Let’s be real. If you’re a talented tennis player, maybe you played in college or you're the 4.5+ player everyone at the park tries to avoid, you’ve probably had this thought: "Could I get paid for this?"
Maybe you already are. Maybe you're a club pro or a high school coach, grinding out lessons and running drills for a fixed hourly wage. You love the game, but your paycheck? Not so much.
Here’s the problem: most talented players and existing coaches are stuck in a "salary trap" and don't even know it. They’re trading their expert-level skills for an entry-level wage, while the club or organization they work for pockets the real money.
But what if you could break out of that trap? What if you could set your own hours, set your own rate (we’re talking $70, $100, or even $120+ per hour), and build a booming side hustle or a full-time career all on your own terms?
Spoiler: You can. And it’s easier than you think.
The "Salary Trap" vs. The Independent Coach
First, let's talk about the trap. The average "Tennis Instructor" in the U.S. makes a median salary of about $36,486 per year. ZipRecruiter data shows the average hourly pay for a "Professional Tennis Coach" is just $18.60 an hour.
Think about that. The 75th percentile for that job—meaning you're a top earner—is still only about $20.91 an hour.
If you’ve ever worked at a club, you know why. A client pays the club $80 for a one-hour lesson, and the club pays you $20, if you're lucky. You’re doing 100% of the work, and the club is keeping 75% of the revenue.
Now, let's compare that to the Independent Coach.
The Independent Coach is their own boss. They use a platform like TeachMe.To to connect directly with students who are looking for lessons. They don't have a "boss" to pay, so they set their own rate and keep the lion's share.
Instead of making $20/hour, they’re charging $70/hour, $90/hour, or even $120/hour for that exact same lesson.
That’s not just a pay bump. It’s a completely different career.
So, How Much Can You Really Make on TeachMe.To?
Alright, let's get to the fun part. The user approved an hourly rate of $70-$120, and my research on part-time coaching shows a "side hustle" can be 6-8 hours per week, while a full-time coach might be on the court 20-30 hours a week.
When you're an independent coach on TeachMe.To, you’re not an employee—you're the CEO of your own coaching business. You set your own rates, and you're in total control of your schedule.
Let's break down what that actually looks like for your bank account.
Scenario 1: The Side Hustle
You love your 9-to-5, but you want to turn your tennis skills into extra cash. You open up your TeachMe.To profile for just 4 hours per week (maybe a couple of weeknight evenings or a Saturday morning). You set your rate at a very reasonable $80/hour.
4 hours/week x $80/hour = $320/week
Monthly Take-Home: ~$1,280
Just like that, you're pulling in over $15,000 a year in your spare time, doing something you love. That’s a car payment, a very nice vacation, or a serious boost to your savings account.
Scenario 2: The Serious Part-Timer
You’re an existing coach who’s tired of the low club wage. You decide to go independent and use TeachMe.To to build your own client list. You dedicate just 10 hours per week to your private clients. You’re experienced, so you charge $90/hour.
10 hours/week x $90/hour = $900/week
Monthly Take-Home: ~$3,600
You’re now making an extra $43,000+ per year. This isn't a "side hustle" anymore—that’s a full-on salary, and it's your part-time income. You've officially replaced (and probably doubled) your old club pay, and you still have most of your week free.
Scenario 3: The Full-Time Pro
This is it. You're going all-in. You decide to make coaching your full-time career, managed entirely through your TeachMe.To app. You set a goal of 20 "on-court" hours per week (leaving you plenty of time for admin, travel, and, you know, a life). As a top pro in your area, you command $110/hour.
20 hours/week x $110/hour = $2,200/week
Monthly Take-Home: ~$8,800
Do the math. That’s an annual income of $105,600. You’ve built a six-figure career, and you're only working 20 hours a week on the court. You're your own boss, you have no inventory, and you’re making top-tier money in a field you're passionate about.
The TeachMe.To Advantage: Why Not Just Use Craigslist?
You might be thinking, "This sounds great, but why do I need a platform?"
This is the same question golf simulator owners ask right before they get buried in no-shows, payment disputes, and marketing black holes.
Going independent doesn't mean you have to do everything. Using a platform like TeachMe.To is like hiring an entire back-office team—for free.
We Bring the Students to You: Stop chasing clients. Our marketplace reaches thousands of players who are actively searching for a coach. They find you, you just show up and teach.
Hassle-Free Scheduling & Payments: No more awkward Venmo requests or endless "what time works for you?" texts. Our app handles the booking, reminders, and secure payments. It’s all automated.
You Get Paid, Instantly: Once you complete a lesson, you get paid. Payouts are processed fast via Dots, which means you can get your money via Venmo, PayPal, or a direct bank transfer.
We Handle the Boring Stuff: We're not just a scheduler; we're your business partner. We even provide you with a 1099 at the end of the year for easy taxes.
Total Control: This is your business. You set your own rates. You approve the bookings you want. You manage it all from a simple coach app.
This isn't just a side hustle. It's a "business-in-a-box" that lets you plug your skills in and start earning.
Ready to Get Paid What You're Worth?
Whether you're a skilled player who's never coached before or a seasoned pro stuck in the $20/hour salary trap, the path is the same. Stop trading your time for a fraction of what it's worth.
Your expertise is in high demand. It’s time to take control, set your own value, and turn your passion for tennis into a seriously profitable business.
