Offering tutoring through an ad means describing the subject, format and price so that a serious enquiry-not a time-waster-answers your first message. This guide walks you through the process from publishing your offer through pricing and agreements to the first reviews that turn your profile into a trusted tutor in the district where you work.
In Slovakia, tutoring is sold mainly through ads and recommendations. A parent in Bratislava is looking for maths for a ninth-grader before the Testing 9 exams, a student in Košice needs English at B2 level, and someone in Žilina needs statistics tutoring before their final exams. Each of them clicks on an ad, reads the first few lines and decides in seconds whether to message you. If the text is missing the subject, level, format and price, you won't get a message. If it's all there, even someone looking for just two months will get in touch.
This article is for private tutors and small businesses who want to offer tutoring through an ad without losing hours on every agreement. We'll cover the service description, pricing, replying to messages, a simple written agreement and how reviews become your strongest argument.
- The ad must answer four questions in the first lines: what, for whom, where and for how much.
- Write the price as a range per 60 minutes, not a single figure, and always state what's included.
- A simple written agreement on scope, price and cancellation protects both sides.
- Reviews from your first five students determine whether future messages come to you on their own.
How to describe tutoring in an ad so the right people find it
The first two sentences of the ad carry all the weight. Write the subject, level and format: "I tutor maths for students in years 7 to 9 of primary school, in person in Ružinov or online." A parent then knows in a second whether you're relevant to them.
In the body, add specific situations you can help with. Preparation for grammar school entrance exams, catching up after illness, preparing for English graduation exams, statistics tutoring for a first-year university student. Each of these situations is different and a different person is looking for it.
Portfolio and references without empty promises
A portfolio doesn't have to mean ten pages. Three things are enough: what you studied or what language level you have, how many years you've been teaching and what types of students you work with. For languages, state your level according to the Common European Framework of Reference, for example B2 or C1.
Write references anonymously. "Year 9 student, preparation for Testing 9, improved from 45 to 78 percent" is specific and doesn't breach privacy. Never publish a student's name, even with their consent, if they are a minor.
Avoid wording that promises results. Don't write "guaranteed to get into grammar school" or "two grades better in a month". A promise you can't keep is the first reason for a complaint and a lost review.
Photos and visuals for your ad
A photo of a desk with a textbook and notepad works better than a logo. If you teach online, add a screenshot of the environment where lessons take place, without students' personal data. For in-person tutoring, state whether you teach at your place, the student's place or a library.
How to set your tutoring price and write an indicative budget
Price is the most common question in the first message. If you don't state it in the ad, you'll lose half of your potential students. State a range per 60 minutes and add one sentence about what's included.
In practice, the hourly rate for tutoring in Slovakia depends on the subject, school level, format and location. Bratislava and large regional cities have higher prices than smaller districts, one-to-one teaching is more expensive than group sessions, and preparation for graduation or entrance exams costs more than regular curriculum tutoring.
If you have them, list three price tiers in the ad. For example, one-to-one online lesson, one-to-one lesson at your place and a two-hour block. The enquirer chooses themselves and you don't have to explain your price list in every message.
What belongs in the budget and what doesn't
The price covers the lesson time, preparing materials and feedback for the parent. It doesn't cover travel if you go to the student, or buying textbooks. List these items separately to avoid misunderstandings at the end of the month.
Keep payments simple. Either the parent pays after each lesson, or at the beginning of the month for the whole block. If you accept payment in advance, state it clearly in both the ad and the agreement.
If you're looking for inspiration on price ranges in different categories, post an ad offers a comparison of ads by city and district.
Comparison: private ad, company or subcontracting
The three ways to offer tutoring differ in risk, control over pricing and who is responsible when there's a problem. Choose according to how many hours a week you want to teach and whether you want to handle admin.
| Criterion | Private ad | Tutoring company | Subcontracting for a company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who sets the price | you | the company | the company, you get a share |
| Who finds students | you | the company | the company |
| Administration | minimal | medium | low |
| Responsibility for quality | you | company and tutor | company towards the client |
| Income per hour | highest | medium | lowest |
| Risk of non-payment | you carry it | the company | the company |
| Suitable for a beginner | yes, if you have references | yes | yes |
A private ad gives the highest income per hour, but also the most responsibility. A company handles finding students and payments, but takes a share. Subcontracting is easiest to start with when you don't yet have your own references.
How to reply to messages and filter out non-serious enquiries
Reply within a few hours, ideally the same day. The first reply determines whether the person stays. Stick to three sentences: confirmation, a question about level and a proposal for a specific time.
Non-serious enquirers can be recognised by three signs. They only write "how much is an hour" without subject or level. They promise payment after results. They want to start immediately and push for a discount before the first lesson.
