Compiled by TutorContracts from the sources listed below, checked on 5 November 2026. We sell the templates linked on this page.
How to find tutoring clients in the UK: local pupils, online platforms and word of mouth
Most UK private tutors build a client list from a mix of routes: word of mouth and referrals, local schools and groups, a Google Business Profile and a simple page of their own, and tutoring platforms or agencies. Platforms differ on fees. Tutorful says it takes no commission from tutors and adds a student-paid service fee on top of your rate, while other platforms and agencies may take a share, so read the terms first. Start with the people who already know you, then ask each family for a review.
Where do UK tutors find pupils?
There is no single best route, and most tutors use two or three at once. TutorCruncher, which makes software for tutoring businesses, lists the usual channels: an online presence you control, social media and teaching platforms, contacting local schools and universities, and word of mouth backed by reviews. These are the main routes and what to watch for with each:
| Route | How it works | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Word of mouth and referrals | Family, friends, previous pupils and professional contacts recommend you. TutorCruncher says this old-fashioned route still holds a firm position | Slow to start, so combine it with a listing while you build up reviews |
| Local schools and groups | TutorCruncher suggests contacting local schools and universities to ask if they need tutors or will share your details | Schools have their own rules on outside tutors, so ask first and bring your DBS status |
| Google Business Profile | Lets local people find you in search and on maps, with a service area instead of a street address | Read Google's eligibility rules before applying, see below |
| Your own page or website | A page that sets out your subjects, levels, areas, rates and how to get in touch, plus reviews | It needs to be kept current, and a bare page with no reviews converts poorly |
| Platforms and agencies | A site matches pupils to tutors and handles some of the booking | Check who pays the fee and what the terms say about working with a family directly later |
Word of mouth, schools and local groups
Word of mouth is the cheapest route in cash terms and often the best for local, repeat work. Tell people exactly what you teach and which levels, rather than saying you tutor, so they can pass you on. After a good first term, ask the family if they would write a short review or mention you to another parent.
Local schools, community groups and home education groups can be a source of enquiries, but they will want to know you are safe to work with children. Have your safeguarding policy and DBS position ready, and see our guide to DBS checks for tutors. Our guide to working with parents covers what to agree before the first lesson.
Google Business Profile and your own page
Google's help says a service-area business is one that visits or delivers to customers directly but does not serve customers at its own address. For tutors who travel to pupils' homes, that is the closest fit. Google says you can set up to 20 service areas by city, postcode or other area, and that a service-area business should hide its address, for example a plumber working from a residential address.
Google's guidelines are about businesses that deal with customers in person. If you teach only online, check Google's current rules before you apply rather than assuming you are eligible. Either way, a simple page of your own gives you somewhere to send enquiries. A good tutor page covers:
- Subjects, levels and exam boards: be specific, such as GCSE maths for AQA or Key Stage 2 reading
- Where you teach: areas you cover, and whether you teach online
- Your checks: your DBS status and the date, with a link to the Update Service if you use it
- Rate and terms: your hourly rate and a clear cancellation policy, see what tutors charge
- Reviews: short quotes with the family's permission
- One way to get in touch: a form or an email address you check daily
Tutoring platforms and agencies: who pays the fee
Platforms are the quickest way to get a first pupil, but the fee structure changes what you take home. Always read the terms before you sign up. These are the arrangements we could confirm from published sources:
| Route | Who pays what | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tutorful | Free for tutors. You set your hourly rate and Tutorful takes no commission. The student pays a service fee on top of your rate, so the total price on your profile is higher than your rate | Tutorful help centre |
| Other platforms and agencies | Terms vary. Some may take a share of your rate rather than adding a fee for the student, so check the percentage, when you are paid and the terms about continuing with a family directly | Check each provider's own terms |
| Your own page or word of mouth | No platform fee, but you do your own marketing and bookings | TutorCruncher |
Do not rely on one listing
Tutorperch reports that First Tutors, a UK directory that operated for over nineteen years, announced its closure on 8 May 2026. Whatever the reason a listing goes away, it is a reminder to keep your own contact details, reviews and client list so a platform change does not empty your timetable. Read the terms about direct contact too: our agency terms and non-solicitation checklist explains what to look for.
Demand is not the same everywhere. Tutorperch cites the Sutton Trust's Private Tutoring 2026 polling by Ipsos as finding that 45% of London pupils have had a private tutor, against 27% in the rest of England and 24% in Wales. If you are outside London, expect to rely more on local reputation and referrals.
What parents say matters
Tutorperch analysed 76,732 parent and pupil reviews from the First Tutors dataset. It reports that 21.3% mention confidence or self-belief, 8.9% mention enjoying the subject or lessons and 6.3% feel supported, while only 0.6% mention improved grades or hitting a target. That suggests a profile that says how pupils feel after lessons, as well as what you teach, may resonate with parents. These are reported figures from one dataset, not a promise of any result.
When an enquiry arrives, reply quickly, offer a short introductory chat, and agree your rate, notice period and payment terms in writing before lesson one. See our private tutor contract guide.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I find private tutoring clients in the UK?
Most tutors combine word of mouth and referrals, local schools and groups, a Google Business Profile or page of their own, and a platform or agency. TutorCruncher lists these channels and recommends building a strong profile with reviews.
Do tutoring platforms take commission?
It depends on the platform. Tutorful says it takes no commission from tutors and adds a service fee paid by the student on top of the tutor's rate. Other platforms and agencies may take a share of your rate, so read their terms.
Can I use a Google Business Profile as a tutor?
If you travel to pupils' homes, a service-area profile is the closest fit, and Google says to hide your address if you work from home. Google's rules cover businesses that serve customers in person, so online-only tutors should check eligibility first.
Do I need a DBS check to get pupils?
Not by law in every case, but families, schools and agencies often ask. Since 21 January 2026, GOV.UK says a paid self-employed tutor in an eligible role can apply for an Enhanced DBS check through an umbrella body.
Do I have to tell HMRC about my tutoring income?
GOV.UK says that if your gross trading income from all your trades combined is £1,000 or less in a tax year you usually do not need to tell HMRC. Above that, register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the tax year ends.
Sources
- Find students to tutor, TutorCruncher
- How to get tutoring clients, TutorCruncher
- For tutors: how much does it cost to use Tutorful?, Tutorful
- Manage your service areas for service-area and hybrid businesses, Google Business Profile Help
- Guidelines for representing your business on Google, Google Business Profile Help
- The UK Private Tutoring Rate Report 2026, Tutorperch
- DBS checks for self-employed people and personal employees, GOV.UK
- Tax-free allowances on property and trading income, GOV.UK
Your teaching is good. Your terms should be too.
Payment, notice and safeguarding agreed with parents before lesson one.
A tutor with a business behind the teaching.
These articles are general guidance for UK private tutors, not legal advice. Our documents are editable templates: adapt them to your own tuition, check your insurer's requirements and take advice where the stakes are high.