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You sell your expertise. Whether you're helping a client deadlift 100kg or helping a student pass GCSE Maths, the business model is the same: you trade your time and knowledge for their results.

But what happens when the result doesn't happen? What happens when the client gets injured ("You told me to lift it!") or simply doesn't turn up?

Service professionals like Personal Trainers (PTs) and Private Tutors often rely on casual relationships. A handshake, a chat, a gentle agreement. But when a client demands a refund for a bulk package they didn't use, or threatens to sue because they didn't get the "Guaranteed A*," that casual friendship dissolves into a cold legal dispute.

Here are the legal pillars you need to secure your business.

1. The Myth of the "Liability Waiver"

The Scenario: You’re a PT. A new client signs your waiver form: "I accept all risks and agree the Trainer is not liable for any injury." 15 minutes later, you shout "Push through the pain!" They push. They tear a rotator cuff. They sue you. You hold up the waiver. The court laughs.

The Legal Reality: Under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (and the Consumer Rights Act 2015), you cannot exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by your negligence. If you gave bad advice, or pushed a client beyond their physical limit/form, you are negligent. No waiver can sign away that right.

The Fix:

1. Stop relying on waivers. Proceed with a PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire). This is your defence. It proves the client told you they were fit to train. If they lied about a heart condition, then you are protected.

2. Insurance: High-quality Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance is non-negotiable.

2. The "Guaranteed Result" Trap

The Scenario: A tutor advertises: "Guaranteed Grade improvement or your money back." Or a PT sells a "6-Week Abs Guarantee." The client works hard but doesn't get the abs or the grade. They demand a full refund for "Breach of Contract" and "Misrepresentation."

The Legal Reality: If you guarantee a result, you are legally bound to deliver it. If you fail, the client is entitled to their money back, and potentially damages for "loss of opportunity."

The Fix:

Never guarantee the outcome, only the service*.

Use a Results Disclaimer: "Results vary by individual. Progress depends on Client adherence to the programme/homework outside of sessions."*

Make it clear that you provide the tools, not the magic wand*.

3. The 24-Hour Cancellation Rule

The Scenario: You have a session booked at 6pm. At 5:30pm, the client texts: "Stuck at work, can't make it." You’ve lost that income slot; it’s too late to fill it. You ask for payment. They refuse: "But I didn't receive the lesson!"

The Legal Reality: You can charge for a missed session, provided it is a fair term in a contract agreed beforehand.

The Fix: Your Terms & Conditions must have a crystal-clear Cancellation Policy.

"Cancellations made with more than 24 hours' notice: No Charge."*

"Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice: 100% Fee Payable."*

The "Fairness" Test: Crucially, if you* cancel on them last minute, do you offer a free session? To be legally "fair" under Consumer Law, the penalty should arguably cut both ways.

4. The "Package" Refund

The Scenario: A client buys a block of 10 sessions for £400 in January. They do 2 sessions. They disappear. In November, they email: "I'd like a refund for the other 8 sessions, please." You spent that money months ago.

The Legal Reality: Without an expiry date, those sessions arguably remain valid indefinitely (within the 6-year statute of limitations).

The Fix: An Expiry Clause. "All session packs must be used within [X] months of purchase. Unused sessions expire and are non-refundable." This gives you financial certainty.

Why Contract Review is Your Safety Net

You want to focus on your clients, not on confrontation.

AI contract review ensures your terms are balanced and enforceable. It checks legal compliance on your cancellation policy and ensures your "Waiver" isn't claiming to do things the law forbids. It lets you say to a late client: "I'm sorry, but as per the agreement we both signed, I have to charge for this slot." It takes the emotion out of the business.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general guidance only and is not intended as professional legal, financial, tax, or medical advice.