How to make money as a tutors and teacher in Malta - practical guide

If you teach or tutor and live in Malta, you can find paying work carried out locally or online. This guide explains where paying customers actually come from across the islands, how to set an initial price and discuss money, what your first ten customers usually look like, which formal checks to make before taking payments, common early problems, and how a Websta profile fits into that workflow.

Updated October 21, 2026

Where paying customers come from

In Malta paying students and clients arrive from a few repeatable places. Neighbours and community groups often supply the first local leads - parents looking for help with school subjects, adults wanting language lessons, or families wanting extra support for children. Workplaces and colleagues can lead to corporate or evening classes, especially for language or professional-skills tuition.

Schools, colleges and private academies are a source of referrals and one-off task work for exam preparation. Online search is increasingly important - people look for tutors by subject and town. Word of mouth still matters: parents and adult learners recommend tutors they trust to friends and social groups. The islands are compact, so local visibility and clear online contact details are useful.

  • Neighbours, local parents and community centres
  • Workplaces and colleagues for corporate or in-company training
  • Schools, colleges and academies asking for extra lessons
  • Online search and local listings
  • Word of mouth and social groups

How to set your first price and talk about money

Set a starting rate using simple maths: estimate the time you spend teaching plus preparation, travel, materials and unpaid admin. Add a margin that compensates for cancellations and slow months. Look at local listings and ask peers what they charge to get a reality check, but do not copy someone else blindly.

When discussing money, be clear in writing. Offer a single session option and a package price for blocks of lessons. State your cancellation policy, payment methods and whether you require a deposit for the first lesson. Use plain language: state the price, how long the session lasts, what is included, and when you expect payment.

  • Estimate all time and costs before picking a rate
  • Offer single lessons and package options
  • Write down cancellation and payment terms
  • Be transparent about what the lesson includes

What the first ten customers usually look like

The first ten customers are often a mixed group: friends and family connections, neighbours, a few pupils from a local school or language centre, and one or two people who found you online. Some will book single trial lessons; others will sign up to short packages if they like the first sessions.

Expect a mix of needs and unpredictability. Early customers help you refine lesson length, materials and pricing. Treat initial clients as pilots - ask for feedback and document what works. Most new tutors find patterns after a few bookings and can then make modest adjustments to times and prices.

  • Referrals from personal network
  • Local families and students
  • One-off exam or revision sessions
  • Early online leads or marketplace enquiries

Taking money and legal checks in Malta

Sort out how you will receive and record payments before you begin. Keep clear invoices or receipts for every client and keep separate records of income and expenses. Websta supports card payments routed to your own bank account through Stripe; otherwise standard options are bank transfer and cash. Whatever method you use, keep a consistent, traceable system.

For formal obligations, check with the Office of the Commissioner for Revenue about when you must declare self-employment income, register for VAT and make tax payments. Ask the Commissioner for Revenue whether your planned activity needs VAT registration and how to report income from tutoring. For social insurance and contribution questions, check with Jobsplus or the relevant Social Security office and ask how to register as self-employed and which contributions apply. If you plan to trade under a business name or set up a company, contact the Malta Business Registry for the registration steps.

  • Keep invoices or receipts for every job
  • Use traceable payment methods and record all income
  • Check VAT and income reporting with the Commissioner for Revenue
  • Ask Jobsplus or Social Security about self-employed contributions
  • Consult Malta Business Registry if you plan a formal business structure

What tends to go wrong in the first months

Several issues recur for new tutors. Underpricing is common - not accounting for preparation time and cancellations means effective hourly earnings are lower than expected. Scheduling conflicts and last-minute cancellations can leave gaps in income. Poor record-keeping makes tax time stressful. Accepting vague payment promises rather than a deposit often causes late or missing payments.

Another common problem is unclear scope: clients expect homework, materials or extra communication that you did not plan for. Set boundaries early about what you provide and how much outside-of-session contact you will do. Finally, relying on a single referral source leaves you vulnerable - diversify where leads come from.

  • Underestimating prep and admin time
  • No deposit or weak cancellation rules
  • Poor bookkeeping before tax reporting
  • Unclear scope leading to extra unpaid work
  • Relying on one source of clients

How a Websta profile fits into your work

A Websta profile provides a single public page with your services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. You can send that page to anyone and use it as the link you share on social media or in messages. In the Websta marketplace people nearby search by service and place, and customers can post a task for providers to make offers.

Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe and you set your own prices. Use the profile to list clear services, state your session length and cancellation policy, and show sample photos or materials. Treat the profile as a professional business card that makes it easier for new clients to find you and book sessions.

  • Single page with services, prices, photos, contact form and booking
  • Found in the Websta marketplace by service and place
  • Customers can post tasks and providers can make offers
  • Card payments paid out to your bank account through Stripe
  • You set your own prices and publish your terms

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register as self-employed to tutor in Malta?
Check with the Office of the Commissioner for Revenue. Ask whether your tutoring income must be declared, whether you need to register for VAT, and what records you must keep for tax purposes.
How should I ask for payment for a first lesson?
Be clear in your initial message: state the price, session length, payment methods you accept and whether you require a deposit. Offer a single session option and a package price, and send an invoice or receipt after payment.
Can I accept card payments through Websta?
Websta supports card payments that are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe. Confirm account setup and payout timing in your Websta dashboard.
What records do I need to keep for taxes?
Keep invoices or receipts, a record of payments received, and a log of expenses related to teaching. Ask the Commissioner for Revenue which documents they expect and how long to retain them.
How do I avoid last-minute cancellations?
Set a clear cancellation policy, require deposits for some bookings, confirm lessons in advance and offer a short rescheduling window. Put the terms in writing so both you and the client have the same expectations.

About the numbers

Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.

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