4 Online Tutors Business Success Stories [2025]
Online tutoring is a growing business idea that provides academic assistance and support to students through the internet. This can be done through one-on-one sessions, group classes, or pre-recorded video lessons. Online tutors can specialize in a specific subject or offer tutoring services for various subjects.
To start an online tutoring business, you must have a strong background in the subject or subjects you want to tutor. You will also need good communication skills and be comfortable using technology, as you will interact with students through video conferencing platforms or messaging apps.
To succeed in this business, you will need to be able to provide high-quality tutoring services that help students understand and retain the material. This may involve creating personalized lesson plans and materials, providing feedback and support, and being available to answer questions and provide guidance. You will also need to be able to market your services effectively to attract potential clients.
There are a few key steps to starting an online tutoring business:
- Determine your areas of expertise and the subjects you are comfortable tutoring.
- Develop a website or online platform to showcase your services and allow students to schedule sessions or access materials.
- Set up a payment system and establish your rates.
- Promote your services through social media, online classifieds, or networking with schools and educational institutions.
- Provide high-quality tutoring services that meet the needs of your students and help them succeed academically.
To succeed in this business, you will need to be organized, reliable, and able to adapt to the needs of your students. You will also need to be able to communicate effectively and use technology to your advantage. With hard work and dedication, an online tutoring business can be a rewarding and fulfilling career choice.
In this list, you'll find real-world online tutors business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a online tutors business that makes money.
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1. Live Lingua ($1.44M/year)
In response to the Mexican swine flu, the founder of Live Lingua, a language learning platform, pivoted their brick-and-mortar language school to online classes through Skype. They quickly realized the potential of online language learning, sold their physical school, and rebranded as Live Lingua, growing steadily at about 20% each year since 2012.
How much money it makes: $1.44M/year
How much did it cost to start: $60
How many people on the team: 9
Live Lingua, an online language learning platform, built a 7-figure business on a bootstrap budget using SEO and launched thanks to the Mexican swine flu, with the company now growing at around 20% a year every year since then.
2. CG Cookie ($1.06M/year)
Wes was in a tough spot in 2007, dealing with financial struggles and a long daily commute. During those hours on the train, he began to work on a side project he called CG Cookie, a website focusing on computer graphics. With a background in 3D game art, he wanted to build something positive and useful for the CG community.
Wes and his friend, Jonathan, faced many challenges, especially when they couldn't afford to keep the project going in 2009. They decided to presell a training DVD to validate their idea and earned enough to continue. This gave them the confidence that CG Cookie could become a real business.
They continuously refined their idea based on user feedback and market needs, focusing on subscription-based access to high-quality training. They learned the importance of clear direction and community focus, adapting their strategy whenever necessary to meet their goals without losing sight of what they set out to achieve: helping artists succeed.
How much money it makes: $1.06M/year
How many people on the team: 15
Discover how a former 3D game artist turned a side hustle into a $1.06 million per year business by filling the gap in affordable 3D software education, leveraging Kickstarter to secure $300,000 in early sales, and growing from a team of 2 to 6 full-time employees while maintaining a compelling community-driven focus.
3. Teacher Jade's Writing Academy ($144K/year)
Jade was working on her masters and she started a side hustle as a teacher to earn extra income. Soon, what started as a side job became her career path and led her to starting her online courses business.
How much money it makes: $144K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50
How many people on the team: 0
Teacher Jade's online academy and consulting services, which teach youth and adults how to offer online classes, resulted in a five-figure monthly income with increased enrollment through Outschool, leading to the creation of a second business and a plan to expand course offerings and salaries for her teachers.
4. No Code MBA ($72K/year)
Seth Kramer, founder of No Code MBA, came up with the idea for his business when he saw the growing trend of no-code tools and realized there was a need for a platform that taught people how to use these tools to build businesses. After pivoting from his previous business, ConferenceTap, he started creating video lessons and offering both free and paid courses on building apps using no-code tools. With over 400 paid members and organic growth through content sharing, No Code MBA is quickly becoming the go-to community for entrepreneurs looking to build businesses without code.
How much money it makes: $72K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
How many people on the team: 0
No Code MBA founder, Seth Kramer, has built a training platform for entrepreneurs who want to learn how to launch their very own businesses and build apps using no-code tools, recording over 150 real-world video lessons which have resulted in over 400 paid members in just 6-months and a focus on growing the No Code MBA community.
