If you are a tutor, or if your child has one …

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… when do you take payment please?
eg invoice monthly/half termly in advance, weekly 24 hours in advance, on the day or sometime after the lesson?
Before Covid, I used to take payment on the day when parents came to collect but that all changed when I started tutoring online. I’m now trying to switch parents to paying in advance of the lesson, having had to chase up too many missed payments. I’d like to check that I’m in alignment with what’s usual for the majority of tutors these days.
Thanks ☺️

Our DC use an online tutor and we always pay upfront half termly...I've just paid for Jan/Feb this week.

I pay half termly in advance. Invoice is sent 3-4 weeks before term starts with the option to pay 50% and the other 50% half way through or 100% upfront.

If I were you, I would change terms: send invoices in advance and penalties for late payments. My childminder also has a penalty for late payment.

I have some who pay me cash each week as I leave. Others pay weekly on a direct debit on the day and a couple pay half termly in advance. I must add I've never had a problem with having to chase up payment so I've kept these arrangements as they're no hassle. I wouldn't do the next lesson until I'd been paid for the previous one. Half termly in advance is the best way to receive payment so I might move all new clients to that if I can longer term.

DS tutor is paid monthly, in advance. Confirm sessions for following month by 20th (i.e. we have them weekly unless we let her know we can't do one the month prior sonot isnt included in the invoice) she invoices us 21st, to be paid by month end.

We have two different tutors (both online).

One invoices a month in advance, so last week of the month I receive and pay the invoice for the following month. Lessons are on the same day/time and if there are any dates that we can’t do, which is pretty rare, I notify her in advance and we agree an alternative or no session that week. For last minute changes (e.g illness or the tutor had issues due to the recent storms) we agree an alternative day/time as we go.

The other tutor invoices for each lesson as it takes place but we have a fixed day/time. Changes need to be notified more that 24 hours in advance otherwise we still get charged.

Half termly to be paid in full in advance of the first lesson.

Thanks everyone. It seems I’m definitely behind the times in charging weekly and well justified for charging half termly in advance.