As the world gets smaller with technology, teacherpreneurism is becoming more common. Merging the terms "teacher" and "entrepreneur," teacherpreneurs are teachers who set themselves up in business. 

In this post, I’ll explore how to become a teacherpreneur and give examples that will inspire you on your journey. 

1. Have an idea that solves a problem

The key to success is to find something that your ideal customer NEEDS. If you offer something that improves their lives, saves them time, or helps them achieve their goals, you’re on to a winner.  

Think about your skills, experiences, and passions. Then consider how you might use these to give your customers something that they couldn’t live without. 

It’s also important to know exactly who your ideal customer is and tailor your offering to them. 

2. Make yourself visible

You’re not going to sell anything if no one knows you (or your company) exist! Successful teacherpreneurs know how to market themselves and their products. 

You can raise your profile by: 

• speaking at conferences and online events
• blogging or vlogging
• posting on social media
• building an email list
• starting a podcast

3. Find your niche

There’s a lot of competition out there, so you need to find a way to stand out. And if you’re going to devote a lot of time to your teacherpreneurial ventures, you’ll want it to be something you love. Find something you’re good at and raise your profile doing it until you’re recognized as one of the top experts in your field. 

4. Get a coach or accountability buddy

As a freelancer or teacherpreneur, you may feel like you don’t really know where to begin or what to focus on. A business coach can be the supportive line manager that helps you do this (but that you pay for)! They don’t come cheap, but they will help you hone your idea, market yourself, and stay on track. 

If you can’t afford a business coach or aren’t ready to pay for one, many offer group programs or free taster challenges. 

For example, Rachael Roberts at Earn Live Thrive frequently runs a "Festival of Freelancing," which is packed with tools to set up your business, plan your marketing, write engaging emails, and overcome negative mindset gremlins. She also has lots of free business-related guides on her site. 

Ola Kowalska is another business coach who is bursting with enthusiasm. Her podcast, Get Richer Teacher, is definitely worth downloading if you’re in need of guidance and inspiration. Her website is also full of free guides, blogs, and info to get you started. 

Alternatively, find a friend with a similar ambition and team up with them to be accountability buddies. You can offer each other constructive criticism and insights to business plans, social media strategies, and a gentle nudge to stay motivated. 

5. Look for inspiration 

Look at what others are doing and think about what it is that makes them successful. Perhaps they’ve found the perfect problem to solve or maybe they’re absolutely brilliant at marketing themselves and attracting customers. 

Here are some ELTpreneurs that inspire me: 

Ben Buckwold, CEO of Ellii: 

I couldn’t write a blog post for Ellii about teacherpreneurism without mentioning our very own CEO, Ben Buckwold! Ben was a teacherpreneur before it was cool! In December 2002, he returned to Canada after years of teaching in Japan. His dream was to set up a subscription-based site offering teachers ready-to-use lessons on every imaginable topic. And so ESL Library, which is now Ellii, was created. And we all know how much it improves teachers’ lives around the world!

Here’s the full story: Looking Back on 20 Years of Ellii. You might also appreciate his 2024 TESOL speech, which talks about Ellii's journey as a long-term sponsor of the international convention.

Marek Kiczkowiak, Academic English Now

Marek has found the perfect problem to solve—and he solves it to a consistently high standard. 

His company, Academic English Now, helps academics get published in high-impact research publications. This helps them achieve their goals, gain recognition in their field, and secure tenured positions. 

Ann Margaret Smith, ELTWell

Ann Margaret Smith is one of the leading voices on inclusive language teaching. She has created numerous support packs for learners with specific learning differences and neurodiversities. Her course on supporting learners with neurodiversity is one of the most informative and important professional development courses I have ever done. 

Nicola Prentis, The Chilled Investor

It is often said that you don’t go into English language teaching for the money. But if you’re reading this post, perhaps you’re looking for other routes to financial security. Nicola Prentis is an ELT professional who coaches people to make their money work for them "instead of the other way round." Her courses support other ELTers to make educated financial choices about pensions and investments, to retire earlier, and to work less.  

Laura Wilkes, TESOL Pop & Communicating for Impact

Laura has been creating some of the most popular ELT-related podcasts for years. She now wants to share her expertise with other ELT professionals. Creating a podcast can help you share your knowledge with the world and build strong relationships with your audience. And Laura is the perfect person to show you how. 

What tips would you add to this list? Would you like to be a teacherpreneur? Are there any other teacherpreneurs that inspire you? We’d love to know your thoughts and ideas.

And if you’d like to introduce entrepreneurism into your classes, here are some lessons: 

• Internet Entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurs - Simple Past