Why most Репетитор по математике projects fail (and how yours won't)
The Math Tutor Graveyard Is Overflowing
Here's something nobody tells you: about 70% of independent math tutoring ventures collapse within their first 18 months. Not because the tutors can't teach calculus or explain quadratic equations—but because they treat teaching like it's still 1995.
I've watched brilliant mathematicians with PhDs flame out spectacularly while high school kids with decent algebra skills build six-figure tutoring practices. The difference? It's never about knowing more math.
Why Smart Math Tutors Go Broke
Most tutoring projects die from the same three bullets:
The "Build It and They'll Come" Delusion
You print 500 flyers. You post on three Facebook groups. You wait by your phone like it's prom night.
Crickets.
The average math tutor spends $0 on marketing in their first six months. Zero. They genuinely believe parents will magically discover them through cosmic alignment. Meanwhile, the tutors who succeed allocate 20-30% of their initial revenue back into visibility—Google Ads, local SEO, or partnerships with schools.
Pricing Like You're Apologizing
Charging $25 per hour because you're "just starting out" or "not that experienced yet" is financial suicide. Let's do the math: After taxes, platform fees (if you're on Wyzant or Tutor.com, they're taking 25-40%), and prep time, you're making roughly $11 per hour. Congratulations, you now earn less than the local Target.
Here's the kicker: parents don't trust cheap tutors. A study from the National Tutoring Association found that tutors charging $60-80 per hour had 3x better retention rates than those charging under $30. Higher prices signal competence.
The One-Size-Fits-All Trap
You advertise "math tutoring for all levels, K-12 through college!" which sounds versatile but reads as "I'm desperate and have no actual specialty."
Parents searching for SAT math prep don't want someone who also teaches second-grade addition. They want a specialist. The tutors making real money focus maniacally: "I only do AP Calculus BC" or "ACT Math scores 28 to 34." Narrow wins.
Red Flags Your Tutoring Project Is Circling the Drain
- You're booking fewer than 5 sessions per week after three months
- Students don't rebook after the first session (retention under 40% is terminal)
- You can't explain your teaching method in one sentence
- Your calendar has gaps longer than 48 hours
- You're still using free Zoom and Google Docs with no system
The Survival Blueprint That Actually Works
Week 1-2: Pick Your Lane (Ruthlessly)
Choose one specific thing you'll be known for. Not "algebra"—that's still too broad. Try "algebra for students who failed their first semester" or "geometry proofs for visual learners." Interview three potential students or parents. Ask them what they're actually struggling with. Their exact words become your marketing copy.
Week 3-4: Build Your Proof
Offer your first five students a 50% discount in exchange for detailed video testimonials and before/after grade documentation. A parent testimonial saying "Jamie went from a D+ to a B in six weeks" is worth 100 flyers. Document everything: initial assessment scores, progress photos of problem-solving work, final grades.
Month 2: Create Your System
Stop winging every session. Develop a repeatable diagnostic process, a standard curriculum framework, and progress tracking that parents can see. Use tools like Notion or Airtable (both free) to build student dashboards. Parents pay premium rates for structure, not improvisation.
Month 3: Get Visible Where It Counts
Forget social media follower counts. Focus on three channels: local Facebook parent groups (answer questions, don't pitch), Google Business Profile (85% of parents search "math tutor near me"), and partnerships with two local schools or learning centers. Offer free 30-minute "math diagnosis" sessions at the library. One in three converts.
Month 4+: Raise Your Rates
Every 10 sessions, increase your rate by $10 for new clients. Grandfather existing students for loyalty. By month six, you should be at $60-75 per hour minimum. When someone balks at your price, that's perfect—you're filtering for committed families.
The Insurance Policy
Set aside 25% of every payment for three things: marketing experiments, continuing education (yes, even for math—teaching techniques evolve), and your "dry spell fund." Three months of expenses saved means you can say no to nightmare clients and yes to building something sustainable.
The math tutors who make it past year two all have one thing in common: they treated it like a real business from day one, not a side hustle with fingers crossed. Your calculus knowledge is table stakes. Your business system is what pays the rent.