Guides · 6 min read
How to accept card payments as a coach
To accept card payments as a solo coach or tutor, open a payment account with a card processor such as Stripe, send each client an invoice or payment link, and record the payment against the session it covers. The processor takes a small fee per payment, and the money arrives in your bank account a few days later.
The short answer
You need three things: a card processor, a way to send the client what they owe, and a record that shows which sessions each payment covers.
The processor handles the card itself. Stripe is the most common choice for small businesses, and opening an account is free. The invoice or payment link tells the client how much to pay and for what. The record is what stops you chasing someone who has already paid, or forgetting someone who has not.
Most coaches only get the first two right. The third is where the time goes, because a payment in your bank account does not say which Tuesday lesson it was for.
Choosing how clients pay
Offering card payments alongside bank transfer usually works best. Clients who prefer to pay by card can, and nobody is forced to.
Bank transfer
No fee in most countries and familiar to most clients. The downside is that you have to check your bank and match each transfer by hand.
A payment link
A link from your processor that opens a card checkout. Quick to send, but on its own it does not tell your records which session was paid.
Card payment from an invoice
The client opens the invoice and pays by card from the same page. The payment is tied to the invoice, so the right sessions can be marked paid without you checking.
Cash
Still common for children’s lessons. Record it the same day, or it is easily forgotten.
What card payments cost
Card processors charge a percentage of each payment plus a small fixed amount.
Stripe’s published UK rate is 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards, with higher rates for premium and international cards (<a href="https://stripe.com/gb/pricing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Stripe UK pricing</a>, checked 31 October 2026). On a £45 lesson at the standard UK rate, that is 88p. Stripe publishes separate rates for each country.
Some coaching platforms add their own percentage on top of the processor’s fee. Check this before you sign up. On a £600 month of lessons, a 2% platform fee is another £12.
Most coaches absorb the card fee in their price rather than adding a surcharge. It is simpler for the client and avoids a separate line on every invoice.
Invoices and payment requests
An invoice for coaching only needs a few things: your name, the client’s name, the sessions or package it covers, the amount, the date and how to pay. Many coaches send one invoice per month for weekly clients and one invoice per package for clients who pay in advance.
For lessons with children, send the invoice to the parent who pays, not the student. Keep the parent’s email on the student’s record so it goes to the right person every time.
If you are agreeing what happens when a client cancels late, put those terms in writing before the first session. The guide on writing a cancellation policy covers notice periods and missed sessions.
Keeping payments matched to sessions
The aim is to know, at any moment, who owes what and for which sessions.
Record every session as it happens
A session that is not recorded cannot be charged, and it is the most common reason money goes missing.
Mark payments against sessions, not just totals
When a client queries an invoice, you can show exactly which dates were paid.
Count packages down
For prepaid packages, track how many sessions are left so neither of you is surprised at the end.
Check once a week
Ten minutes on a Friday to see who is behind is easier than a difficult conversation after three months.
How Another Session handles card payments
Another Session keeps each client’s sessions, packages and payments together. You can connect your own Stripe account in Settings. Clients can then pay an invoice or open their private client link and pay by card. The money goes straight to your Stripe account, and the sessions that payment covered are marked paid on their own.
Stripe charges its standard card fee. Another Session adds no fee of its own. Bank transfers, cash and your own payment link still work, and you mark those as received yourself. Received payments can be downloaded as a CSV for your accounts.
Every feature is free for up to three clients. See payments in Another Session or pricing.
How to cite this guide
“To accept card payments as a solo coach or tutor, use a card processor such as Stripe, send each client an invoice or payment link, and record each payment against the sessions it covers. Stripe’s published UK rate for standard UK cards was 1.5% + 20p in October 2026.”
You are welcome to quote this guide with a link back. Card fees change, so check Stripe’s pricing page for current rates.
Frequently asked questions
How do I accept card payments as a coach?
Open an account with a card processor such as Stripe, send clients an invoice or payment link, and record each payment against the sessions it covers. Coaching software can join these steps so a card payment marks the right sessions paid.
How much does it cost to take card payments?
Stripe’s UK rate is 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards, with higher rates for premium and international cards. Some platforms add their own fee on top, so check before you sign up.
Do I need a card machine for coaching sessions?
Not usually. Most coaches and tutors are paid after the session or in advance, so an online invoice or payment link is enough. A card machine is only useful if clients pay in person on the day.
Do I need a merchant account to accept card payments?
No. Payment processors such as Stripe let you take card payments without opening a separate merchant account with a bank. You sign up online, verify your identity and add your bank details for payouts.
How do I accept card payments online as a tutor?
The same way as a coach. Send the parent or student an invoice or payment link from a processor such as Stripe, then record the payment against the lessons it covers.
Should I charge clients the card fee?
Most coaches build the fee into their price instead. It keeps invoices simple and avoids an extra charge that clients notice.
Can parents pay for their child’s lessons by card?
Yes. Send the invoice to the parent who pays. In Another Session, the parent can pay by card from the invoice or the private client link.
Does Another Session take a cut of card payments?
No. Payments go to your own Stripe account. Stripe charges its standard card fee, and Another Session adds nothing.
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