If holiday spending has left you strapped for cash, or you simply need some extra money for even more purchases in the upcoming year, a second income could help you build up that savings account. Making a second income as a college tutor is a lucrative way to make the most of your skills and knowledge, and help someone in the process; today’s college tutors can make anywhere from $20-$70+ per hour depending on the subject, and if you already have experience as a teacher or counselor, you can easily turn this into a part-time job. Still, many people can get started as a basic private tutor after a little planning and organization. Are you tutor material? Here’s what you need to make a second income as a college tutor:

  1. Find your favorite standardized test. Whether it’s the SAT, GMAT, or ACT, you can specialize in a particular test to help students who want to sharpen their test prep skills.
  2. Take the test yourself. You’ll need to prove to potential clients that you’ve run through the challenge of the test-and succeeded, so be prepared to take the test and share your score as part of your marketing plan.
  3. Attend a formal training program. The Princeton Review is one of the most popular test-prep programs in the country, and you can train with them to become a tutor in just a few weeks. Formal training will give you the official ‘certificate’ that classifies you as a tutor. This will also serve you well as marketing collateral.
  4. Specialize in additional high school or college classes. If you excelled in Calculus during high school, then turned into an Java programming whiz in college, consider offering only a few of these specialized subjects. Specialization can make it easier to attract students, and you may even find groups of students who want to work with you on a regular basis.
  5. Set your rates. Rates for tutors vary significantly by location; tutors in metropolitan cities can usually get away with higher than the national average, while tutors in rural areas may not have access to such a large pool of students. Look up tutor rates online, on your local Craigslist, or just run a national average through sties such as Salary.com for the most current rates.
  6. Start marketing yourself. You can approach local high schools and college campuses to market your services, along with promoting yourself in the classified section. Find out how to place your ads on college bulletin boards and the campus intranet; this is where the students are always searching and browsing, so your chances of getting contacted are much higher. Craigslist is another option.
  7. Pick a standard location. Choose somewhere convenient for all parties, and keep it consistent so future students will always know where to find you. the local library (conference rooms are great for tutors who need to use audiovisual equipment or hold a lecture), a coffee shop, or even a campus hall are all great venues for your tutoring session.
  8. Set up weekly discounts. If you have students who are repeat customers, consider giving them a discount for a ‘package’ of sessions. This can give you a steady stream of income over the course of a semester, with far less marketing involved.

Becoming a high school or college tutor is a great way to make the most of your extra time, and convert it into cash. Just pick a subject or area of interest that you’re proficient in, and market your services to students in your area. It doesn’t take long to turn this into a part-time business, and you can start bringing in a second income in no time.