- Why negotiate a proposal?<\/a><\/li>
- What you can negotiate<\/a><\/li>
- Open the chat from a proposal<\/a><\/li>
- How to ask for changes<\/a><\/li>
- Message templates you can copy<\/a><\/li>
- When the tutor sends a revised proposal<\/a><\/li>
- Use a Free Demo or Meet Now to close the gap<\/a><\/li>
- When to walk away<\/a><\/li>
- After you agree<\/a><\/li>
- FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Why negotiate a proposal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most proposals are written from a snapshot of your Training Requirement — the tutor hasn’t spoken to you yet. A short conversation usually clarifies your level, your real outcome, and your constraints, and the tutor responds with a sharper offer. Negotiating isn’t about haggling on price; it’s about getting to a clear, mutually agreed scope before you hire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What you can negotiate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- Scope and outcomes<\/strong> — what exactly you’ll cover, what you’ll know or be able to do at the end.<\/li>
- Hours and duration<\/strong> — total estimated hours, weeks of training, weekly pace.<\/li>
- Price and price type<\/strong> — hourly rate, fixed price, switching between hourly and fixed where it fits the scope better.<\/li>
- Milestones and deliverables<\/strong> — weekly checkpoints, a capstone project, recorded sessions, written notes.<\/li>
- Schedule<\/strong> — days of the week, time slot, timezone, start date.<\/li>
- Teaching approach<\/strong> — lectures, hands-on labs, projects, doubt-clearing sessions, mock interviews.<\/li>
- Tools and platform<\/strong> — specific software, datasets, sandbox environments.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Things that are not<\/em> typically negotiable: Tutorac platform terms, Payment Protection (escrow), and the tutor’s safety policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Open the chat from a proposal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
From My Training Posts → Proposals<\/strong>, find the tutor whose proposal you want to discuss. On their proposal card, click the Message<\/strong> button (the one with the chat-bubble icon, often showing an unread badge if the tutor has already messaged you).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Tutorac](\"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/article-16-proposals-expanded-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTutorac opens the conversation in the Messages<\/strong> hub, with the original proposal pinned in the right-hand panel. From the chat thread you can: send text messages, share files, click View Proposal<\/strong> to re-read the full offer, Schedule a Free Session<\/strong>, click Meet Now<\/strong> for an instant video call, or click Hire Now<\/strong> once you’re aligned. (See How to message a tutor before hiring on Tutorac<\/a> for a tour of the Messages hub.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to ask for changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A useful negotiation message has four parts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- What you like<\/strong> about the proposal — sets a constructive tone.<\/li>
- The change you want<\/strong> — specific, not vague (“30 hours total”, not “a bit shorter”).<\/li>
- Why<\/strong> — one line of context (budget cap, deadline, real-world project).<\/li>
- A clear ask<\/strong> — for example, “Could you send a revised proposal?”<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Keep messages short. Two or three crisp paragraphs is plenty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Message templates you can copy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lower the price within scope<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
“Hi [name], thanks for the detailed proposal — the syllabus looks great. My ceiling for this is ₹X total. Could we make this work by trimming [topic Y] or moving to a fixed price? Happy to keep the core scope and capstone project the same. Could you send a revised proposal?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tighten scope and reduce hours<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
“Hi [name], great proposal. I’d like to focus this engagement on [specific outcome] only — we can skip [topic Z] for now. I’m guessing that takes us to around 20 hours instead of 40. Could you send a revised proposal at that scope?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Switch to fixed price for a defined outcome<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
“Hi [name], I’d prefer a fixed price for this since the outcome is clear — clearing the AZ-900 certification. Could you send a fixed-price proposal with weekly milestones and a final mock test?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adjust schedule and start date<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
“Hi [name], the rate works for me. I can only do weekday evenings (IST 7–9 pm) and I’d like to start in two weeks. Does that fit your calendar? If yes, please send a revised proposal with that schedule.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ask for stronger milestones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
“Hi [name], I like the syllabus. Could the proposal include weekly milestones — for example, end of week 2: build a working CRUD app; end of week 4: deploy to AWS — so we both have clear checkpoints? Please send a revised proposal with those.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the tutor sends a revised proposal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If the tutor agrees to revise, a new proposal<\/strong> arrives in your chat thread as a system notification (you’ll also see it on the Proposals page for that Training Requirement). Two ways to confirm:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Click View Proposal<\/strong> from the chat to compare the new version to the previous one side by side.<\/li>
- Read carefully — check that all the changes you discussed are reflected (price, hours, scope, schedule, milestones).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If anything is still off, message back with the remaining gap. If everything matches, you’re ready to hire (see How to hire a tutor and start a Training Contract<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use a Free Demo or Meet Now to close the gap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Text negotiation works for most things, but sometimes a 10-minute call clears up more than ten messages. Two options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Schedule a Free Demo<\/strong> — a 30-minute slot the tutor offers at no cost so you can see them teach a sample concept and align on approach. (See How to book a Free Demo Session<\/a>.)<\/li>
