How to Get Paid

Payment Flow Overview

The Complete Journey

1. Student Books Session: Payment method authorized, not charged
2. Session Completes: Both parties confirm completion
3. Payment Processes: Student charged within 24 hours
4. Platform Fee Deducted: 10% commission
5. Added to Payout: Included in next weekly batch or manual withdrawal
6. Bank Transfer: Automated Friday payouts or on-demand
7. Money in Bank: Arrives 2-5 business days later

Understanding Platform Fees

Standard Commission Structure

Platform Fee: 10% (Updated Feb 2026)

What This Covers:

• Payment processing (Stripe fees)
• Platform development and maintenance
• Customer support
• Marketing and student acquisition
• Security and fraud protection
• Mobile app development

Example Calculation:

Session Price:        £100.00
Platform Fee (10%):   -£10.00
Your Earnings:         £90.00

With Referral Attribution: If client was referred by an agent:

Session Price:        £100.00
Platform Fee (10%):   -£10.00
Referral Commission:  -£10.00 (paid to referring agent)
Your Earnings:         £80.00

Enterprise Pricing

For high-volume tutors (50+ bookings/month):

• Custom commission rates
• Dedicated account manager
• Priority support
• Advanced analytics

Contact sales@tutorwise.com for enterprise pricing.

Payment Timeline

Day-by-Day Breakdown

Payout Schedule

Two Withdrawal Options (New!)

You now have flexibility in how you receive payments:

Option 1: Weekly Automatic Payouts

Payout Day: Every Friday at 10:00 AM UTC Cutoff Time: Thursday 11:59 PM Minimum Amount: £20 for teaching earnings, £25 for referral commissions

How It Works:

• All cleared transactions automatically batched
• Transferred to Stripe Connect account
• Arrives in bank 2-5 business days later
• No action needed from you
• Track in Financials dashboard

Option 2: Manual Withdrawals (New!)

Anytime: Request withdrawal on-demand Processing: 2-3 business days to your bank Requirements: Available balance only (not clearing funds)

How to Request:

1. Go to Financials
2. Click "Request Withdrawal" button
3. Review available balance and terms
4. Confirm withdrawal
5. Email confirmation sent
6. Funds transferred to Stripe Connect account

Limitations:

• One active withdrawal at a time
• 15-minute cooldown between requests
• Cannot withdraw clearing funds (must wait 7 days)
• Must have connected Stripe account

Withdrawal History:

• New "Withdrawal History" section on Financials page
• Track all past withdrawals
• See status: Processing, Completed, Failed
• Link to Stripe Dashboard for each payout

Minimum Payout Threshold

£10 Minimum:

• Earnings must reach £10 to trigger payout
• Balance carries over to next week if under £10
• No maximum payout limit
• No fees for payouts

Example:

• Week 1: Earn £8 (carried over)
• Week 2: Earn £7 (total £15)
• Payout: £15 transferred Friday

Viewing Your Earnings

Financials Dashboard

Go to Financials to view:

Wallet Balance Widget (Enhanced!):

• Available balance (ready to withdraw)
• Clearing balance (pending 7-day period)
• Total earned all-time
• NEW: Upcoming Earnings Projections
  • Expandable view showing when clearing funds become available
  • Grouped by date with amounts
  • See exactly when each payment clears
  • Plan your cash flow effectively

Transactions Tab:

• Session-by-session breakdown
• Real-time status updates
• Dispute alerts (if any)
• Refund notifications
• Filter by date, type, status
• Search by client name or service
• Export to CSV for accounting

Withdrawal History (New!):

• All past withdrawal requests
• Current status tracking
• Estimated arrival dates
• Link to Stripe for each payout
• Failed withdrawal troubleshooting

Earnings Breakdown

Per-Session View:

Session: John Smith - Math Tutoring
Date: January 15, 2025
Duration: 1 hour
Rate: £50/hour

Gross Earnings:    £50.00
Platform Fee:      -£7.50
Net Earnings:       £42.50
Status: Paid (Jan 19)

