Job Discussion Forums

[Atlas]

To all you dashing and dazzling rogue agents in the field:
Are there any full time tutors or independent contractors who have thrown off your leash?

I'm considering going independent this fall to give myself better control over my time. Question: is it difficult managing the red tape: visa, taxes, and anything else that may come up? Is it difficult building up enough students?

Is weekend work necessary or can you get enough students through the week? How many hours are you able to muster?

Is there anything I'm not asking I should be asking?

PS Stirred martinis are ok too. But I'm afraid I must insist on the amphibious Lamborghini.

[Glenski]

Did it for about a year to earn half of my wages.

It was fun with the variety of ADULT students.

It was NOT fun with all of the traveling I had to do. This is the part that wears on you.

It also was NOT fun at times because classes were mostly at night, and this dug into my family time.

Visa? Have a spouse visa, so it didn't matter.
Taxes? Like most people here (Japan), I didn't report private lesson income and got a nice decrease in my payments for health insurance and taxes as a result.

[Will.]

Done it in different countries and here in the UK. I have been been doing it, on and off, for many years. This in itself demonstrates the fluidity of the market. I am still employed... so part time in each area. Maintaining continuity in one or the other field of activity takes a long time to establish.
So if at first....

Rule no 1. Get paid first. Arrange an agreement (contract ) for your students. You may wait for the money at first, this is better than waiting for a student to arrive, who hasn't paid you and phones one hour into a 2-hour session to cancel.

Red tape is real swine as are;
tax forms and registration,
forming your own company,
working all the hours the omnipotent being sends,
travelling between jobs,
not having access to photocopier etc if you are on your own.

I work from home the 'office' has 2 computers, phone, fax, printer, scanner and photocopier. This is on the business account. There are benefits!
Questions you are not asking?
Who will deal with business when I am busy?
This is a pain if you work from home. You are always at home...and also always at work. Do you leave a student to deal with a phone call or enquiry or arrival of a prospective client? "I'll only be a minute" means you use the time they have paid you for to do...your business.
How will I deal with;
A sick student, a fire, an accident, a claim against me from a disgruntled (or calculating) person,
Accounts, long and short term discounts,
Clients who don't pay.
Overdue accounts,
Insurance for myself/ students/ visitors and the facility where I teach.
Protection money or a shakedown.
Where will I get the (best price) for the materials I need.
Who can supply them the fastest, cheapest, with least hassle.
Weekends ceased to be a long time ago. If you are getting paid good money to work at the weekend you can take a day off in the week (and incidentally get more done.)

JUST A FEW IDEAS.
HTH

[Glenski]

No paid vacations when you work for yourself, either.

[Atlas]

Thank you for your considered replies! I appreciate the realistic preview.
I will keep this information for future reference!


Shakedowns? Protection rackets? Geez louize the greed knows no bounds.

Maybe I'm in the wrong business.

[zaneth]

Are you starting to feel a little more sympathetic to those small language schools we're always ragging for being cheap, unorganized, conniving, etc.?