{"id":11460,"date":"2022-09-26T09:09:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-26T15:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=11460"},"modified":"2026-02-06T07:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T14:00:19","slug":"non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Non-Teaching Skills You Need to Launch an Online English Tutoring Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>\n<p>From finding students and creating lessons to scheduling classes and collecting payments, <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/get-started-freelance-english-teaching-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">establishing your own ESL business<\/a> may make you feel like you need to be a jack of all trades. But there\u2019s no need to panic! You probably already possess the essential teaching skills and technical equipment to get started and, fortunately, the other skills you need to launch an online tutoring business can be learned. Let\u2019s dive in to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/specialized\/teaching-english-online-freelancer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Earn Specialized Certification in Teaching English Online as a Freelancer to learn important skills like how to handle accounting and how to scale your business in a competitive market.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#First_what_does_it_mean_to_work_for_yourself_as_an_online_English_teacher\" >First, what does it mean to work for yourself as an online English teacher?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#Who_starts_an_online_English_tutoring_business\" >Who starts an online English tutoring business?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#What_are_the_benefits_of_starting_your_own_online_ESL_business\" >What are the benefits of starting your own online ESL business?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#So_what_non-teaching_skills_do_you_need_to_launch_an_online_English_tutoring_business\" >So, what non-teaching skills do you need to launch an online English tutoring business?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#1_Marketing_skills\" >1. Marketing skills<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#2_Operational_skills\" >2. Operational skills<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#3_Creative_skills\" >3. Creative skills<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#4_Time_management_and_organizational_skills\" >4. Time management and organizational skills<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#5_Business_development_skills\" >5. Business development skills<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#6_Communication_and_relationship_management_skills\" >6. Communication and relationship management skills<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#7_Persistency_and_motivation\" >7. Persistency and motivation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/non-teaching-skills-to-launch-freelance-online-english-tutoring-business\/#How_can_I_develop_the_business_and_marketing_skills_I_need_to_start_my_own_online_ESL_school\" >How can I develop the business and marketing skills I need to start my own online ESL school?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_what_does_it_mean_to_work_for_yourself_as_an_online_English_teacher\"><\/span>First, what does it mean to work for yourself as an online English teacher?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of new online English teachers opt to work with <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/companies-seeking-online-english-teachers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">online English teaching companies<\/a> since working with a company offers training and structure for new teachers and lesson plans are provided. While working with companies often promises a steady income stream and student bookings, the other side of the coin is that you may not have much freedom when it comes to choosing your learners, your hourly rate, and your teaching methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you\u2019re looking for greater flexibility as a teacher, starting your own business or working via an <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/marketplace-teaching-english-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ESL marketplace<\/a> as a <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/what-is-freelance-english-teacher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">freelance online English teacher<\/a> is the way to go! As your own boss, you get to call the shots about every single aspect of your business, including the age and level of the students you&#8217;ll teach, your teaching rates, how you&#8217;ll organize class schedules, and the curriculum and <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/micro\/materials-development-efl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">materials you&#8217;ll develop<\/a> to use in your classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/how-to-teach-online-work-for-company-or-myself\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Should you teach English online with a company or work for yourself? Find out which is right for you!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_starts_an_online_English_tutoring_business\"><\/span>Who starts an online English tutoring business?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As being an online ESL <em>teacherpreneur<\/em> offers plenty of perks and allows English educators to continue to grow, it\u2019s not surprising that more and more teachers are jumping onto this career path. Here are some examples of who is <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-online-from-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">teaching English online<\/a> for themselves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list wcb-button cb-common check-button\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-online-digital-nomad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Digital nomads<\/a> who want to be able to work from anywhere (like <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/mari-teaching-online-digital-nomad-coronavirus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mari, in Scotland<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stay-at-home parents who need flexible income<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>College students working part-time or on a gap year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Classroom-based English teachers who want to shift to a home-based job<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teaching-english-online-side-gig-k-12-teachers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">K-12 teachers of any subject looking to pick up a side gig<\/a> and earn extra money<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For many EFL teachers, it just takes patience to get your business off the ground. As <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/sheyla-from-brazil-independent-online-english-tutor-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sheyla, a Brazilian ESL teacher giving private online classes in the U.S.<\/a>, affirmed, \u201cLittle by little, my online classes took over my other part-time jobs, and now, I am so happy that I have so many classes every day to keep me busy and allow me to still make money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/reasons-become-freelance-esl-teacher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Here&#8217;s why starting an English teaching business is a good idea.