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?

To the OP, how about you change the name of your services and call it a retainer. Have it in your contract that you'll continue to provide service A/B/C for each month that the retainer continues to be paid? But that non payment ends the "retainer". By changing it's name to "retainer", it makes the payment being to "retain" you, so clients are paying to effectively "keep" you.

Could you just charge more in the months you are working to cover the summer where you're not? Otherwise just tell them the contract says X, you are very welcome to quit the contract with the appropriate notice but unfortunately I am oversubscribed and it is extremely unlikely I will have space available in September.

Yes I do. I have 2 international pupils who regularly have Zoom.

No, I said I paid. I pay monthly. I pay every month. I consider those costs the same as my mortgage/water/gas/electric. Whether I'm on holiday or not is irrelevant. Anyway. There's no gymnastics club that would allow you to simply not pay and then take your child back to squad weeks later.

Exactly that.

It's honestly the first year that's it's started to happen en masse.

Ok. So just to address a few points.

I can only work after school hours in general (although I have picked up a 'daytime' person recently) . In order to accommodate my own childcare needs, I mostly have between 2 -3 pupils a night - mainly at my own home school classroom, some on Zoom, 2 or 3 I still drive out to their house (but trying to stop this as it cuts into my work time and I don't charge mileage)

It is my only income, but no, I'm not working 40 hours a week obviously!

I already charge £40 an hour. That's the going rate where we are. There are plenty of cheap tutors (in the main unqualified teachers or youngsters after some cash on the side) and I've had plenty of people message me asking me why I'm not £15 like so and so is.

I'm professional and I'm worth my £40 an hour. If I started charging £50 an hour, I'm not confident I would be fully booked around this area. But maybe I need to take a risk and find out.

Indeed. One of the reasons I've kept some of my older clients on lower rates is because I've feared that If I upped the cost by say £10 a month they would leave - and I would lose £120 a month!

Just submitted 2022/23 and I earned £18k approx after expenses. Yes i would earn more working on a till, but not for 12 hours a week (pupils come and go at times - sometimes I have less, sometimes I have more pupils) Those hours work around my partners and my children, one of whom has SEN. Honestly, I love what I do. I'm good at it and I love making a major difference in a child's life.

Everyone is making very good points. No, I'm not business savvy. I need to get a payment programme in place instead of just asking clients to set up a direct debit to me. I need to charge for late payments instead of chasing the same people month in month out. I need to stop accepting that they can't pay me this month because of a 'big birthday' or a 'holiday' they've just put a deposit on - leaving me in debt instead.

Finally, I haven't complained at all. I have smiled and simply explained that I can't hold their place. At no point would I risk my reputation as nearly 100% of my clients come word of mouth - neighbours, friends, cousins etc etc. My website is frankly shit and my FB page well out of date = but my reviews are fantastic and I never have to chase work.

I agree 100% its unfair that some are paying less than others. It also pains me that I'm working just as hard for those pupils and receiving £40 a month less!

I'm not blaming my clients. I'm just putting on here anonymously that it really winds me up that I can be working flat out for their child for not an obscene cost (as you've all pointed out) but that their fancy holiday still trumps paying me in their mind. Of course they're absolutely allowed to do what they want, and feel how they want - I'm just moaning on here about the way some clients (not all) treat self employed as some sort of skivvy servant at their beck and call.

I've had some amazing advice off your all and I'm going to sit down Tuesday and get my backside into gear setting up new T_C's for Sept and sorting out my business arrangements in general.

I'm far too nice and far too accommodating tbh.

I've had I've had some amazing advice off your all and I'm going to sit down Tuesday and get my backside into gear setting up new T_C's for Sept and sorting out my business arrangements in general

Good. I suggest going through every step of the process of booking, paying for, attending and quitting lessons and tighten up everything where there might be a loophole.
So start at the beginning and analyze everything. Where have people taken the piss or where is the potential for them to take the piss or is there anything in the T and C which could give rise to misunderstanding (rather than piss-taking).
What are you going to do about late payers? What are you going to do about the summer holiday issue? How many lessons can be missed before you boot someone out? etcetcetc.

Op, you don’t sound business savvy.

You should take legal advice from a solicitor and modify your contract and fees.

It’s bizarre that with some of your clients, fees haven’t risen in 5+ years. You should have implemented annual increases.

It’s more fair if all your clients are charged the same price. If word got out that you’re essentially cherry picking, it could damage your reputation as some clients may ask for the cheaper price and be put out if you refuse.

