Preply setup checklist: mistakes new users should avoid

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 9 Nov 2026 · 9m ago

What Preply is

Preply connects tutors with learners for one-to-one online lessons, most often in languages such as English, Spanish and French, but also in subjects like maths, coding and music. Tutors create profiles, set prices and availability and teach through Preply's built-in video classroom. Learners search, compare tutors, book trial lessons and buy packages of lessons if satisfied. Preply handles payments and takes a commission on lessons.

Checklist item 1: confirm eligibility

Check that you meet age and identity requirements and have a reliable computer, webcam, headset and internet connection. Prepare identification documents and any certificates you plan to list.

Checklist item 2: choose your subject and niche

Select your main subject and the levels and learner types you teach best, such as business English, exam preparation, conversation practice for beginners or English for children. A clear niche helps learners understand why they should choose you among many tutors.

Checklist item 3: upload a professional photo

Use a clear, well-lit headshot with a friendly expression, plain background and your face centred. Avoid sunglasses, group photos or heavy filters. Mistake to avoid: casual or blurry photos that make a profile look unprofessional.

Checklist item 4: record a strong introduction video

Your video is often the deciding factor for learners. Keep it short, around one to two minutes, filmed horizontally with good lighting and clear audio. Introduce yourself, explain who you help, describe your teaching style and invite viewers to book a trial. Speak naturally and smile. Mistake to avoid: reading a script robotically, filming vertically or recording in a noisy room.

Checklist item 5: write a specific profile

Your headline should state who you help and what result you offer, such as helping professionals speak confident English in meetings. In the description, describe your experience, qualifications, teaching approach and what learners can expect in lessons. Mistake to avoid: generic statements like I love teaching without details.

Checklist item 6: set a realistic rate

New tutors without reviews often start at a competitive rate to attract first students, then raise prices as reviews and demand grow. Research rates of tutors in your subject with similar experience. Mistake to avoid: pricing far above established tutors before you have reviews, or far below so you cannot cover fees and time.

Checklist item 7: open enough availability

Learners book based on your calendar, so open a good range of slots, including evenings and weekends when many learners are free. Consider time zones of target students. The time zone calculator on this site helps plan slots for learners in other regions. Mistake to avoid: very limited availability that makes booking hard.

Checklist item 8: plan your trial lesson

Trial lessons are where learners decide whether to continue. Prepare a structure: introductions, a short level check, discussion of goals, a mini lesson and a clear plan for future lessons. Mistake to avoid: unstructured trial lessons with no clear next step.

Checklist item 9: learn the classroom tools

Practise using the video classroom, whiteboard, file sharing and chat before your first lesson. Technical confidence makes lessons smoother.

Checklist item 10: respond quickly

Learners often message several tutors. Replying promptly and personally increases bookings and may improve search ranking. Turn on notifications.

Understanding commission and fees

Preply typically keeps the payment for each first trial lesson with a new learner and takes a commission on later lessons, which may decrease as you complete more hours. Payout methods may also charge fees.

Worked example: commission

Nia charges 20 dollars per hour. Her first trial with a new learner earns her nothing because the platform keeps it. If the learner buys 10 more lessons and the commission on those is 33 percent, Nia receives about 13.40 dollars per lesson, or 134 dollars for the package. Her effective rate across all 11 lessons is about 12.18 dollars per hour, before payout fees. The percentage calculator on this site helps check these figures.

Building reviews

Ask satisfied learners to leave reviews after a few lessons. Positive reviews build trust and help your profile appear higher in search results.

Taxes

Tutoring income is usually self-employment income. Keep records and check local tax rules.

Avoiding scams

Keep communication and payments on the platform and be wary of off-platform payment requests. The FTC explains how fraudulent work offers operate.

Retaining students after the trial

Retention matters as much as attracting new learners, because ongoing lessons are where tutors earn most after the trial. After each trial, send a short summary of the learner's level, goals and your suggested plan, such as two lessons per week for three months focused on speaking confidence. Regular learners appreciate structure, clear progress and lessons that feel personalised. Keep notes on each learner's interests, mistakes and goals so lessons build on each other.

Preparing materials

Build a library of reusable materials, such as conversation topics, vocabulary lists, grammar explanations, exercises and homework sheets, organised by level. Reusing and adapting materials saves preparation time and raises your effective hourly rate. Avoid using copyrighted textbooks or materials without permission.

Handling cancellations and no-shows

Understand the platform's cancellation and rescheduling rules and explain them politely to learners. Consistent policies protect your time while keeping relationships positive. Be punctual yourself, since late or missed lessons can lead to poor reviews.

Improving your ranking

Factors that may help your profile appear higher include response speed, trial-to-regular conversion, reviews, lesson hours and profile completeness. Focus on great trial lessons, quick replies and consistent teaching rather than trying to game the system.

Raising your rate over time

Once you have steady students and good reviews, raise prices gradually for new learners. Many tutors keep existing learners at their original rate for a while to maintain loyalty. Track demand: if your calendar fills quickly, it may be time to increase prices.

Setup mistakes summary

The main mistakes to avoid are a weak photo or video, generic profile text, unrealistic pricing, limited availability, slow replies, unstructured trials and ignoring commission when calculating income. Fixing these early can make a big difference in how quickly you attract learners.

Balancing workload

Tutoring can be tiring, especially with many back-to-back lessons. Schedule breaks, limit daily hours and plan preparation time so quality stays high. The salary calculator on this site helps compare tutoring income with other work.

Setting up your workspace

Choose a quiet room with a neutral background and good lighting in front of you rather than behind. Use a headset to reduce echo, test your internet speed and keep a backup option, such as a phone hotspot, in case your connection drops. A tidy, professional setup makes your video and lessons look polished and reassures learners that sessions will run smoothly.

Writing your profile in the learner's language

If you teach languages, consider adding a short section of your description in the native languages of your target learners, if you speak them well. This can help beginners understand your offer and feel comfortable booking. Keep the text accurate and simple.

Using packages and subscriptions

Learners on Preply often buy lessons in packages or subscriptions. Explain in your profile and trial what a typical weekly plan looks like and how progress will be measured over a month. Clear expectations encourage learners to commit to regular lessons rather than single sessions.

Keeping records

Track lessons taught, earnings, commission, payout fees and preparation time in a simple spreadsheet. This shows your real hourly rate and helps with tax records and pricing decisions.

Checking your progress after the first month

After a month, review how many profile views, messages, trials and regular learners you received. If views are low, improve your headline and photo; if trials do not convert, refine your trial structure.

Communicating professionally

Use friendly, clear and professional language in messages. Greet learners by name, answer their questions directly and suggest a next step, such as booking a trial at a specific time. Avoid long generic messages copied for everyone, since learners notice personalised replies. After lessons, short follow-up notes with homework or key vocabulary show care and help learners remember what they studied.

Staying motivated in the early weeks

Many new tutors wait several weeks for first bookings. Use that time to refine your profile, prepare materials and practise lessons with friends.

Reader questions

Questions about online tutoring? Send them through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only. Platform terms and commissions change; check official sources. No income is guaranteed.

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