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone is-resized wp-image-8139\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"763\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sheyla-Monteiro.jpg\" alt=\"Sheyla, an independent English teacher in the US\" class=\"wp-image-8139\" style=\"width:516px;height:437px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sheyla-Monteiro.jpg 900w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sheyla-Monteiro-480x407.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 900px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Sheyla, an independent English teacher in the U.S.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_benefits_of_starting_your_own_online_ESL_business\"><\/span>What are the benefits of starting your own online ESL business?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list wcb-button cb-common circle-plus-button\">\n<li>You can target the students you want to teach, such as young learners, business professionals, or university students. There are so many interesting <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/finding-your-niche-freelance-online-english-teacher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESL niches<\/a> to explore!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&#8217;ll have higher earning potential because you can <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/setting-your-rates-freelance-english-tutor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">set your own class rates<\/a> based on your unique qualifications and experience (and all revenue earned goes straight to you).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teaching virtually saves you time and money when it comes to commuting, which also allows you to book more classes during the day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you\u2019re a non-native English speaker, you don\u2019t have to deal with the issue of <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/native-speakerism-discriminatory-practice-or-response-to-market-demands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">employers sometimes preferring native speakers<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you\u2019re new to teaching, you\u2019ll want to get initial training and qualification with a <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TEFL certificate<\/a>. You can explore our <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/online-tefl-certification\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online TEFL courses<\/a> to get started!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"So_what_non-teaching_skills_do_you_need_to_launch_an_online_English_tutoring_business\"><\/span>So, what non-teaching skills do you need to launch an online English tutoring business?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you want to make your online English teaching venture a full-time job or do it as a side gig, it\u2019s key to have these core skills in order to kickstart and successfully run your own online ESL business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Marketing_skills\"><\/span>1. Marketing skills<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you can start your <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/specialized\/teaching-english-online-freelancer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online English teaching business<\/a>, you have to get as many potential students as possible or let them find you by increasing your online (and even offline) presence. But how do you do that, exactly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list wcb-button cb-common arrow-button\">\n<li><strong>Social media savvy.<\/strong> There is a wealth of websites and social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn where you can market yourself and advertise your English classes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ability to target your niche<\/strong>. It\u2019s vital to know which platforms are the most effective for reaching out to your particular target students, and the most effective way to do so within these platforms. (For example, will it be through paid ads, by posting helpful tips for English learners, sharing videos, etc.?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Networking skills.<\/strong> Many of these social channels are also a great place to create networks and connect with various groups or communities to market yourself as an online English teacher.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Website management.<\/strong> You may also decide to create a website where you can provide potential students with information about you, your classes, and your rates, let them book classes, or help them find English learning resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/how-to-find-online-esl-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about how to find online English students.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/freelance-english-teacher-carla-growing-her-business-through-social-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Carla, from Brazil<\/a>, is a virtual EFL teacher who has successfully built her client base through social media. &#8220;Promoting your work online is a never-ending job. One needs to be persistent because results don\u2019t come overnight,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized wp-image-8326\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Carla-Martinez-1-e1587991996706-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41537\" style=\"width:400px;height:534px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Carla-Martinez-1-e1587991996706-scaled-1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Carla-Martinez-1-e1587991996706-scaled-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Carla-Martinez-1-e1587991996706-scaled-1-228x304.jpg 228w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Carla, a self-employed online English tutor from Brazil<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Operational_skills\"><\/span>2. Operational skills<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As an online English teacher running your own business, all the decision-making and processes will be in your hands. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list wcb-button cb-common arrow-button\">\n<li><strong>Choosing your teaching platform<\/strong>. Will you give classes through Skype, Zoom, or other software?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Managing payments.<\/strong> You\u2019ll have to pick the easiest method and schedule for receiving your students\u2019 payments. If you\u2019re giving corporate classes, the students\u2019 company may also ask you to issue an invoice before they deposit your pay to your account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Setting cancellation policies.<\/strong> What is the cut-off time for students to cancel a lesson before it\u2019s considered a paid class?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/tackling-operational-challenges-freelance-teacher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Take a look at this guide to tackling operational challenges as an online English business owner.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Creative_skills\"><\/span>3. Creative skills<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Creative skills will be very handy for marketing your online ESL business if you want to <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/use-social-media-get-online-english-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">use social media to get online students<\/a> or drive people to your website. Sometimes, you may have to think outside the box to grab potential students\u2019 attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list wcb-button cb-common arrow-button\">\n<li><strong>Graphic design. <\/strong>Do you have a knack for creating eye-catching graphics? This non-teaching skill will be invaluable as you create posts for Facebook, put together emails to send to your mailing list, or make images with fun tips about learning English to share with your Instagram followers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Video skills.