- Meet Now<\/strong> — the instant video call button in the chat thread, useful for a quick scope or scheduling chat without booking a slot.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
After the call, message back a short summary of what you both agreed — that becomes the brief for the revised proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When to walk away<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Negotiation works only when both sides are willing to move. If a tutor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Doesn’t respond after a polite nudge,<\/li>
- Holds firm on a price well outside your range without offering a scope change,<\/li>
- Doesn’t address the specific change you asked for, or<\/li>
- Pushes you to communicate or pay outside Tutorac,<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
… politely pass and look at other proposals. You can also Search & Invite<\/strong> additional tutors for the same Training Requirement (see How to send an Invite to a tutor<\/a>). There is no obligation to hire from your current shortlist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After you agree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- Click Hire Now<\/strong> on the revised proposal. Tutorac opens the Send Training Offer<\/strong> page with the agreed terms.<\/li>
- Confirm Title, Price type, Schedule, Description, and Terms.<\/li>
- Click Proceed to Payment<\/strong> — funds move into Tutorac Payment Protection (escrow).<\/li>
- The tutor accepts and a training batch<\/strong> is created so you can start sessions.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Keep the chat thread open during training — it’s also where you’ll discuss any scope or schedule adjustments later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is haggling on price acceptable?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes — respectful price negotiation is normal on Tutorac. The cleanest framing is to tie price to scope: ask for a lower price and<\/em> propose what comes out of scope to match it. That feels fair to the tutor and usually gets a yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How many times can a tutor revise their proposal?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As many times as it takes to agree. Each new proposal lands in the chat thread and on the Proposals page, so you can always compare versions before hiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can I negotiate with multiple tutors at once?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Absolutely. Many learners run two or three negotiations in parallel and hire whoever lands the best fit. It’s also polite, once you hire one, to send a short note to the others letting them know you’ve gone with someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if the tutor only agrees on a call?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
That’s fine for the conversation, but make sure the agreement ends up in writing — either as a revised proposal or summarised in chat — before you hire. Written terms protect both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can I switch from Hourly to Fixed price (or vice versa)?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes. Ask in chat and have the tutor send a revised proposal in the new format. Hourly suits open-ended training; fixed suits a clearly bounded outcome like a certification or a defined project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do negotiations show up to anyone else?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No. The chat thread is private between you and that one tutor. Other tutors who proposed for the same Training Requirement can’t see your messages or the revised proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should I share my budget upfront?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your budget range is already on the Training Requirement, so tutors see it. In chat, stating a firm ceiling (when you have one) speeds things up — tutors can quickly decide whether they can fit and what to trim if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nRelated articles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- How to view and compare proposals from tutors on Tutorac<\/a><\/li>
- How to message a tutor before hiring on Tutorac<\/a><\/li>
- How to hire a tutor and start a Training Contract on Tutorac<\/a><\/li>
- More Training Requirements & Proposals articles<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Last updated: 21 May 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Practical guide to negotiating a tutor’s proposal on Tutorac \u2014 what is and isn’t negotiable, how to open the chat from a proposal, how to ask for changes, 5 copy-paste message templates (lower price, tighten scope, switch to fixed price, adjust schedule, stronger milestones), how revised proposals work, when to use a Free Demo or Meet Now call, and when to walk away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-for-learners","category-learners-training-requirements"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90,"href":"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89\/revisions\/90"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tutorac.com\/help-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- How to message a tutor before hiring on Tutorac<\/a><\/li>
- Click Hire Now<\/strong> on the revised proposal. Tutorac opens the Send Training Offer<\/strong> page with the agreed terms.<\/li>
- Meet Now<\/strong> — the instant video call button in the chat thread, useful for a quick scope or scheduling chat without booking a slot.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Read carefully — check that all the changes you discussed are reflected (price, hours, scope, schedule, milestones).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- The change you want<\/strong> — specific, not vague (“30 hours total”, not “a bit shorter”).<\/li>
- Hours and duration<\/strong> — total estimated hours, weeks of training, weekly pace.<\/li>
- What you can negotiate<\/a><\/li>