The best way to manage your bookings and avoid cancellations is to keep your calendar up to date. You can mark dates and times as available or blocked, so it's clear to Students who are interested in booking your time. 

Managing your calendar?

All payouts are handled through Stripe. Once the session has been completed, the mentor will have the option to withdraw the funds from Stripe directly after 2 business days. 

How do I get paid?

Yes! Reviews matter. Be sure to give your Students a great experience, because positive reviews will help you rank higher on the search results. 

Do reviews matter?

If the student fails to show up to their session, the student still is charged for their session. Please stay on the session for the entirety in case the student is running late. The session will automatically end at the scheduled end time despite their tardiness.

What happens if the student fails to show up to a session?

If you fail to show up to the session, the student will automatically be refunded their money and Sidetrain will be notified. While we know things happen, we want to ensure a great experience for the students.

What happens if I fail to show up to a session?

What happens if I miss a session?

Once a student has booked a session with you, you will be alerted of some of the topics they would like to discuss on the session with you. 

Messaging with students

It's important to keep your listing up-to-date and to fully fill out your profile.

It's important to focus on your reviews with students. The search engine typically favors good reviews and number of sessions booked through the site. 

Marketing and search optimization

Congratulations, someone has booked you for a session on Sidetrain! 

So what's next? You were sent an email with the time the session is scheduled for. The Student also included some topics they'd like to discuss on the call. Be sure to show up a few minutes early to ensure your microphone and webcam are working properly. 

Preparing to host a session

In order to create an coaching profile, click this link and start the signup process. 

To reach 100% completion and have your profile listed, you will need to...

Add rates for 15-minute, 30-minute, and 60-minute sessions. If you only want to offer 30-minute sessions, leave the 15-minute and 60-minute session rates blank. 

Add Stripe account. In order to get paid for your sessions, you'll need to signup or sign in to your Stripe account. Here you will be able to request payments for your sessions. 

Add Bio. In this section, give a 2-5 sentence bio of who you are and your areas of expertise. 

Add Profile Picture. Add a picture of yourself that will show up when people are searching for you.

Add Categories. Add your areas of expertise. For example, if you are knowledgeable in "Quilting," locate the "Lifestyle & Hobbies" section and click on "Arts & Crafts." 

Add Availability. Here you'll want to specify the time you have available for bookings. Just click and drag the time you have available. For example if you have 12pm-5pm open next week, click on the right arrow on the top right, click on the day at 12pm and drag to 5pm. Then click "SAVE AVAILABILITY" on the top of the screen. 

Creating an coaching profile

Fees on Sidetrain are simple: When you make a sale, we charge a 20% fee. You keep 80%. 

This does not include credit card processing which do not affect your fee. 

There are no monthly payments or other hidden charges. 

Sidetrain's Fees

All of the timezones are geo-located to the timezone you are located in. The timezone will also be displayed on the time selector as well as on the confirmation pages.

What timezone are the sessions based in?

Our coaches can set their own time limits for sessions. They may choose 15-minute meetings, 30-minute meetings, 1-hour long meetings, or a combination of all time lengths. 

How long are the sessions?

Sidetrain uses its own video conference platform on our website. All you need to do is make sure you have a working microphone and webcam and click on the link sent to your email to join the conference with the mentor. Show up early to ensure everything is working properly.

Preparing for a Session

If the mentor fails to show up for the session, you will be automatically refunded. Please allow 2-5 business days for the money to be  refunded. 

What happens if the mentor fails to show up to the session?

What happens if the expert fails to show up to the session?

Yes! We believe that you will love your session, but if the session did not meet your expectations, let us know and we'll give you a full refund. 

Do you have a guarantee in case I was not happy with my session?

Sidetrain is a knowledge marketplace to book 1:1 personalized advice on demand over a video consultation. 

Discover experts in all different areas of knowledge in our marketplace and see if they have times available. 

Once you find a time on their schedule that works for you, pay to book a session.

Right before the session, both you and the mentor will be reminded to join the 1:1 video session. Ask the mentor questions and receive guidance and information on the topics of their knowledge.

How does a Sidetrain session work?

Yes! People from all over the world will have access to one on one personalized learning on demand. We accept all major credit cards in USD.

Do you support international customers?

You are able to ask the mentors anything about their areas of expertise. We do ask that you refrain from asking someone for medical or financial advice or about private matters. If you have medical questions, please see our terms of service and see a doctor near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

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