So you’ve found your location. You’ve walked through the space, pictured the desks arranged, imagined students settling in for their sessions. It feels real now. But before you open those doors, there’s a less glamorous stage that demands your full attention – and honestly, it’s one of the most important chapters of your entire setup. The administrative groundwork.

I know, it’s not the exciting part. Nobody starts a tuition business because they’re passionate about insurance policies and compliance documentation. But here’s what I’ve learned: getting this wrong doesn’t just create inconvenience. It creates risk. Risk to your students, risk to your reputation, and risk to everything you’re trying to build. So let’s walk through it properly.

Public Liability Insurance — Don’t Guess, Get It Right

The first thing you need to sort out is Public Liability Insurance. This is non-negotiable. You’re inviting children and young people into a space where you’re responsible for their wellbeing. If something goes wrong — a trip, a fall, an accident you couldn’t have predicted — you need to be covered.

What level of cover do you need? This is where people often make assumptions. You’ll typically see options ranging from £1 million to £5 million, sometimes higher. My advice? Don’t default to the cheapest option just because it saves you a few hundred pounds a year. Think about what you’re actually protecting yourself against. A £1 million policy might feel sufficient when you’re starting small, but consider the environment you’re operating in. You’re working with children. Parents trust you with their most precious responsibility. If an incident occurs and your cover falls short, the financial and reputational damage could end your business overnight.

When I was setting up, I spent time speaking with insurance brokers who understood the education sector. I’d encourage you to do the same. Don’t just go online and pick the first quote. Have a conversation. Explain what your business looks like — how many students, what age groups, what kind of premises. Let them guide you toward the appropriate level of cover. It’s a small investment for enormous peace of mind.

DBS Checks — Protect Your Students, Protect Yourself

This one should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway because I’ve seen people get complacent. Every single tutor working in your centre needs a valid DBS check in place before they step into a session with a student. Not after their first week. Not once you’ve “gotten around to it.” Before they start.

Safeguarding isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It’s a fundamental responsibility. Parents are entrusting you with their children, often for hours at a time. They deserve to know that every adult in that room has been properly vetted. And from a business perspective, operating without proper DBS clearance exposes you to serious legal consequences.

My approach has always been straightforward — DBS clearance is a condition of engagement, not an afterthought. Build it into your onboarding process from day one. Yes, it takes time. Yes, there’s a cost involved. But this is the foundation of trust between you and every family that walks through your door. Cut corners here, and you’re building your entire business on unstable ground. Some tutors already have a DBS in place, which speeds up the process. Some new tutors in my experience are also happy to pay for one by themselves, which helps reduce costs. 

Child Safeguarding Policy — Have It Written, Have It Visible

Alongside DBS checks, you need a proper child safeguarding policy in place. This isn’t just about having a document filed away in a drawer somewhere. It needs to be written clearly, understood by every member of your team, and accessible to parents who want to see it. More importantly, the school would require one for their records and they won’t let you start till you have one. 

What should it cover? Think about the practical realities of your environment. What happens if a child discloses something concerning? Who do staff report to? What’s the escalation process? How do you handle situations where a child is uncollected at the end of a session? These aren’t hypothetical scenarios — they’re situations that will arise at some point in your journey.

Take the time to research proper frameworks, speak to safeguarding professionals if you can, and create something robust. Then review it regularly. Policies shouldn’t gather dust. They should evolve as your business grows and as guidance changes.

Booking Your Venue — Think Long-Term

Now, assuming you’re hiring space from a school, you need to formalise your booking. And this is where a bit of strategic thinking pays off. Most schools and venues offer discounted rates for longer-term commitments. So make use of this opportunity to reduce costs if you have adequate cashflow. 

It makes sense from their perspective — they want reliable, recurring income from their facilities. And it should make sense from yours too, because this isn’t a one-off event. You’re building a business that operates week after week, term after term. So why would you book on a short-term basis and pay premium rates?

When I secured my first venue, I initially booked for shorter periods. It felt safer — less commitment, less financial exposure. But I quickly realised I was paying more per session than I needed to, and I was also creating unnecessary uncertainty. What if the school offered that slot to someone else? What if rates increased the following term?

I learned to think differently. Once I was confident in the location, I committed to longer booking periods. The savings were meaningful, and more importantly, it gave me stability. I knew my space was secured. I could plan ahead with confidence rather than worrying about the slot going to someone else.

Don’t be afraid to have that conversation with the school’s facilities manager. Ask what discounts are available for annual or multi-term bookings. After all, this is going to be an ongoing, recurring arrangement. Treat it as such from the outset, and you’ll benefit financially while also building a stronger relationship with that person.

The Bigger Picture

None of this is glamorous work. There’s no immediate reward for filing an insurance policy or drafting a safeguarding document. But what it does is build something invisible yet essential — credibility. I’ve never been asked about insurance, but if the parent ever did, you can answer confidently. 

Get your paperwork right, and you give yourself the freedom to focus on what actually matters — delivering excellent tuition and growing something you’re proud of.