Want to start a side business?
Interested in tutoring or another service business?
Curious about what it takes to start and grow your busines?
Alexis Avila joins us on the Guided Goals Podcast, and we’re going to talk about how to start and grow a tutoring business with tips that can apply to any business. Alexis is the founder of Prepped & Polished, a 17-year-old tutoring and test prep firm based in Boston, MA, and host of the Prepped & Polished podcast, a weekly podcast that offers tutoring tips and interview of influencers in the world of education.
Alexis shares his story, and also gives tips for starting a business, networking, promotion, and more.
How Alexis Got Started
Alexis was a licensed guidance counselor for one year, but wasn’t enjoying it. He started tutoring for someone who had his own tutoring business, but there wasn’t enough work for him. Alexis started his own tutoring business on the side, and eventually went out on his own.
You learn as an understudy, so you can do something similar. I tried to emulate and improve what my mentor was doing, he explains.
Promotion: Then and Now
Alexis got a list of all the schools in Massachusetts, as well as “a gazillion stamps;” mailed each one a cover letter, resume, and tutoring flyer; and asked them to put him on their tutoring list. He did that for 12 years.
It’s about hustle. A lot of people fail, because they don’t want to do the work.
Today’s equivalent would be a newsletter. Alexis suggests building a newsletter list. Communicate with your customers that way and give them lots of free valuable content.
Alexis started a blog in 2009, and has 250 YouTube videos. “If you get 200 videos up there, you are going to get some traction,” he says. It took him about 3 years for things to start to come together. Do Twitter, do blogging, podcasting. You have to get the word out and you have to do it consistently.
Networking
Social networking is important, but you have to get out there. Go to events, join the chamber of commerce. Some things will work, others will not. But you will meet good people, including those who will advocate for you. Also, people will trust you a little bit more if they can see you.
Networking takes work. At first, it may be a little more awkward. Then it will get easier.
There’s also Givers Gain. It’s not just about you, it’s about how you can help others. You never know if and when some will refer you. Plus, you have to back it up with good work. Good word-of-mouth travels fast, so does a bad reputation if you don’t deliver the goods.
Building your Business
Alexis has a team of 20 tutors, and he doesn’t do any tutoring any more.
He talks about reading the book The E-Myth, which says you don’t want to spend your whole life as a practitioner. At some point you may want to step outside of your business and see how it may run without you. He was inspired and started delegating more to tutors he trained. The clients trusted him to refer the tutors he trained.
Definitely hire faster than he did, Alexis says. Hiring takes some of the work off your shoulders. It’s a bit of an investment, but it’s going to pay off big when the people who you hire make you more money and win you more clients. Find great people to hire who will represent you. And don’t settle. Hire someone amazing, not just someone who is good.
Podcasting
Alexis jumped into podcasting about a year and a half ago and then stepped it up a notch. He now does two shows a week. On Tuesdays it’s 5-minute tutoring tip and Thursdays are interviews with influencers in the field of education.
It’s great for your business, whether you do audio, video, or both. Keep at it. Don’t just do 10 episodes and quit. It takes time to build an audience.
Work/Life Balance
Alexis plays keyboard in a band, he runs marathons, He also has a food blog: adayinthebite.com, where he posts delicious Latin, Greek, and Italian recipes.
Alexis says it took him a while to figure to out, but you have to take care of your health. Especially if you run your own business, you will probably have to work a bit harder. Set your own hours for your business and allocate time for yourself, because, if you don’t, you’re going to crash and burn. And you don’t want to do that, because that will hurt your business.
Personal Goals of the Week: If you do not have a health regimen, figure out what you need to do to have a healthier lifestyle.
Professional Goals of the Week: Go network with a new group of people.
Bonus Goal: Join a Business Networking International group. There are 30 people in a room, only one person per profession, and everyone helps each other.
Want to learn more about starting and growing a tutoring business? Listen to the entire interview on iTunes or Stitcher.
(There is no video for this episode.)
The Guided Goals Podcast gives you the tools, direction, and resources you need to pursue your passion project. Thanks for tuning in.
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or SoundCloud, and leave a review.
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About Debra: A project catalyst, Debra Eckerling works with individuals and small businesses to create a strategy, set goals and manage their projects. Follow Debra @GuidedGoals, Like Guided Goals on Facebook, Subscribe to YouTube.
The Guided Goals Podcast gives you the tools, direction, and resources you need to pursue your passion project. Thanks for tuning in.
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or SoundCloud, and leave a review.
* * *
About Debra: A project catalyst, Debra Eckerling works with individuals and small businesses to create a strategy, set goals and manage their projects. Follow Debra @GuidedGoals, Like Guided Goals on Facebook, Subscribe to YouTube.
