TUTORS · PAYMENT LINKS
How to Send Payment Links as a Tutor
A practical UK guide showing tutors how to send payment links professionally, including timings, message templates, reminders, and a simple system you can run week after week.
Asking for payment is one of the most emotionally awkward parts of tutoring. You can deliver a great lesson, see real progress, then later realise payment has not arrived. Chasing parents or students after teaching can feel uncomfortable, especially when you are trying to keep trust high and relationships calm.
Payment links solve that problem by turning payment into a normal part of the booking process, not a personal conversation. You send a clear link with a clear due time. The parent or student pays in a few taps. If they forget, reminders follow the system rather than relying on you to chase.
This guide explains how UK tutors can send payment links in a professional way that families respect. You will learn the best timings, what to say, what to avoid, and how to build a simple payment system for weekly lessons, online sessions, and exam preparation blocks.
Part of the Tutors Payment Links Guide Series
For the full picture of how links fit into pricing, deposits, reminders and policies, start with: Payment Links for Tutors: Complete UK Guide .
What Sending a Payment Link Means for a Tutor
A payment link is a secure checkout page where a parent or student can pay for tutoring in a few taps. The amount and purpose are clear, the payment is recorded, and you do not need to share bank details or reconcile unclear transfer references.
The real benefit is not technology. It is the shift in behaviour. When payment becomes part of the process, cancellations reduce, late payments reduce, and tutoring starts to feel like a structured service rather than informal favours.
Benefits for tutors
- Less time chasing and fewer uncomfortable follow ups.
- Clear record of what was requested, what was paid, and when.
- More predictable income for weekly and monthly planning.
- Easier deposits, block payments, and exam prep packages.
Benefits for parents and students
- Quick payment from phone or laptop without bank details.
- Clear confirmation that the lesson or slot is secured.
- Less confusion about what is due and what has been paid.
- Polite reminders that reduce the chance of forgetting.
If you are still deciding between transfers, apps, cash and links, read How Tutors Get Paid in the UK for a full breakdown.
Real Examples of Tutors Sending Payment Links
These scenarios reflect how tutors actually operate in the UK. The best timing depends on what is being booked and how easy it is to replace the slot.
New student booking exam preparation
A parent enquires about GCSE or A level support and wants to secure a weekly slot. This is the best moment to use a payment link, because the decision has just been made.
Many tutors request a deposit to confirm the slot, then move to weekly or block payments once the routine is established. For a full deposit system, see how to request a deposit as a tutor .
Weekly lessons with a busy family
You have a consistent student, but payment arrives late because the parent forgets. Sending a link straight after the lesson can work, but an even calmer system is one weekly link with a clear due date.
When reminders are tied to the link, you avoid awkward chasing. Read automatic payment reminders for tutors for a simple reminder schedule.
Online tutoring sessions
Online lessons are the easiest place to move to payment in advance. It removes the risk of teaching first and chasing later.
If you also want to reduce missed sessions, pair payment in advance with a simple policy. See how tutors reduce cancellations .
Block bookings and exam packages
A family books ten sessions for a revision push. A deposit and balance approach keeps it fair while protecting your timetable.
See deposit and balance payments for tutors for a clean structure.
A Simple System for Sending Payment Links
The best systems remove decisions. You should not be thinking each week, when do I ask, what do I say, will this feel awkward. Build a default process, then adjust only when needed.
Choose your default payment rule
Pick one default rule for most clients. Common tutor setups include payment in advance for online lessons, deposits for new students, and weekly payments for regular in person sessions.
Decide your timing for each lesson type
Use clear timing so parents understand the routine. Examples that work well in the UK:
- New student: deposit within 24 hours to secure the slot.
- Weekly lessons: pay on the day, or a weekly link due every Friday.
- Online lessons: pay before the session starts.
- Blocks: deposit now, balance before session two or three.
Write templates so your tone stays consistent
Create three templates you can reuse: a booking link message, a deposit message, and a late payment reminder. This keeps your wording calm and professional.
Send the link at the decision point
The best time to send a payment link is when the parent agrees. When someone has just decided, they are more likely to pay immediately. Sending later increases the chance they forget.
Use reminders instead of chasing
The goal is to stop writing emotional follow up messages. A calm reminder schedule does the work for you and keeps relationships positive.
If late payments are currently a pain point, pair this page with automatic payment reminders so you do not carry the admin load.
Message Templates for Sending Payment Links
Good payment messages are short, factual and easy to action. Mention the lesson, the amount, the due time, and include the link again so there is no friction.
Template 1: New booking payment link
Template 2: Deposit to secure a slot
Template 3: Weekly lessons payment link
Template 4: Polite reminder if payment has not arrived
Template 5: Setting a clear boundary for repeat late payment
The Big Wins of Using Payment Links
You get paid with less emotional energy
Payment becomes a process, not a conversation. That protects your professional boundaries and your time.
Parents know exactly what to do
Clear messages reduce confusion. Less confusion means fewer delays and fewer back and forth messages.
Your timetable becomes more reliable
Payment in advance and deposits increase commitment. That reduces missed lessons and last minute changes.
You can scale without admin overload
When reminders and templates handle the routine work, you can take more students without your evenings disappearing.
If cancellations are also a problem, combine links with a simple policy. See How Tutors Can Reduce Cancellations .
Frequently Asked Questions
Should tutors send payment links before or after lessons?
Many tutors send links in advance for new students, online sessions and lesson blocks. For regular weekly lessons, some tutors send links after each session while others use a weekly link due on a set day.
What if a parent ignores the payment link?
Give them time, then follow your reminder schedule. A calm reminder on the due date and a second reminder a couple of days later covers most cases without conflict.
Are payment links secure for tutoring payments?
Yes. Payment links use encrypted checkout pages, so you do not handle card details directly. Parents and students pay through a secure payment page.
Should tutors use payment links for deposits?
Yes. Deposits are one of the best uses of payment links because the deposit confirms commitment and helps reduce cancellations. See how to request a deposit for a full deposit setup.
Do payment links reduce late payments for tutors?
They help because the payment process is simpler, and reminders can include the same link again. Pair links with automatic payment reminders for best results.
Related Guides
Continue learning with these related guides:
Payment Links for Tutors — Complete UK Guide
The complete UK guide to payment links for tutors. Learn how to take deposits, reduce cancellations, and get paid on time by parents and students.
Read guideHow Tutors Get Paid — UK Methods Explained
A breakdown of the common ways UK tutors accept payment for private and online lessons.
Read guideAutomatic Payment Reminders for Tutors
Learn how to automate payment chasing for tutoring sessions and lesson blocks.
Read guideSend Payment Links With Confidence
Payment links help tutors get paid on time without awkward conversations. Simply Link lets you send links and reminders in seconds so you can focus on teaching, not chasing payments.
Start Free TodayNo card required · Cancel anytime