I still remember sitting in my car in the school parking lot, running the numbers over and over in my head.
How on earth was I supposed to leave my stable teaching job and somehow bring in the same amount of money—on my own? From scratch? As a freelance music teacher?
It felt impossible… until it wasn’t.
If you’re a teacher thinking about making the leap—or you’ve already leapt and now you’re flailing a little—I want to share what I wish someone had told me sooner.
Not just “you can do it,” but how to actually make the money work.
Because you absolutely can. You just need a plan that works with your life, not against it.
Get Clear on the Real Numbers
The first step to replacing your income? You need to know what you’re actually replacing.
And I don’t mean your gross salary listed in your contract. I mean net, after taxes, after commuting, after all the little expenses that came with being in a classroom all day.
Those emergency Starbucks runs. The stress shopping at Target. The gas. The last-minute supplies you bought for a student.
When I really sat down and did the math, I realized that what I needed each month was less than I thought—but also more layered than I’d considered.
That clarity gave me something I hadn’t had before: a target.
And when you know your target, you can finally build a structure that supports it. Not guesswork. Not wishful thinking. A real, doable plan.
Build Smarter, Not Heavier
The biggest mistake I almost made? Assuming I had to work more to earn more.
I was this close to cramming 30+ one-on-one lessons into every corner of my week. But then I realized—I didn’t leave teaching to burn out in a new way.
The key was diversification.
Instead of just offering private lessons, I built a mix of services that supported both my income goals and my energy:
- Private lessons in voice and piano
- Group classes (more students, same time)
- Homeschool enrichment programs
- Seasonal workshops and camps
- Digital resources and asynchronous learning tools
- Affiliate recommendations for things I already loved and used
Each offer served a different purpose, and together they created a business that was sustainable, profitable, and actually enjoyable.
You don’t need to teach 40 hours a week to hit your number. You just need the right combination of offers.
The Pricing Shift That Changed Everything
Let’s talk about something tender: pricing.
This is where so many amazing educators trip themselves up—not because they’re not worth it, but because they’re used to being underpaid and overgiving.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the shift that changed everything for me:
You’re not charging for your time. You’re charging for the transformation you help create.
That includes:
- Your years of experience and training
- The prep time you don’t bill for but always do
- The emotional energy it takes to show up, week after week
- The confidence and joy your students walk away with
When I started pricing based on value instead of fear or what I thought people could afford, my entire business changed. I showed up differently. My clients showed up differently.
And no surprise—the money started working.
You Deserve More—and That’s Okay
There’s this unspoken belief in the teaching world that we’re supposed to give until we have nothing left. That we shouldn’t want more. That rest or financial security somehow means we care less about our students.
But here’s what I believe now:
You teach better when you’re not exhausted.
You create more when you’re not scrambling.
You serve deeper when your own cup isn’t empty.
You create more when you’re not scrambling.
You serve deeper when your own cup isn’t empty.
Wanting a business that supports your life isn’t greedy. It’s wise.
This isn’t about chasing luxury. It’s about building stability. Sustainability. Options.
One More Thing...
There’s one more piece to this puzzle—something I’ve never heard anyone talk about in teacher-to-freelancer circles. It’s something I had to learn the hard way that first year, and once I understood it, everything clicked into place.
I break it down in detail inside this week’s podcast episode: Episode 4 – Making the Money Work.
Whether you're still in the classroom or you're already out and trying to rebuild your income from the ground up, I made this episode for you.
Give it a listen and let’s walk this out together—one intentional step at a time.
You're not stuck. You're not behind. And you’re definitely not crazy for wanting more.
You’re building something brave. And it’s going to work—if you build it with intention.
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