Starting Your Structured Literacy Business: A Step-By-Step Launch Guide

What else could I do outside of teaching?

If you’ve ever found yourself asking that question, you’re not alone. Maybe you still love working with children, but crave more freedom, creativity, or a stronger connection between your work and your values. You might be wondering if there’s a way to individualise instruction, focus on real outcomes, and build something of your own.

Good news — there absolutely is.

At Triple Thread Business, we see educators every week making the leap from the classroom to running their own structured literacy business. They’re using their skills to create lasting change for kids, teens, adults, and families — often while still working part-time in schools or other roles.

But how do you go from “just an idea” to a fully operational educator business?

How do you do it while still teaching?

What do you really need in place — and what can wait?

We’ve created this simple, non-exhaustive guide to help you map out the early stages of launching your teacher business, especially if you’re focused on structured literacy intervention or similar educational services.

6 Months Out: Start With Clarity

This is your groundwork phase. It’s about dreaming and defining — but also about doing a little prep behind the scenes.

• Find your focus. What part of teaching lights you up most? What are your key strengths as an educator?
  
• Explore structured literacy or related training. Can you start building expertise in a niche? Look into evidence-based approaches and book a course that aligns with your goals.
  
• Connect with others. Find people running businesses you admire. Ask questions. Listen. Join educator business networks or local support groups.
  
• Observe your community. Are external providers working in schools nearby? What services are they offering? What are their fees?
  
• Assess your work-life options. Could you reduce your teaching load, use long service leave, or go casual to make space for your business planning?
  

💡 Tip: Our free Module 1 in the Educator Business Course is a great way to clarify your direction, strengths, and audience before you dive into logistics.

5 Months Out: Understand the Business Basics

• Talk to a financial professional. An accountant can help you explore what business structure (sole trader, company, etc.) suits your situation.
  
• Register your business name and ABN via ASIC Connect.
  
• Use the tools at business.gov.au to start sketching out your business plan. They have great templates and resources for new entrepreneurs.
  
• Define your message. If someone described your business to a friend, what would you want them to say in a sentence or two?
  
• Research your niche. What are the pain points parents are talking about in Facebook groups or forums? What gaps exist in your community?
  

You might be tempted to skip this step—but don’t. Financial clarity is foundational.

You don’t need all the answers yet — just enough clarity to begin shaping your offer and building toward your goals.

4 Months Out: Clarify Your Core Offerings

Now it’s time to shape the actual services your teacher structured literacy business will provide.

• What are your offerings? Will you run small groups, offer one-on-one structured literacy sessions, do assessments, or run school-based support?
  
• What do you need to deliver those offerings confidently? Think about literacy assessments, decodable readers, games, phonemic awareness tools, and digital resources.
  
• What systems do you need? If a parent called tomorrow, would you be ready? Do you have intake forms, policies, or a process?
  
• Write your key business policies. Think through topics like:
  
  • Payments & missed sessions
    
  • Child protection & privacy
    
  • Communication guidelines
    
  • Online learning practices
    

If you’re planning to work in schools, check any local/state requirements. In NSW, for example, external providers need WWCC, First Aid, insurance, and a child protection course.

3 Months Out: Prepare Your Client Experience

Now we’re getting to the fun part — bringing your brand and client experience to life.

• Write your Business Handbook. A simple PDF you can send to interested clients. Include:
  
  • What you offer
    
  • Who you are
    
  • Pricing
    
  • FAQs
    
  • Contact info
    
• Set up onboarding processes. Intake forms, consent forms, welcome emails, etc.
  
• Create your social media profiles. You don’t have to go live yet — but secure your name and start planning your content.
  
• Talk about your plans. Let your network know what’s coming.
  
• Plan a soft launch. Could you:
  
  • Offer school holiday taster sessions?
    
  • Run assessments before term starts?
    
  • Host a parent workshop on reading and dyslexia?
    

Want templates, examples, and support as you set this up? Our Educator Business Course walks you through each of these steps — with editable docs ready to use.

2 Months Out: Bring It All Together

Now’s the time to refine and solidify your systems before opening your doors.

• ✅ Transition plan finalised
  
• ✅ Financial advice complete
  
• ✅ Business name + ABN registered
  
• ✅ Pricing and payment systems ready
  
• ✅ Handbook and onboarding tools in place
  
• ✅ Educational resources prepped
  

Start advertising any events, groups or assessments you’re running in the lead-up to your full launch. This is your chance to test the waters and build interest.

Don’t forget to connect with homeschool networks, schools, allied health professionals, and other community contacts. Word-of-mouth is gold in the early days.

1 Month Out: Launch (Soft or Full!)

This is it! Whether you’re planning a full-scale launch or easing in with just a few clients, this final month is about action.

• Decide your working hours and availability.
  
• Run your first sessions. These might be small group trials, assessments, or a parent info night.
  
• Start your social media rollout. Keep it authentic and consistent. You don’t need a huge following — you need trust and clarity.
  
• Be ready to respond to enquiries. Even if it’s just a “Thanks! I’ll be in touch tomorrow.” Professionalism matters.
  

You’ll learn fast in this stage. You’ll tweak things. You’ll refine your messaging. That’s normal. It’s also where a lot of teacher-led businesses stall — because the admin and uncertainty can feel overwhelming.

But Here’s the Truth: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

This guide is just a starting point. There’s so much more that goes into creating a structured literacy business that’s sustainable and aligned with your values. But trying to do it all alone — while teaching or juggling family life — is a fast road to burnout.

That’s exactly why we created the Educator Business Course.

This is not a generic start-a-business course. It’s built by educators, for educators — with the steps, tools and mindset shifts needed to go from idea to income.

Inside the Course, You’ll Get:

• Step-by-step business set-up modules
  
• Practical videos with real-life examples
  
• Editable templates, checklists, and business documents
  
• Guidance for choosing services, pricing, policies, and systems
  
• Tools that support the transition from teaching into business life
  

Best of all? You create your business as you go — instead of just learning about business.

You Already Have the Skills. Let’s Build the Business.

If you’re a teacher who’s ready to make a bigger impact, find more flexibility, or finally turn your passion for structured literacy into a career that’s yours — you’re in the right place.

Let us help you turn that teaching expertise into a structured literacy business that makes a difference and supports your life, not the other way around.

👉 Explore the Educator Business Course

👉 Or get in touch with us — we’d love to chat.

Keywords Included:

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