Question

Topic: Strategy

One-on-one High School Tutoring Agency - Urgent.

Posted by Thaddeus.Letterbox on 250 Points
Hello, i have an existing tutoring centre as a business but is branching into a separate business model - as an tutoring service, offering one-on-one tutor, where the tutors visit the high school student's home.

The business will be be similar to being an agent: student's pay us, we pay the tutor for the service at an on-going basis. We are the first point of contact for the student's. This will allow us to market to customers across the country (Australia)- over the internet and phone.

Regarding payment's from students/parent's - I am looking for ways that is easier and more simple transaction between client's and us.

I know there are the traditional method such as cheque payments, money order and Bpay. (This is because we do not want cash/ transaction between the client and the tutor).

With market research, we have found that majority of people do not prefer direct debit's (reoccurring billing) for tutoring services.

What is conflicting is that one of the benefit we are offering clients: is that, there will not be a locked in contract, weekly tuition fee allowed and can exit anytime without penalty.

The problem:
1) client's prefer simple and fast transaction (going to pay via traditional method of money order, cheque payment is time consuming).
2) Bpay may possibly annoying for client's for those that do not prefer BPAY.

The option:
1) Credit card transaction through eftpos
2) Direct deposit into account
3) Cheque or money order
4) Bpay
5) Direct Debit (Reoccurring billing)

The solution question:
What would be the best way to bill client's - on a weekly basis option, and how would 'you' do it, if you were an agency for tutoring service between clients (parents)and the tutors?

potential problem question: would there be a risk in the trust factor for transaction done over the internet or by phone, since it is a service available across Australia? - so there will NOT be any offices available.
(info: Parents [Target market] are aged between 35-60)

Optional problem question:
Tutor's are only interviewed over the telephone only, and there will be a contract between the tutor and our company that they cannot teach the student once the teaching agreement had ceased- for at least 6 months. We are not too sure if it is possible to have a legally binding contract between the tutor and our company over the internet - since a 'signitured' contract would be time consuming between the tutor and the company.
Would an online term's and condition be valid enough?


Thank you for your time reading this question, and i look forward to hear your professional opinions.

Regards,

To continue reading this question and the solution, sign up ... it's free!

RESPONSES

  • Posted by CarolBlaha on Member
    Square up is another option to paypal.

    I'd just get the customer's billing info and charge when services are provided. No services, no payment. They are not locked in.

    This is technically not called reoccuring payment. All you are doing is having the info on file, and charging as they obtain service.

    Reoccuring is like a gym membership, you pay whether you go or not. This is not the case, structure it so that no charges unless service is received. You can give your tutor a signature form verifying service was received.

    You should have no resistance. They simply make payment to credit card on file. Change the wording from reoccuring and you change the perception.

Post a Comment