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How do tutors stop last-minute cancellations and no-shows?

Sell lessons in termly or monthly packages paid in advance, set a notice period for cancellations, and send a reminder before each lesson. Show the policy when parents book, so everyone knows where they stand before the first lesson.

By Sammy Morgan, who runs M1 Studio in Chichester. Updated .

See Online Booking & Deposits, £1,800 Ask Sammy (opens WhatsApp)

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Industry
Tutors
Problem
No-shows
The fix
Online Booking & Deposits, £1,800
Do it yourself?
Yes, the first steps below

Why it happens to tutors.

Evening slots are the ones everyone wants
Much tutoring happens after school, so you only have a few prime hours a day. A cancelled 5pm slot is hard to resell at short notice.
Children’s diaries change
Clubs, matches, illness and school trips pull pupils away, often with little warning.
Online lessons are easy to forget
With no journey, nothing reminds the pupil. They simply don’t log on.
Paying per lesson means nothing to lose
When parents pay after each lesson, skipping one costs them nothing. Packages paid up front change the habit.

What to do, in order.

  1. Move to packages

    Termly or monthly packages paid up front, with a clear rule on missed lessons.

  2. Set a notice period

    For example 24 hours. Say whether a late cancellation is charged or can be moved once a term.

  3. Remind the day before

    A text to the parent with the time and, for online lessons, the link.

  4. Put the policy in writing

    On your website, in your booking confirmation and in reminders.

  5. Take bookings and deposits online

    Online Booking & Deposits lets parents book on your website and pay a deposit, with reminders and your rules shown when they book.

Where M1 can do it for you.

Fixed prices, or a fixed quote before any work starts. No VAT is charged. Any running costs are listed before you agree.

  • Online Booking & Deposits £1,800

    Parents book trial lessons and regular slots online and pay a deposit, with reminders and your notice period shown at booking.

    Bookings taken online, with a deposit paid up front.

  • Missed-Call Rescue £800

    Automatic reminders, one list for every enquiry and a text back to calls you miss while you’re teaching.

    Missed calls get a text back, automatically.

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Before you decide.

Something else? Ask Sammy on WhatsApp.

Should tutors charge for missed lessons?

Many do, provided the policy was agreed up front and shown clearly. Some allow one rearranged lesson a term. Pick a rule you’ll stick to. M1 doesn’t give legal advice on your terms. The deposits guide covers how to present it.

What does online booking cost to run?

Online Booking & Deposits is a fixed £1,800 to set up. The booking tool’s monthly fee and the card fees on deposits are paid directly by you, and listed before you agree. See what’s included.

How much are cancellations costing me?

Multiply your hourly price by the lessons lost each term. The no-show cost calculator does the sum for you.

Keep reading.

Know what to fix. Then decide.

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