To tell clients to just leave

[selfemployedwwyd]

I"m self employed with clients who pay monthly. I work 12 months of the year and take 4 weeks a year holiday which are unpaid - this is all explained upfront.

This year I've had an unprecedented number of clients who've informed me that they're not prepared to pay for my services over the summer as they're 'going on fancy holidays' and won't get the use of my services.

But they want me to take them back on in September once the summer holidays are over and the children are back in school.

AIBU to tell them they're free to go in June but I won't be giving them their space back in September?

I simply cannot afford to not be paid for 2 months. When I go on holiday (unpaid and only UK) I still pay all of my monthly bills (swimming, nursery etc)

I realise the cost of living affects even the wealthy, but it's the wealthiest clients who are doing this to me! For context, last year I earned £15k if that matters. I can't afford to take my children abroad (not that that's their fault I might add, but it does irk!)

AIBU to feel really pissed off and a little bit used/undervalued?

I'm assuming you are a childminder. I would send them an email saying "I have a waiting list of people wanting your spaces. You are free not to pay me over the summer but I will have to give you your 4weeks notice immediately and take on clients that are willing to pay me through the summer. " Get them to sign to say the agree to it or hand them their 4wks notice and fill their spots immediately. They are being spoilt and entitled.

Tell them that you are happy with this type of contract, but your rates are increasing by 20 % to compensate.

If this is something that a lot of your clients are doing, could you consider altering your work model to continue with your usual arrangements until the end of June, and then (assuming your 4-week holiday is in August) run something akin to intensive "summer schools" in July? Obviously with adjustments for group teaching as opposed to 1-1. That way you could retain those students that are not dropping you during that month and also possibly attract new business (especially if you do 11+ tutoring, as the tests are often in September shortly after the return to school)?

It's fine for them to leave in June, but make clear that you won't hold a spot for them, so you'll only be able to take them back on as a client in September if there's space available.

Alternatively in future you could offer a term time only contract at a slightly higher rate, if you wanted, but if you're happy with how much you're working and you're fully booked, it's not really needed.

Suggested response:
Hi XXX,

Sorry to hear you won't require my services from June. Just to be clear, if you're not willing to pay over July and August, that will end our contract, as I can't hold spaces. You're welcome to get back in touch in September if you'd like to re-hire me on a new contract, but me taking you back on as a client is dependent upon me having the space available. I've been fully booked for the last seven years, so please be aware that I may not have room in September to take you back on.

Please let me know whether you'd like to keep me on past June by the end of this week, or I will take the last email as your four weeks notice to end the contract.

All the Best.

I’m assuming you’re a childminder

I’m assuming you didn’t read past page one @Bob80 😂

Just politely say you will happily have them back in the fall if there is space in your schedule. Done.

they are entitled to have their budgets, and you yours.

you could offer a ‘holding fee’ - free money, less summer work.

You’re being totally reasonable. Fair is fair - they have a contract, they’ve given you notice but they just need to know that you will only be able to offer them a place again in September if you have space at that time. You need to make it clear you can’t hold their place and forego income to do so.

Tell them you can't guarantee them a place. If you can fill your spaces with people who don't do this, then great.
If however you can't, then you will have to take them back.... otherwise you will be turning down business and cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I do this with things like kids music teachers. Basically, I am not that fussed, and will take the risk of not getting a space. But where it's something I really value, I will pay for the peace of mind.

Here's a thought, say OK, that is your right to break contract, BUT on restart in September, they go onto a new rate which is 12 monthly divided by 10. That way they will know they are not "winning" and risk losing the slot. They can go onto the lower rate after a year, once you have recooperated the loss.
You could, if this is a common problem, charge this rate but offer the two months over summer "free", but in fact it is already paid for over the 10 months

I don’t see anything disrespectful about a client giving four weeks notice.

Just pick up new clients.

When I went self employed, I worked out my day rates like this:

• what are the running costs of your business including taxes, registrations, professional fees, consumables, equipment etc.
• what do you need to earn for it to be worth doing this as your job?
• what's the minimum number of days/hours you are likely to be billing for? (in your case it looks like this should assume just 10 months of the year, for example). Make sure you get fair holidays.

Add the first two and divide by the third, remembering that we all have lots of work to do that we can't charge for. It's worth working this through and comparing to what you're currently charging - you might be surprised.

If you're worried about competitiveness at the rates you need to charge, I'll say this: it's far better to compete on quality and track down the clients that'll pay a good rate than try to compete on price and get stuck in a race to the bottom.

If clients start behaving like yours, then you can just let them do it but the calculation above changes and your rates will go up.

On the other hand, you can keep the calculation the same but be clear with them that if they take a break you'll fill their space and they likely won't get it back.
If you otherwise like them as a client you can be upfront and say that if they only need you 10 months of the year then you'll be happy to hold their place on that basis, but your rates will have to go up to reflect the time you won't be earning but also won't be able to take on another client. You're the one taking the risk, so you should have the benefit of either bonus free time or extra income if you do manage to fill the gap for a few weeks.

If they're wealthy they probably didn't get that way by spending money they didn't have to. You may find they're content to pay a higher rate but only for the hours they use, rather than a lower rate but feel that some of it's wasted. They're effectively the same, I know, but they don't feel the same from the customer side and the aim here is probably to leave them feeling like they're getting everything they pay for.