Tax and Documentation

Tax Responsibility

Self-Employment:

• Tutoring income is self-employment income
• You must declare it on your tax return
• Keep records of all earnings
• Consider quarterly estimated tax payments

UK Tutors:

• Register for Self Assessment if needed
• Declare tutoring income on tax return
• Keep records for 5 years
• Consider hiring an accountant

VAT Registration:

• Required if turnover exceeds £85,000/year
• Voluntary registration available
• Adds complexity to bookkeeping

Available Documentation

Download from Financials:

• Monthly earnings statements
• Annual tax summary
• Individual transaction receipts
• CSV export for accounting software

Included Information:

• Gross earnings
• Platform fees
• Net earnings
• Student names (optional)
• Session dates and times

Payment Methods

How Funds Are Transferred

Via Stripe:

• All payouts processed through Stripe
• Must have connected Stripe account
• Funds transferred to your bank via Stripe

Bank Transfer:

• Standard ACH/BACS transfer
• No fees for standard transfer
• 2-5 business days
• Faster Payments (UK) where available

Updating Bank Details

To Change Bank Account:

1. Log in to Stripe Dashboard
2. Go to Settings → Bank Accounts
3. Add new bank account
4. Verify with micro-deposits
5. Set as default
6. Previous account auto-removed after verification

Common Payment Issues

Delayed Payouts

Reasons for Delays:

• Bank holidays (payouts pushed to next business day)
• Stripe verification pending
• Bank account details incorrect
• Minimum threshold not reached

What to Do:

• Check Financials dashboard for payout status
• Verify bank details in Stripe
• Contact support if delayed more than 7 days

Missing Payments

Session Not Showing:

• Allow 24 hours for payment to process
• Check session was marked complete by both parties
• Verify student's payment method didn't decline
• Contact support with session ID

Payout Not Received:

• Check Stripe dashboard for payout status
• Verify bank account is correct
• Allow full 5 business days
• Contact bank if Stripe shows "paid"

Disputed Payments

Student Disputes Charge: You'll see a prominent red "Payment Disputed" banner on the transaction:

• Stripe handles dispute process automatically
• Funds held until investigation completes
• You have 7 days to respond with evidence
• Click "View in Stripe Dashboard" to upload proof

What to Upload:

• Session recordings or screenshots
• Message history with student
• Attendance records
• Work completed/materials provided
• Any other proof of service delivery

Your Protection:

• Keep detailed session notes in VirtualSpace
• Save all student communications
• Document attendance in real-time
• Respond within 7 days for best results
• Contact support@tutorwise.com if you need help

Dispute Banner: The new dispute alert shows:

• Clear red warning at top of transaction
• Dispute reason and status
• Direct link to Stripe Dashboard
• Instructions for evidence submission
• Timeline for response

Maximizing Your Earnings

Pricing Strategies

Competitive Pricing:

• Research similar tutors in your area
• Price based on experience and qualifications
• Offer package discounts for bulk bookings
• Adjust pricing seasonally

Package Deals:

• 5 sessions: 5% discount
• 10 sessions: 10% discount
• 20 sessions: 15% discount

Example:

• Regular rate: £40/session
• 10-session package: £36/session (£360 vs £400)
• Student saves £40, you secure £360 upfront

Increasing Booking Volume

Optimization Tips:

• Keep calendar updated
• Respond quickly to booking requests
• Maintain high ratings
• Offer multiple time slots
• Be flexible with scheduling

Peak Times:

• Weekday evenings (4-8 PM)
• Weekend mornings (9 AM-1 PM)
• Exam seasons (May, November)

Referral Earnings

In addition to tutoring income, earn from referrals:

Referral Commissions:

• 10% on tutor bookings (12 months)
• 5% on student bookings (6 months)
• Paid out same as tutoring earnings
• Tracked separately in Referrals dashboard

Learn more about referrals →

Need Help?

Quick Links

• Stripe Account Setup
• Pricing Guide
• Financials Dashboard
• Getting Started for Tutors

Start Earning: Complete your first session and see your earnings in the Financials dashboard!