<\/strong> You may also need some creativity and skills when it comes to making videos. For example, you&#8217;ll use these skills when crafting your <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/introduction-video-teaching-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">teacher introduction video<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Creating dynamic lessons.<\/strong> Aside from advertising purposes, you\u2019ll have to come up with plenty of creative ways to deliver your lessons and make dynamic online class activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Creating an engaging teaching background<\/strong>. You want to build rapport with young learners (or their parents) and keep students&#8217; interest. A colorful <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/create-online-teaching-background\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">teaching background your students will love<\/a> is a great way to do this.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 1.2em; text-align: left; --ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px;; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 384 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%23fcb900&quot; d=&quot;M256 384c9.6-31.9 29.5-59.1 49.2-86.2l0 0c5.2-7.1 10.4-14.2 15.4-21.4c19.8-28.5 31.4-63 31.4-100.3C352 78.8 273.2 0 176 0S0 78.8 0 176c0 37.3 11.6 71.9 31.4 100.3c5 7.2 10.2 14.3 15.4 21.4l0 0C66.5 324.9 86.4 352.1 96 384H256zM176 512c44.2 0 80-35.8 80-80V416H96v16c0 44.2 35.8 80 80 80zM96 176c0 8.8-7.2 16-16 16s-16-7.2-16-16c0-61.9 50.1-112 112-112c8.8 0 16 7.2 16 16s-7.2 16-16 16c-44.2 0-80 35.8-80 80z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); --ub-list-item-fa-li-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-spacing: 0px; \" class=\"wp-block-ub-styled-list ub_styled_list\" id=\"ub_styled_list-d1a616b9-87a0-4b84-a423-b35cffc708d5\"><div class=\"ub-block-list__layout\" style=\"text-align: left; column-count: 1; --ub-list-mobile-column-count: 2; \">\n<li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 0.9em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%23000000&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-30eef576-ca9b-466a-9fa1-d7318a04e44b\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_list_item_content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"0.9em\" height=\"0.9em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#000000\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_text\"><strong><em>Pro Tip:<\/em><\/strong> Running out of creative juices? Ask other people for ideas (such as in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/bridge.teo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bridge Teaching English Online Facebook Group<\/a>), or <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/freelance-english-teachers-strategies-finding-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">get inspiration by looking at other successful online English teachers\u2019 marketing tactics<\/a>.<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Time_management_and_organizational_skills\"><\/span>4. Time management and organizational skills<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While being your own boss means that no one can tell you what to do with your time, your ability to manage your schedule and balance activities effectively is crucial to running your online English teaching business smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list wcb-button cb-common arrow-button\">\n<li><strong>Class scheduling.<\/strong> When you start getting more students, fitting more classes into your calendar will be like putting puzzle pieces together. You\u2019ll have to <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/tips-creating-ideal-online-english-teaching-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">figure out which schedule works best<\/a> for every class without compromising the hours you\u2019ve reserved for other important responsibilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Task management.<\/strong> To be time-efficient, you&#8217;ll also have to juggle your time between giving online classes and tasks involved in managing your business operations. Don&#8217;t forget that you&#8217;ll also have to allow some time for teaching-related work, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/online-esl-lesson-plans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lesson planning<\/a>, checking exams, and creating student reports or evaluations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maintaining work-life balance. <\/strong>Finally, you should learn to set aside some time for yourself, too. Not giving yourself a break in between classes or at least a day off work, for instance, could lead to <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/avoid-burnout-when-teaching-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">burnout when teaching online<\/a>, which can consequently affect the quality of your work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 1.2em; text-align: left; --ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px;; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 384 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%23fcb900&quot; d=&quot;M256 384c9.6-31.9 29.5-59.1 49.2-86.2l0 0c5.2-7.1 10.4-14.2 15.4-21.4c19.8-28.5 31.4-63 31.4-100.3C352 78.8 273.2 0 176 0S0 78.8 0 176c0 37.3 11.6 71.9 31.4 100.3c5 7.2 10.2 14.3 15.4 21.4l0 0C66.5 324.9 86.4 352.1 96 384H256zM176 512c44.2 0 80-35.8 80-80V416H96v16c0 44.2 35.8 80 80 80zM96 176c0 8.8-7.2 16-16 16s-16-7.2-16-16c0-61.9 50.1-112 112-112c8.8 0 16 7.2 16 16s-7.2 16-16 16c-44.2 0-80 35.8-80 80z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); --ub-list-item-fa-li-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-spacing: 0px; \" class=\"wp-block-ub-styled-list ub_styled_list\" id=\"ub_styled_list-fddefd17-4642-4ad5-89c3-30bb0c8b0865\"><div class=\"ub-block-list__layout\" style=\"text-align: left; column-count: 1; --ub-list-mobile-column-count: 2; \">\n<li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 0.9em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%23000000&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-40fbae6c-46d1-433f-88a9-4b64d08f3fa3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_list_item_content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"0.9em\" height=\"0.9em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#000000\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_text\"><strong><em>Pro Tip:<\/em><\/strong> Use online apps like <a href=\"https:\/\/calendar.google.com\/calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Calendar<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Calendly<\/a> to help organize your work schedule more easily.<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/tools-for-teaching-engish-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Here are more tech tools to help save you time and run your teaching business smoothly.