How do I keep a tutoring centre’s families after I buy it?

Parents choose a tutoring centre because they trust the people in it. When ownership changes, they wonder whether anything will change for their child. Your job in the first weeks is to answer that question before they ask it. Most of what follows is simple, and most of it is about doing small things on time and in person.

Let the seller introduce you

A warm introduction from the owner the families already know carries more weight than any announcement. Agree before closing how the seller will tell families, when and in what words. Ask the seller to stay on for a short handover so parents see the two of you working together, and so tutors hear the same message.

Keep tutors and session times steady

Resist the urge to rearrange the schedule in the first term. A child who has the same tutor at the same time each week notices nothing, and that is what you want. If you must change a tutor, explain why to the family first. Spend your early time with the tutors, who are the people families deal with.

Honour what families already paid for

Find out which families have prepaid for sessions and how many remain. Agree with the seller, in writing and with your lawyer’s help, who delivers those sessions and how the money is handled. Deliver them without argument.

Communicate in the first term

Send a short, friendly note to every family explaining who you are and what is staying the same. Check in after a few weeks and ask what is going well. Take any complaint seriously and answer it promptly. Larger changes to pricing or programs can wait until you understand the business, and your accountant can advise you on timing.