Why Last-Minute Cancellations Hurt More Than You Think

Wendy Betron
Jul 30
2 min read

Most of our sessions are booked 1:1, when a student cancels with short notice, it's often too late to offer that time slot to another family.

A message from Steele’s Scholars

We get it — life is busy, schedules change, and sometimes things come up.

But when a tutoring session is canceled at the last minute, it has real ripple effects — not just for our small business, but for other students and families, too.

As a small, high-touch tutoring service, every hour counts, and we pour our time, energy, and resources into preparing individualized learning for each student. So when a session is canceled last-minute, it’s more than a scheduling conflict — it’s a lost opportunity for someone else, and a real cost to our team.

Here’s what most people don’t realize 👇

⏰ The True Cost of a Last-Minute Cancellation

We turn away other students to honor your reserved time.
Most of our sessions are booked 1:1 — when a student cancels with short notice, it’s often too late to offer that time slot to another family on the waitlist.
Time is already invested.
We prep for each student’s lesson ahead of time — reviewing progress, tailoring materials, and setting goals. That prep work still happens, even if no one shows up.
It affects other families, too.
According to the American Tutoring Association, 72% of tutors say missed or late cancellations disrupt their ability to serve other clients. That’s time a student who’s behind in math or college essays could’ve used.
Small businesses feel every dollar.
A study by FreshBooks found that late cancellations cost service providers like tutors and coaches an average of $2,300 per year in lost revenue — often from clients who didn’t understand the impact.

📉 How It Affects Your Tutor (and Your Child’s Momentum)

When cancellations happen repeatedly, they:

Cause scheduling stress for everyone involved
Make it harder for students to build academic momentum
Lead to less consistent progress — and in some cases, students fall behind

We understand that true emergencies happen. But we kindly ask that you provide at least 24 hours’ notice if a cancellation is needed. That way, we can shift our schedule and offer that slot to another student who’s eager to learn.

❤️ We’re a Small but Mighty Team — And We Truly Care

At Steele’s Scholars, we’re more than just a tutoring service — we’re invested partners in your child’s education. Every session is designed with care, strategy, and love.

Thank you for honoring our time and helping us continue to provide the personalized, consistent, and high-quality support that your family — and so many others — count on.