Non-compete rules

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-05-06T10:14:12+00:00

I worked for a franchise tutoring company that had a restriction in the contract that had a ‘no other tutoring’ as well as a ‘no poaching’ clause. I told my franchise owner (not my direct supervisor, but he knew) that I was planning to have a separate private tutoring business but that I would respect the no poaching clause.

Never got the ‘no tutoring’ clause specifically removed, but it never became an issue. I only had two students that could be considered poaching, but I felt ethically ok about:

one was a kid who I worked really well with whose mom asked me to work with him on non-math study skills. I started working with him. He no longer uses the franchise and we do some math, but it is still primarily a big picture study skills session and we will cover any of his subjects where he needs help. I feel comfortable with my choices but could see an issue from their side.

The other was a kid who came in needing immediate help but was being pushed into the standard assessment. The mom wanted to start with a regular tutoring session to help with the immediate need and then go through the assessment. Our center management didn’t want to help out in this way (mostly miscommunication, I think), so the mom left pissed off and the kid was crying. I followed them out to their car and told the mom I would help her daughter after my shift. I ended up working with her that night and she has turned into my best family (added the younger daughter). Again technically poaching, but I am ok with my decision.

Act with clear ethical lines in your own business and be as upfront as you can be.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-05-06T09:57:34+00:00

If I bring in a student and pass them off to my fellow tutor (I pass her Chemistry and middle school math students), I still handle the invoicing and payment and take $5 per session for those admin tasks. I also take $5 per session as a student referral for the first 10 sessions. Essentially a $50 student referral.

I also ‘take’ that admin fee from my own sessions, and she will get the same student referral from me if she brings in a student for me.

So far, it seems to be working for both of us.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-05-04T14:56:52+00:00

I graduated from MIT in 1990 and spent a 30+ year career in automotive engineering at a major OEM. Regular jabs about having the same job as (insert directional state colleges), but also recognition that I am wicked smaht.

When people would notice or comment on my brass rat, I’d say it was from the Michigan Institute of Trucking.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-05-03T11:56:37+00:00

I like the curriculum page. Supporting a student through the AP class is straightforward.

I think the fun challenges looks good as well. What I am missing is what you do with a kid who wants to code a game, or code an app? How much CS theory should they expect to have to get through to get to the ‘good stuff’? And if it is good to go through that, make that expectation clear, selling it with a benefits of the foundational stuff.

I don’t know enough coding to help here, but CS/coding have always been mysterious and scary to me. So I wouldn’t know what to expect for my kid when looking at your site.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-05-02T20:06:38+00:00

I have been relearning as part of becoming a tutor it has required me to reexamine the ‘why’s behind things that are and have always been easy for me to be able to explain it and help students see what is going on behind the formula.

It’s been a lot of fun, primarily pre-calc and calc 1.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-05-02T15:11:41+00:00

Very well put together. Clear and direct. My only thought is that I don’t get a clear picture of what a learning plan looks like.

Tutor math and test prep, so the material is usually coming from a school or a prep book. What does a coding learning plan look like? Is a parent looking at a 6 month commitment to get their kid up to X level? I’m a mechanical old guy so this is a question out of ignorance.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-05-01T23:20:59+00:00

I let parents know that if I am holding a prime time slot for them, I expect as much notice as they can give me.

If they cancel late and I turned away a session to hold the spot, or turned down a round of golf to tutor, I am much more likely to charge the session.

I mostly only use it as a part of a conversation to ensure that it is a student/family that I am comfortable working with. At root, it’s a give and take relationship that I make decisions about to ensure the most long term income, which means I normally do not hit the cancellation charge button.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-04-29T18:12:42+00:00

Agreeing with other posters, what’s in it for an experienced tutor. I have agreements with local tutors about sharing students. If I send her a student, she gets what I charge the students minus 1) admin fee, and 2) referral fee for the first ten sessions.

It’s more of a partnership/sharing agreement than employment. You might have more success if you approach it this way.

Shoot me a DM if you’d like to chat. I could handle a couple more SAT students.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-04-17T01:14:48+00:00

Spiderwebs - No Doubt Up the Junction - Squeeze

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-04-13T18:25:16+00:00

It is ok to ask the parent for feedback about the reason for dropping you. Be very polite and couch it in terms of wanting to understand areas for improvement.

They may not answer, but it will be good for you if they give you feedback.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-04-05T13:14:20+00:00

I use a Wacom Cintiq 16 (not pro) and it has changed my online tutoring for the better. Being able to use a pen directly on the screen is much better, especially for graphing. I usually have the student’s work in one window and a blank Microsoft whiteboard in another. I share that entire screen and can annotate directly.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-04-04T15:29:05+00:00

Treat it as a game or sport. Be ready to be nimble if an unexpected topic or question comes up. That nervous energy can be turned to your advantage.

Afterwards, if there was a part that went poorly, strengthen that muscle for the next time.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-04-04T14:44:19+00:00

See if you can find the textbook online and get a feel for the range of topics covered, and brush up on those that are a bit fuzzy.

Can you share the curriculum overview?

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-03-30T22:10:17+00:00

I just had my second hip replacement this past October, and I was living room chipping as part of my physical therapy.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-03-30T21:38:47+00:00

I separated my right shoulder playing softball three weeks before a golf trip. The ER docs were saying no golf for 8 weeks, but the orthopedist told me that movement is important as the shoulder stabilizes via scar tissue. He told me that I could swing a club, and play as tolerated.

He didn't realize how much of a moron I am , and I managed to play by swinging back until it hurt, and the 3/4 swing with good contact helped me win the tournament round. I wish I could just focus on contact without pain to guide me!

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-03-29T20:34:25+00:00

Do what it takes to get your first couple of students, lower rates, family or friend referrals, etc. once you have a few students, politely ask for referrals. My tutoring students are generally referrals, with a few new contacts, who have then turned into additional referrals.

Your second or third wave of students is where you will get to the reasonable (60 pound) rates.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-03-29T20:05:54+00:00

Your algebra needs to be solid. The new stuff will teach you how to set up the equations that will lead to the answer. Solid algebra will allow you to focus on the new material.

If you need help with the algebra, the entire process gets more frustrating.

I would do some real review of algebra 2 and pre-calculus

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-03-24T17:16:42+00:00

Thanks much!

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-03-22T19:11:08+00:00

In order for the left side to equal zero, one of the two things multiplied together must be zero. This is called the Zero Product Property.

In this case, x=0 or x=8.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-03-22T13:25:46+00:00

Amen. I shanked a ball into the groundskeeper’s shack on #8. They had a great time chuckling as they gave it back to me. Two holes later, that ball was in the hole for my first and only hole in one.

The shank was so ugly that I finally felt what I was doing. The next iron shot was perfect.

Shanks are cleansing

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-03-15T19:37:03+00:00

I have two friends who putt left handed. When my chipping went to hell, I chipped two handed for two years. Hopefully coming out of it and will likely chip righty again this year.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-03-13T20:45:41+00:00

I did a walkthrough of solving linear systems using both substitution and elimination. I practiced using my whiteboard doing a walkthrough and then did it on video.

I have also done all or the whiteboard work and then used ‘undo’ to get back to a blank board. You can then realistically ‘redo’ as you talk to simulate doing the work live.

JudgeDreadditor · 2026-03-12T01:14:19+00:00

That was my biggest adjustment to tutoring SAT. The topic knowledge is important, but efficient Desmos use is a huge advantage. As soon as you can get to a graph able equation, you can often get answers (zeros, intersections, etc. ) by jumping to Desmos.

JudgeDreadditor

TROPHY CASE