Can I make any money as an educational entrepreneur?

If you are thinking about starting a program of any sort, you probably want to know if you can make a living at it.

Obviously, the answer is going to depend on which sort of program you start and, to an extent, how successful/large it is. But there are some guidelines.

Cooperatives for homeschoolers, by definition, are a cooperative group of volunteers. They are a lot of work for someone to organize and plan, but the whole group is committed to volunteering so the work is generally one of collaboration and exchange. Unless organized as a business with fees or tuition sufficient to pay the director, this model is not one to start if you want an income.

Microschools, on the other hand, can be a very viable option for income. Starting an LLC is pretty simple and with just you and yourself as the staff, you can provide a service just like any childcare provider or tutor does in exchange for payment. A class of ten kids paying 4k per year will bring in $40,000 (minuses expenses such as books, supplies, insurance, and taxes) and a class that size can often be very well-taught in just 20 or so hours per week. Twenty hours with only 10 kids as your own boss isn’t so bad!

Hybrid schools have more complex staffing but look a lot like a private school. As an entrepreneur you may very well end up as the director with plenty to keep you busy without even being a teacher. For example, a well-planned budget for a four-class, two-day program may include a director working about 25 hours per week and teachers working 14 hours. Depending on the length of year and school day, the teachers may make 13k-15k (for 60-70 days) of contractual work and the director may make around 30k. Of course, this depends on the number of classes, size of classes, and tuition, as well as if they continue to grow such that more planning is needed, etc...

These are just very general numbers and there are many other variables to take into account. In short, the answer is that, while you may never make 6 figures as a small program director or teacher, is not at all out of the question to make a reasonable part-time to full-time salary while doing work you love as your own boss. And that counts for something!

Thinking of becoming an Educational Entrepreneur?

I’ve been doing a good deal of research lately into what is available to help educational entrepreneurs start new programs. Starting a new business is pretty much always overwhelming, and I’ve come across quite a range of models and options that help those on the search for support.

I knew about Classical Conversations, which has been around for more than 20 years, has thousands of communities, and offers a very specific curriculum and model geared specifically to homeschoolers. Groups meet once a week for a shortened school year (24 weeks, I believe) and parents can serve as the ‘tutors’ or teachers and the model seems to be a cooperative (parents do not drop the kids off but volunteer in some capacity). Directors are ‘licensed’ and CC is an LLC. As nearly as I can tell, tuition runs between $400 and $800 per year, plus curriculum, and tutors and directors are paid enough to cover the costs of their own children’s tuition plus sometimes a little more.

Many people love the classical aspect, others do not, and its biggest draw seems to be the social community and the fact that parents know exactly what they are getting academically.

On the other end of the spectrum are multiple newer networks and businesses specifically geared toward the founding of microschools. KaiPod, Acton, and Prenda seem to be the businesses with the most traction. They often appeal to teachers looking to continue teaching, but in their own business and on their own terms. Costs to founders range from nothing (families pay fees), to a percentage per child once launched, to an up-front cost and a percentage per child. In exchange, teachers receive training, resources, and other support ranging from curriculum to infrastructure platforms.

The only option I know of specific to the hybrid school model is National Association of University Model Schools. This network has also been around for a couple of decades and specifically is geared toward 2 and 3 day programs. Application and accreditation are required to belong, and the network provides resources and trainings.

When I first started this site in 2023, my goal was to put together some guidance on things I learned along the journey of starting as a lone grassroots program with no network or resources (or money!). I put together stuff I wish I’d known. What would I tell my younger self in 2016 that would have eased the path?

It’s not too shabby for general guidance, but I have learned a lot about course creation since! The new course will be much more robust and will walk users step by step through a 9 month process from 0 to launch day.

am looking for a group to join the Beta launch this summer and fall. I’d love to get 10-20 people willing to walk through launching their program for fall of 2026. Make sure you get on the mailing list for more updates!