Starting a tutoring business

There are 4,912 entrepreneurs in the Netherlands offering tutoring, homework assistance, and exam training. In recent years, the number of businesses in this sector has risen slightly.

Source: KVK Business Register, as of 1 January 2025.

Determine your target group and specialisation

Who will you be tutoring? Primary school children, secondary school pupils, or university students? And which subjects can your target group come to you for? You can also opt for homework assistance, where you help pupils with planning, concentrating or learning to learn.

Tutoring and homework assistance are very similar. Tutoring is usually one-on-one and focused on a specific subject. Homework assistance can also be done in groups. If you teach in groups, you often earn more per hour.

Once you are clear about what you want to offer, you will be better able to market your services.

Register with KVK

Check whether you need to register with the KVK. Do you meet the conditions for entrepreneurship? Then you can register in the KVK Business Register. Most entrepreneurs who provide tutoring or homework assistance start a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak).

Avoid false self-employment

You are considered to be in false self-employment if you work as a self-employed professional, but according to the rules you should actually be employed. For example, if you do all your work via a tutoring platform, you run the risk of being considered as false self-employed. This is because, as a self-employed person, you must, among other things, set your own rates, determine how you organise your work, and have multiple clients. Are you a false self-employed person? If so, you may be subject to fines and additional tax assessments from the Netherlands Tax Administration.

Show that you are professional

Since 1 January 2025, a certificate of conduct (VOG) has been mandatory for anyone who provides tutoring, homework assistance or exam training. As a self-employed professional without staff, you can apply for a VOG from your municipality.

A diploma or licence is not required to provide homework assistance. However, parents want to be able to trust that you are professional and reliable. So make sure your website clearly states your education and work experience. And include references or reviews from students and parents on your site.

Choose a workplace

You can give private lessons or homework assistance in various places. Consider whether you want to give private lessons at home or would prefer to rent a business space.

Giving private lessons at home

It is possible to give your students private lessons at your home. Check with your municipality to see if you are allowed to start a business at home. Also check the terms and conditions of your mortgage or rental agreement to see if you are allowed to have a business at home. You can also give online tutoring from home.

Tutoring at the client's home

Some clients prefer you to give tutoring at their home. The advantage for you is that you do not need your own workspace. However, do take travel time and travel expenses into account. You can include these in your hourly rate.

Renting business premises

You can also rent business premises or find a place in a multi-tenant building. Do you already have a location in mind? Do the KVK Location Scan (in Dutch) and explore the place for your business.

Check which taxes you pay

As a homework assistance entrepreneur, you will have to pay income tax. You must file an annual income tax return. Homework assistance and tutoring are usually exempt from turnover tax (VAT). This means you do not have to charge VAT on your invoices and you cannot reclaim VAT when you buy something for your business.

Protect yourself against business risks

Find out what risks you run as an entrepreneur. Consider, for example, the risk of falling ill, which would prevent you from working for a period of time. It is also possible that a trainee at your office could trip over a cable and break something. You would then be liable for the damage. You can take out insurance to cover these types of risks. You should also draw up general terms and conditions so that your customers know what they can expect from you.

Create a personal to-do list for your new business

In this article, you read what you need to pay attention to when starting out as a self-employed professional in homework assistance, tutoring, or exam training. But you will also have to deal with matters that all entrepreneurs have to arrange. Think of coming up with a business name and keeping your business records in order. On Business.gov.nl, you can easily create a personal to-do list for starting your business.