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At a glance: money to start · hours · how fast it pays · how much you keep · how much it can earn. Taller bars are better; the dashed line is halfway.

Exam prep centre: what it really costs to start

Starting an exam prep centre in Europe costs €2,000–€15,000 in 2026, with first income after about 12 weeks and earnings of up to €5,000 a month working full time.

Last updated: September 2026 · sources at the bottom of the page

Coaching for one specific test.

Exam prep centre in numbers
Money to start €2,000–€15,000 What you spend before the first customer pays: kit, stock, licences, launch.
Hours a week 20–45 What it takes to run it properly, from part time to full time.
Weeks to first income about 12 How long you pay in before any money comes back. You still need to live in those weeks.
Kept of every €100 €65 What stays with you after running costs, before you pay yourself for your hours.
Most it earns a month €1,200 part time · €5,000 full time A realistic ceiling for one person running it. Your own hours are the limit.
Competition medium Some competition: running it well is what decides.
Licence or qualification not usually Beyond registering the business and insurance, nothing specific in our research.

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What nobody usually tells you

Parents pay without hesitating when a specific exam is at stake, and cohorts let you teach many for the price of one. The income is violently seasonal: exam season is everything, and the rest of the year is quiet.

The route, in five steps

  1. Pick one exam and own it completely
  2. Publish your results — parents buy outcomes, not lessons
  3. Run cohorts on the exam calendar, not continuously
  4. Record the theory once, sell the live practice
  5. Referrals from parents are the only channel that matters

What you'll need to buy

These are the categories this business pays for in the first month. We go through the software side on the tools page.

room or platformcourse materialsbooking systemmarketing

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Common questions

How much does it cost to start an exam prep centre?

Between €2,000 and €15,000 to begin. That covers room or platform, course materials, booking system and the rest of the setup. It does not cover your own living costs during the 12 weeks before the first income arrives, which is the cost most people forget.

How long after starting an exam prep centre does the first income arrive?

Around 12 weeks to the first euro. Reaching the realistic maximum of €5,000 a month takes considerably longer, and assumes 45 hours a week.

How much can you earn a month if you start an exam prep centre?

Up to about €5,000 a month working full time, or €1,200 part time. Of every €100 it takes, about €65 stays with you after running costs.

Can you start an exam prep centre alongside a job?

Yes, at a cost. Part time it realistically tops out around €1,200 a month, against €5,000 working full time, and it needs 20–45 hours a week.

Is there a lot of competition?

Competition is medium. Neither crowded nor protected: winning comes down to how well you run it rather than whether you can enter.

Similar businesses to compare

Sources

Where these numbers come from. Figures are rounded ranges for European markets; check the ones you are about to spend money on. Last checked September 2026.

  1. The Tutors' Association — Setting up a tuition business: legal, financial and practical steps licence · money to start
  2. UK Business Forums — How do I start my tuition centre (group pricing and costs) what it earns · share kept

Does it fit you?

These numbers are the average case. Whether this business clears your target depends on your money, your hours and how long you can wait. Put them in and see.

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