How to Become a Private Tutor in Singapore

You don't need a licence to be a private home tutor in Singapore — but the tutors who do well treat it like a small business from day one. Here's how to start, step by step.

Step 1: Choose your levels and subjects

Pick what you can teach confidently and where demand is strong. PSLE Maths and Science, O-Level E Maths, A Maths and the sciences, and JC H2 Maths and Chemistry are consistently popular. Being specific ("Sec 3–4 A Maths") gets you hired faster than "all subjects".

Step 2: Set your rate

Rates depend on level, your experience and your background (student tutor, full-time tutor, ex-MOE teacher). Start in the middle of the range for your profile and raise it as you build results. See how much to charge for tuition in Singapore.

Step 3: Write your policies before your first lesson

• When you send invoices and when they're due.
• How much notice for cancellations, and when lessons are charged anyway.
• How make-up lessons work.

Copy and adapt our cancellation and make-up policy template.

Step 4: Find your first students

Most new tutors start with agencies and Telegram assignment channels, then grow through referrals and Google reviews. Our guide covers where to find tuition students, and how agency commission works.

Step 5: Get organised

With 5–10 students you'll have a weekly schedule, cancellations, make-ups and monthly invoices to track. A paper diary and WhatsApp work for two students — not for ten.

• A schedule with repeating lessons and Singapore holidays.
• Attendance and make-up tracking.
• Invoices with a PayNow QR, so parents pay in seconds.

Step 6: Get paid on time

Bill on the same day every month, include your PayNow QR with the exact amount, and follow up on a fixed schedule. See how to collect tuition fees with PayNow and our payment reminder templates.

Step 7: Keep records for tax

Tuition income is taxable self-employed income. Keep a record of every payment and your expenses (books, printing, transport, agency fees) through the year, and declare it when you file. If your net trade income is above S$6,000 a year, you'll also need to make MediSave contributions — see CPF. Our guide to private tutor income tax walks through it, and IRAS has the official rules.

Step 8: Look after parents' data

You'll hold children's names, schools, parents' numbers and payment details. Keep them private and only use them for lessons — Singapore's personal data rules are explained by the PDPC.

Thinking bigger?

If you plan to teach groups of 10 or more, or open a centre, there are extra rules — see how to start a tuition business in Singapore and how to open a tuition centre.