowing teachers to track their income and expenses. This helps teachers understand their financial situation and make informed business decisions. A private tutor can use the reports to track revenue from different classes and identify areas for deadlines or price adjustments.
For independent teachers, having this level of visibility and automation from day one is key to running a professional and profitable business.
Looking for more tips on managing your income as an independent English teacher? Check out Bridge’s article on setting your rates and navigating common financial issues.
Lesson planning and student management
Staying organized from the start is essential for independent teachers who want to deliver high-quality lessons and grow a sustainable business. TutorBird’s lesson planning tools help you create customized lesson plans for each student, track their progress, and share feedback with them and their parents.
You can also store student information, contact details, and lesson notes in one location, making it easy to stay organized and access the information you need when you need it. It is the end of worrying about computer folders and links saved in different apps – no more lost files and mix-ups.
Knowing where your students are not developing is essential to their success, but it becomes problematic when using a separate notebook or a spreadsheet. The software allows teachers to track student attendance, homework completion, and test scores.
A clear visual of those will provide a comprehensive overview of each student’s progress and help teachers identify areas of concern in which learners may need additional support. If a student has been doing well in written activities but the grades are down in speaking, the software will give you a clear view that allows you to plan and deliver a solution accordingly.
In addition to all that, the student management features, as well as the student portal, help teachers communicate quickly and effectively with students and parents. Teachers can send messages, share files, and schedule meetings through the platform. Sending quick and thoughtful replies helps build strong relationships with students and parents and puts everyone on the same page.
Explore more ways to overcome operational challenges as an independent English teacher.
Scaling your business with ease
Even if you’re just getting started, it’s important to choose tools that will support your business as it grows. TutorBird equips independent teachers with the systems they need to scale smoothly – without having to overhaul their entire setup later.
As your business grows, so does the complexity of managing it. TutorBird’s powerful features can help you scale your business efficiently. When the time comes, you can manage multiple teachers and locations, track varied expenses, generate reports, and gain valuable insights into your business.
Whether you’re a solo teacher or managing a team of instructors, TutorBird can help you grow your business without adding unnecessary complexity. You will be able to track materials, schedules, and performance.
This helps you stay organized and efficient as your business expands. Reporting tools within the business management software allow you to generate insightful reports on attendance, revenue, and student performance. This data helps you make informed decisions to improve your teaching business and maximize efficiency.
When discussing marketing needs, which is another big concern for most independent teachers, TutorBird also has it covered. You can create a professional website to attract new students and collect leads, produce and deliver email newsletters, and track your marketing campaigns in terms of duration and budget.
The website builder is powerful and intuitive, full of user-friendly tools that will work with a simple and effective drag-and-drop command. This helps you reach a wider audience and increase your student base.
Focus on what matters most: Teaching
From day one, independent teachers juggle many responsibilities – but at the heart of it all is the desire to provide high-quality instruction. Business management software like TutorBird helps make that possible by automating time-consuming administrative tasks, giving teachers more time and energy to focus on teaching.
Teaching doesn’t stop when the lesson ends. With TutorBird’s cloud-based tools, teachers can easily share pre- and post-lesson resources such as notes, assignments, video tutorials, and supplementary materials all in one centralized location. This ensures continuity in learning beyond the classroom and boosts student engagement.
Additional benefits of TutorBird
In addition to the core features mentioned above, TutorBird offers a range of other benefits for independent teachers. These additional features may seem small at first, but they make a big difference in helping independent teachers run a smooth and professional business from the very beginning:
- Automated communication: Schedule automated reminders that fit your needs, such as lessons, payments, and other events.
- Online resources: Easy access to your library of teaching resources, including lesson plans, worksheets, and activities.
- Mobile access: Manage your business from anywhere through TutorBird’s mobile app.
- Integration with other tools: Connect TutorBird with commonly used teaching tools like Google Calendar and Zoom.
What makes TutorBird stand out from the crowd?
Choosing the right business management software from day one is a smart move – and not all tools are created equal. TutorBird sets itself apart by offering independent teachers a reliable, all-in-one platform that grows with them.
With over 10 years of development driven by user feedback, TutorBird is built to meet the real needs of tutors and teachers. A dedicated customer support team is available by phone or email at no extra cost, making it easy to get help when you need it. The platform is also highly affordable, with access to all core features included – no confusing pricing tiers or locked tools.
Most importantly, TutorBird is designed to scale with your business. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to expand, it offers the flexibility and functionality to support your growth every step of the way.