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone is-resized wp-image-10695\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"910\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2-1-910x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Shakti, a freelance online EFL teacher from Mauritius\" class=\"wp-image-10695\" style=\"width:400px;height:451px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/shakti-from-mauritius-advancing-his-online-english-teaching-career\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Shakti, a self-employed online EFL teacher from Mauritius<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Business_development_skills\"><\/span>5. Business development skills<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless you intend to teach online for only a short period of time, you\u2019ll want to grow your business in the long run. As planning to succeed is what differentiates good from great independent online ESL teachers, you have to decide which direction you want your business to go and how you can get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider the following ideas for scaling your online English school:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list wcb-button cb-common arrow-button\">\n<li>Expanding or offering your services to other regions or a bigger clientele, like multi-national companies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establishing a pricing model for your online classes that includes different rates for <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teaching-one-on-one-vs-group-online-english-classes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">one-on-one vs. groups<\/a>, classes for specialized niches, or promotional packages and deals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developing clear branding to make your online English business stand out in a competitive market.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/monetize-your-freelance-teaching-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Here&#8217;s how to monetize your ESL teaching business.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Communication_and_relationship_management_skills\"><\/span>6. Communication and relationship management skills<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Although having excellent communication skills is vital for teaching English online, you will need these even outside of class hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list wcb-button cb-common arrow-button\">\n<li><strong>Effective student-teacher communication<\/strong>. An inevitable part of your day-to-day tasks as a self-employed teacher is keeping in touch with your learners by phone or email, be it for coordinating class schedules, sending important announcements, or simply answering their English-related doubts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list wcb-button cb-common arrow-button\">\n<li><strong>Creating rapport.<\/strong> Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/build-rapport-teaching-english-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">creating rapport<\/a> is also a key factor in keeping new online ESL learners, as it makes them inclined to continue learning with you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fostering existing relationships.<\/strong> Building good long-term relationships with students can also generate positive feedback, which in turn could lead them to recommend your classes among their circles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Persistency_and_motivation\"><\/span>7. Persistency and motivation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The last two non-teaching skills you need to launch an online English tutoring business are ones that can&#8217;t be found in any course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your family and friends may have your back as you stand on your own two feet as an online English tutor, but you&#8217;ll also need to have the drive to achieve your goals and never give up, despite the hurdles that may come your way. Be confident in your abilities, and students will also believe in you as a teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full alignnone wp-image-8985\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Wish-Id-Known-Blog-Image.jpg\" alt=\"Online English teacher, Krzl, working from the beach in Chile\" class=\"wp-image-8974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Wish-Id-Known-Blog-Image.jpg 560w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Wish-Id-Known-Blog-Image-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 560px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/10-things-i-wish-id-known-before-becoming-freelance-english-teacher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Krzl, from the Philippines, is an independent online EFL teacher in Chile.<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_develop_the_business_and_marketing_skills_I_need_to_start_my_own_online_ESL_school\"><\/span>How can I develop the business and marketing skills I need to start my own online ESL school?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You don&#8217;t need to have a degree or experience in business to acquire the skills listed above. Chances are, you&#8217;ve already got a lot of them! Nevertheless, here are some ways to hone the most important skills for successfully kicking off your online English teaching venture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list wcb-button cb-common check-button\">\n<li>If you\u2019re already certified in <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TEFL<\/a>, earn <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/specialized\/teaching-english-online-freelancer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Specialized Certification in Teaching English Online as a Freelancer<\/a>. Designed for current educators, this highly-targeted training is 100% focused on the non-teaching marketing and business skills it takes to become a successful &#8220;teacherpreneur.&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn from other independent online English teachers who have made it on their own by connecting with them through LinkedIn or other social networking platforms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get tips about freelancing by joining the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/bridgetefljobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bridge TEFL\/TESOL Jobs Group<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/bridge.teo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bridge Teaching English Online Group<\/a> on Facebook.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter where you are in the process of launching your online ESL career, there&#8217;s no doubt that you can succeed on your own as long as you&#8217;ve got the skills necessary to market yourself and manage your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/specialized\/teaching-english-online-freelancer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get started with the Bridge Specialized Certification in Teaching English Online as a Freelancer!<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From finding students and creating lessons to scheduling classes and collecting payments, establishing your own ESL business may make you feel like you need to be a jack of all [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":20785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,7,14],"tags":[],"post-language":[],"popular_posts":[],"class_list":["post-11460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-professional-development","category-job-resources","category-teaching-english-online"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/non-teaching-skills.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Krzl Light Nu\u00f1es","author_link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/author\/krzlnunesgmail-com\/"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11460"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41538,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11460\/revisions\/41538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11460"},{"taxonomy":"post-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-language?post=11460"},{"taxonomy":"popular_posts","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/popular_posts?post=11460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}