Before the first lesson, always check three things: what exactly the student needs, what materials they use at school and who will pay. If you don't get answers to these questions, the first lesson turns into fact-finding and you pay with your time.
A free introductory consultation as a filter
A free fifteen-minute call or video call solves more than ten messages. You find out the student's level, the parent's expectations and whether you click. It's also a natural boundary: anyone who won't even do fifteen minutes won't attend lessons.
After the consultation, send a short summary. Two lines are enough: what you'll cover, what the times are and what the price is. That turns the agreement into a record you can refer back to.
How to protect yourself with a simple written agreement
A written agreement doesn't have to be a three-party contract. One A4 page signed by you and the parent or an adult student is enough. For a minor student, the parent signs and also pays.
The agreement should include the subject and scope of tutoring, place and format, price per hour, payment method, the cancellation rule and how to end the cooperation. For cancellations less than 24 hours before the lesson, you can agree that the lesson counts as delivered. Write this in advance, not after the first cancellation.
Personal data and what to do with it
If you keep records of students, you're working with personal data. Collect only what you need: name, contact and level. Don't publish photos of notebooks or tests without consent. For minors, consent is always the parent's.
Read the rules for publishing ads and handling contacts in the ad rules. If you're dealing with fraud or misuse of contact, you'll find the procedure in support. If you suspect criminal activity, contact the police, who publish procedures at the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic.
How reviews build a tutor's profile
For a tutor, reviews are what a shop window is for a store. The first five ratings determine whether future messages arrive without you updating your ad.
Ask for a review after six to eight lessons, when progress is visible. Send the parent a short message asking for a rating and link to your profile. If the student has finished exam preparation, that's the best moment.
Reply to reviews, even critical ones. A short factual reply without defensiveness looks better than silence. If someone writes that the lessons were bad, thank them for the feedback and state what you changed.
We see that ads with subject, format and price filled in get far more relevant messages than those missing any of these. On EX & GO, enquirers can view the seller's history and ratings before they message you, which is an advantage for a tutor. Publishing an ad is free and goes through moderation, so your contact details and phone number are verified. You can find the details in the rules.
What to check before publishing your ad
A short checklist saves you rewriting the ad a week later. Go through it before clicking publish, not after the first ten unsuccessful messages.
- Subject, level and format are in the first two sentences.
- The price per 60 minutes is given as a range, with a note on what's included.
- The city or district is specific, not just "all of Slovakia".
- The photo is your own and doesn't contain students' personal data.
- Contact details are current and the phone number is verified.
- The text doesn't promise results or compare with a named school.
- You have an agreement ready and know how you'll answer the price question.
If you're looking for a specific city or district, tutoring and courses shows ads by location and service category.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can I start offering tutoring through an ad?
You can publish an ad in a few minutes and prepare the text in half an hour. The first messages usually arrive within a few days, faster in regional capitals and before entrance exam or graduation season. If nobody gets in touch within a week, revise your first sentence and add the price.
How should I write a tutoring ad?
Start with the subject, level and format. Add the city or district, the hourly rate and what's included in the price. State your education or language level and anonymised references. Avoid promising results and never publish students' names.
How much can I charge for tutoring in Slovakia?
The price depends on the subject, school level, format and location. Prices are higher in Bratislava and regional capitals, lower in smaller districts. One-to-one teaching costs more than group sessions, and exam preparation costs more than regular curriculum tutoring. State a range and add one sentence about what's included.
Do I need a trade licence to tutor?
If you teach occasionally and irregularly, an agreement with the client is often enough. If you tutor regularly for a fee that is a source of income, check the business conditions. You can find information about your obligations on government websites, for example the Slovak Trade Inspection.
What should a tutoring agreement include?
The subject and scope, place and format, hourly rate, payment method, cancellation rule and how to end the cooperation. For a minor student, the parent signs and pays. Make the agreement in two copies-keep one and give the other to the parent.
How do I get my first reviews as a new tutor?
Ask for a review after six to eight lessons, when progress is visible. Send a short message with a link to your profile. The first five reviews matter most, so start collecting them right away, not after a year of teaching.
How do I filter out non-serious enquiries?
Offer a short free introductory consultation and ask about the subject, level and materials the student uses. Anyone who doesn't answer these questions or pushes for a discount before the first lesson probably won't attend regularly. Reply factually and without over-explaining.
Summary
Offering tutoring through an ad is easier when you have your text, price and agreement ready before you publish the first line. The first two sentences carry the subject, level and format. A price as a range with a note on what's included saves you dozens of questions. A short written agreement protects your time and money.
The rest is consistency. Reply within a day, collect reviews from your first students and go through the checklist once a season. If you want to start today, prepare your text, choose your city and publish the ad. Your next message will be handled like a professional, not someone learning on the go.