I think you're taking this far too personally. You have a termination clause. Your clients want to make use of it to avoid paying over the Summer. They think you'll have space in September for them to re-register. You may not. That's their look out but perfectly open to them to take the risk. All this business about supporting you and missing out on income and how much their holidays cost is wholly irrelevant and would piss me off tbh. They don't owe you a living

its disrespectful @Clementinesucks because they are trying to avoid giving notice and are just expecting OP to keep their place.

Calm down lovely. Not everyone has time to read through 20 posts of comments. Not a big deal. People are just trying to be helpful and the original post was vague.

They have the right to give the 4 weeks notice now but don't have the right to expect to automatically get their place back.

Could you start offering the choice of 48 weeks or term time only (higher fees for term time only to cover the gap?)

Aldo unsure why it is relevant to compare your holiday destination to theirs?

@selfemployedwwyd You have had masses of replies but I wanted to add mine in case you are reading.

I tutored full time for almost 20 years. I offered dyslexia tutoring, as well as dyslexia assessments. I always had a waiting list as dyslexia tutors are thin on the ground. (I also tutored non-dyslexics in English to A level.) I tutored for around 15+ hours week including some daytime for children home educated, and also adults.

I never ever charged for holidays. I am absolutely surprised you think this is okay. It isn't IMO.

As a parent who was also shelling out for tutoring for my own children, I'd not have accepted those terms.

I worked on the basis of a half-term's notice (not including holidays.) So if someone was not coming back in Sept, I had to know by the end of May ( lessons finishing early July.)

I didn't refund for missed lessons by them, but would rearrange at my own convenience. (I came to this decision after many cancellations for things like parties and school trips.) I would refund for lessons I needed to cancel.

I also needed a break from tutoring and didn't want to carry on all over the summer. I did offer some catch-up lessons for a couple of weeks if needed.

I think the best you can do it either increase your fees to cover the times you don't work, or ask for a low retainer fee.

I really feel it is not ethical to ask for 8 x £40 over the summer when you are not tutoring.

AIBU to tell them they're free to go in June but I won't be giving them their space back in September?

Yes you are unreasonable.

I don't know anyone who charges on the basis you want.

Part of the downside of tutoring is the fact that the school year is not 52 weeks or even 48 as you want .

I'm with the parents here.

Independent schools charge like this for extra lessons (ie music etc).
The parents pay for the lessons their child has. That's not 52 or 48 weeks.

If you need the money, think about creating holiday classes, where other pupils can have intensive tutoring for a few weeks.

Typo- I meant independent schools don't charge on that basis for extra tutoring.

@selfemployedwwyd Isn't your answer being given already by the parents?
If they don't want to pay for 48 weeks, then you will lose them anyway, presumably?

If you fill their place with a new student, their parents may not want to pay for lessons they don't have, either.
Are you going to set out the 48 weeks of payment right at the start?

I used to take payment for a half term, in advance.
If they gave notice right at the end of a term, they would have to pay for another half term unless I could fill the place.

There are numerous tutoring agencies around and you risk your parents simply finding another tutor, who doesn't want to charge for 'non-taught lessons' if you carry on like this.

Your other option is to charge more per session and have school holidays off. I mean I can see why parents don't want the tutoring over summer, but it's kind of normal for someone not to be able to take months of the year with no pay. If you can't respect that people need to be paid, then don't use their services.

Tutors around my way work term time only, unless otherwise agree. That is my experience with all children's activities actually, other than swimming/

that said, if you have plenty of clients you can set your terms and do it as you wish. Supply and demand.

Also I wouldn't expect to pay for YOUR holidays. You are a service provider, not an employee.

but it's kind of normal for someone not to be able to take months of the year with no pay

This isn't really true. People who are self-employed usually only get paid for the hours they work or the service they provide.

If they want to charge a retainer such as 25 or 50% of the fee that is one possible way forward.

However, it does suggest that @selfemployedwwyd doesn't actually really care about her pupils and is happy to ditch them if some other parent can pay her for not teaching!

I had close working relationships with my pupils and their families. I really cared about them. It would have been hard to say I couldn't have them back in Sept if they didn't pay for 8 weeks of no lessons.

I actually think that the OP will struggle if she tries to implement this. Her current parents are already not happy with the idea.

A lot of tutors get work through recommendation and contacts. I never had to advertise and always had a waiting list. Some pupils were with me for 5 years.

It's possible parents will vote with their feet and seek other tutors.

we will give you a call in September when we need you back'

As long as you are clear that you cannot guarantee their slot back in September, then I would leave it there.

If you have managed to fill the slot, all well and good, if not I'd take 'em back but perhaps offer their preferred time slot to your clients you stay on.

I have a 121 slot which I pay for all year round exactly to secure it for myself. I'm happy to do so because I value it soooo much.

Oh, and I expect your rates will have gone up for new clients, factoring in the income list over the break.

Or you could offer two rates, one for those who continue paying and a higher ad hoc rate if they don't want to commit.

Based on what you said your contract states the 4 weeks notice only gets them out of the obligation to pay during their vacation it doesn't guarantee their spot is held. Simply explain that to them