Tutoring agreement template
A tutoring agreement turns a friendly arrangement into one everybody understands: when sessions happen, what a package costs, what a late cancellation means, and what the tutor will and won't do with homework. It works for one-to-one tutors and small tutoring businesses, in person or online. Read it below, then open it in SignMaster and send it to each family.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
The contract
Gray blanks are yours to fill in before you send. Each signer fills in the blanks in their color.
- You, before sending
- Parent or adult student
- Tutor
Tutoring Agreement
This Tutoring Agreement (the "Agreement") is made on Agreement date between Tutor or tutoring business (the "Tutor") and Client name (the "Client"), for tutoring of Student name (the "Student"), currently in grade or level Grade or level. If the Student is an adult signing for themselves, the Client and the Student are the same person.
1. Subjects and goals
The Tutor will help the Student with Subjects. The Client's main goals for the tutoring are: Learning goals. The Tutor will review these goals with the Client after the first few sessions and suggest changes if needed.
2. Sessions
Sessions last Session length in minutes minutes and take place Regular schedule at Location or online platform. Either party may suggest a schedule change, which takes effect once both agree in writing, including by email or text.
For online sessions, the Student will join from a quiet spot with a working camera, microphone and internet connection. Sessions are not recorded unless the Client agrees in writing first.
3. Fees and payment
- Single session: Rate per session.
- Package: Sessions in a package sessions for Package price, paid in advance and used within Months to use a package months.
- Payment is due When payment is due by Payment methods.
4. Cancellations and missed sessions
The Client will give at least Cancellation notice in hours hours' notice to cancel or move a session. A session canceled later, or missed, is charged in full or taken from the package. If the Student is more than Minutes late before no-show minutes late without word, the session counts as missed; a late start still ends on time. If the Tutor cancels, the session is rescheduled or credited, never charged.
5. What each party does
- The Tutor plans each session, brings or shares the materials it needs, and sends the Client a short progress update How often updates are sent.
- The Student arrives ready to work, with homework, notes, tests and assignments from school, and does the practice the Tutor sets between sessions.
- The Client makes sure the Student attends, and tells the Tutor about changes at school, such as a new teacher, a test date or a learning plan.
6. Academic honesty
The Tutor explains, demonstrates and practices with the Student. The Tutor will not write, complete or take graded homework, tests, essays or applications for the Student, and may decline a request that would break the Student's school rules.
7. Students under 18
For a Student under 18, a parent or another responsible adult will be at home during in-home sessions, and online sessions will take place in a shared or open room. The Tutor will arrange sessions through the Client, not privately with the Student.
8. Privacy
The Tutor will keep the Student's grades, test scores, learning needs and personal details confidential and share them only with the Client, or with the Student's school if the Client agrees. Learning needs or accommodations the Tutor should know about: Learning needs.
9. No guaranteed results
Progress depends on the Student's effort, attendance and school, so the Tutor can't promise a particular grade, test score or admission result, and fees are not refunded because a result wasn't reached.
10. Starting and ending
Tutoring starts on Start date and continues until either party ends it with Ending notice days days' written notice. Prepaid sessions not yet given are refunded; sessions already given from a package are recalculated at the single-session rate before the refund.
11. General terms
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the state of State. It is the whole agreement between the parties about tutoring and can be changed only in writing. Electronic signatures on it count as originals.
Contact details
Client phone: Client phone Email: Client email
Tutor phone: Tutor phone Email: Tutor email
I have read this Agreement, and I am the Student's parent or legal guardian, or I am the Student and at least 18 years old.
Parent, guardian or adult student
Tutor
Opens it in SignMaster as a template you can edit and send.
A starting point, not legal advice. Have a lawyer review it for your state and situation.
On this page
Why tutors put it in writing
Tutoring usually starts with a phone call and a handshake, and goes fine until the third Sunday-night cancellation or the parent who expects a guaranteed A. A short signed agreement means you set the rules once, calmly, before money changes hands. It also tells parents where your help stops, which matters when a stressed student asks you to just finish the essay.
Send it before the first paid session. For a student under 18, the parent or guardian signs; an adult student signs for themselves.
What the template covers
- Who and what: the student's name and grade, the subjects, and the goals the family names in their own words.
- Sessions: length, regular schedule, and the place or video platform, with a no-recording rule for online lessons.
- Fees: your single-session rate, an optional prepaid package with an expiry, and when and how payment is due.
- Cancellations: the notice you need, what happens to a late cancellation or a no-show, and what you owe when you cancel.
- Responsibilities: your progress updates, the student's practice, and the parent's job of keeping you in the loop on tests and school changes.
- Academic honesty: you teach and practice, but you won't complete graded work.
- Students under 18: an adult at home during in-home sessions, open rooms online, and scheduling through the parent.
- Privacy, no guaranteed results, and ending: with a fair refund rule for unused package sessions.
Mistakes that cost tutors
- Selling packages with no expiry date. Ten prepaid sessions spread over two school years makes scheduling and refunds messy. Name the number of months.
- Promising a score. Even a hint of "we'll get you to a 1400" becomes the yardstick for a refund request.
- Letting the student book directly. With minors, keep scheduling and messages with the parent; it protects you as much as the family.
- Skipping the late rule. If a student shows up 20 minutes late, say in advance that the session still ends on time.
Working through a school or tutoring center?
If a school, district or agency pays you, its own contract and safeguarding rules may come first, and some require background checks. Use this template for families who hire you directly.
How to send it with SignMaster
- 1
Open the template
Choose Use this template. It lands in your account with two signers: the parent or adult student first, then you.
- 2
Set your terms
Fill in the gray blanks with your subjects, rates, package size, cancellation window and state. Leave the start date and schedule for each family if they vary.
- 3
Add the family
Enter the parent's name and email. They fill in the blue blanks, the student's name, grade, goals and any learning needs, then tick that they're the parent or an adult student.
- 4
Remind, don't chase
Set a sign-by date before the first session and turn on automatic reminders, so you aren't texting "did you get my email?" at 9pm.
- 5
Countersign
You sign last, and both of you get the signed PDF with its certificate of completion by email.
Signing up every family before term starts
If you tutor a dozen students, put them in a spreadsheet with one row each: parent name, email, student name, schedule and rate. Bulk send makes one agreement per row, with each family's details printed in, as long as the column headers match the blank labels, such as Regular schedule or Rate per session. Save the sheet as CSV UTF-8 if it comes from Excel.
Questions? Answers.
Do private tutors need a contract?
There's no rule that says you must have one, but a short agreement prevents the usual disputes: missed sessions, unused packages and expectations about grades. It also gives you a record of who agreed to your terms and when.
Who signs for a student under 18?
A parent or legal guardian. They're the one paying and the one who can agree to the terms. See how to get a parent's signature for a minor.
Can I use it for online tutoring?
Yes. Put the video platform in the location blank. Section 2 covers the student's setup and says sessions aren't recorded without the parent's written agreement.
What if a family wants a refund on a package?
Section 10 refunds sessions not yet given, after recalculating the ones already used at the single-session price. That keeps the package discount fair for both sides.