You need to improve your business plan and offer more value during the time you are off. We are going through a cost of living crisis and people don’t want to pointlessly spend money. It’s a business relationship - your bills are NOT going to be a priority compared to their own bills! You don’t work full time, could spend some time creating one hour of weekly content the students can access each week you’re away? Whether that’s tests or pre recorded lessons or something to add value to the 4 weeks you are away.

the truth is, what you’re experiencing are some of the downsides of self-employment. You don’t get holiday pay. If your business is becoming less feasible, you may need to consider employment instead.

My website is frankly shit and my FB page well out of date

It’s 2023. That’s not something to be proud of. You will be putting other clients off. If you already have a decent interest, improving your marketing will only take you further and you might attract more high quality clients who pay on time and accept a higher price. Especially if you’re happy to have distance clients via Zoom, that opens your consumer base away from locals. I find arranging business through FB tends to be informal, which is why you’ve got some pisstakers on your books as they don’t really take it seriously. A robust website will attract different people.

Wy would I provide work for the 4 weeks I don't work - I don't charge them for those 4 weeks? One week at Christmas, one in the Summer holidays and 2 others at other half terms.

TBH I've decided I'm going to go term time only and offers services in the holidays to revision and groups.

I'm already said myself I'm not business savvy - why are people pointing out the obvious! That's why I came on here for advice.

If you google your council's small business advisor you will find someone who will help you. We can book time with someone who goes over the business plan etc. They will put you in touch with resources and assistance.

If it's vaguely helpful, my teenager set up a website on Wix for me in a day or so. It's quite straightforward and can accept payments.

We also have lots of requests for tutors on our local FB page which anyone can sign up to.

Although it doesn't sound like generating business is an issue for you.

The lady that does my nails has a booking system that also sends a reminder 24 hours in advance that you have to click and confirm.

Worth setting up an email system of your own to do that.

"I'm already said myself I'm not business savvy - why are people pointing out the obvious! That's why I came on here for advice."

I wouldn't take it personally, I read it as people wanting to give you the confidence to be much more aggressive in your business thinking. Female labour across the home to corporate settings is still undervalued and underpaid.

We have been socialised to a level of nice-ness that hinders us to acknowledge our value in a business context.

you are clearly great at what you are doing. You are happy doing it. I want you to feel the success on all levels.

"I'm already said myself I'm not business savvy - why are people pointing out the obvious! That's why I came on here for advice."

because we are trying to help. Find the root cause of your issue and solve that. In my case from the perspective of running my own business for 20+ years.

TBH I've decided I'm going to go term time only and offers services in the holidays to revision and groups

It's probably a good idea. Any of your regular clients who want to have lessons over the summer can book additional lessons. Maybe consider selling blocks of 5 lessons to be paid in advance of course.

Hi I would definitely put into the contract a holding fee for the summer.those that are struggling may well be glad of summer studying with your help so you could offer a summer school at a set price?good luck.🌈

Another thought OP, as you're now talking about term time only, give some consideration above to how you will allocate slots in September. Will you take on the same people - how can they guarantee their slot? A holding fee? A set date to confirm by or the slot will be given away? A payment or deposit due on say, 1st September, if it isn't paid on time the slot will be allocated to someone on the waiting list?
It's something to consider - I mentioned it in a post upthread that I had problems with people saying they were coming back but then delaying their start - in a few cases until the middle of October - until I tightened it up.

Some of our teachers asked for payment by the end of the summer term to secure place for September. Gives you time to fill the slot if not required.

@selfemployedwwyd do you belong to a union or professional association? They usually have standard contracts and the fees are a deductible tax expense!

I’m a retired tutor and I recommend only teaching in term times, although you need to be clear about what happens during half term, inset days etc. If someone is desperate for a few extra lessons you can make an exception with a separate written contract.

If I work term time only, I would have to increase my fees just to stand still so to speak.

How much would you be prepared to pay per half term for lessons?

I'm Maths - primary up to GCSE. Based in Manchester. Most lessons are in person at my purpose built classroom; some are on Zoom.

It sounds like your agreement with the clients supports your position. The question is whether your particular market will tolerate you enforcing it. If there is truly an unlimited supply of new clients, you're fine. But if you've built up a practice within a particular catchment area, and word gets round that area that you're being 'difficult', could it all collapse?
Only you can assess this risk. Good luck!

Just tell them they are welcome to check in around sept to see if you have space but you can't hold it for them. That's more than reasonable

@selfemployedwwyd you must start charging for travelling to clients. Even if it’s local, it’s still an extra bit of your time which needs to be reflected in your fees.

So how do I write it into the contract that they can't just quit my services in June and expect to swan back in September?

I don't think you have to put anything in the contract. When they give a months notice and say 'Oh don't worry....back in September ' just tell them when the contract ends they'll need to make a fresh enquiry and be added to the waiting list....
How easily do you think you can get new clients to fill these spaces? No ones right or wrong. You each make a risk assessment and make your own decision.