Frequently Asked Questions

LearnOut is a peer-to-peer marketplace that connects local teachers with curious learners through hands-on, in-person classes. Think of it as Airbnb for learning experiences!

Whether you want to learn pottery, cooking, photography, woodworking, or any other skill — LearnOut helps you find passionate teachers right in your neighborhood who can teach you in person.

Our mission: Get people off their screens and into real-world learning experiences with real people in their community.

For Students:

For Teachers:

Yes! Creating an account on LearnOut is completely free for both students and teachers.

There are no monthly fees, no listing fees, and no hidden costs.

LearnOut is currently available in the United States, launching in the Bartlett, Illinois area first and expanding based on teacher and student demand.

Even if there aren't many classes in your area yet, sign up anyway! The more people who join, the faster we can grow in your neighborhood.

Want LearnOut in your city? Reach out at support@learnout.io and we'll prioritize your area.

Finding your perfect class is easy:

Tip: Classes with limited spots fill up fast. Book early!

Each teacher sets their own cancellation policy, which is shown clearly on the class listing before you book. Our standard default is:

If a teacher cancels: You always receive a full refund automatically, no questions asked.

How refunds work: Refunds go back to your original payment method within 5–10 business days through Stripe's secure system.

Every class listing includes a "What to Bring" section that tells you exactly what you need. In general:

If you have questions about what to bring, contact us at support@learnout.io.

Nope! Most classes on LearnOut are designed for beginners. Each listing clearly shows the skill level:

If you're unsure whether a class is right for you, reach out to us and we'll help.

Important disclaimer: LearnOut is a marketplace platform that facilitates connections between teachers and students. We are not an insurer.

What we do: We require teachers of high-risk activities to document safety measures and have students acknowledge risks before booking. We vet teacher identities and review profiles.

Our recommendation: Read the class safety information carefully before booking. If a class involves physical activity or tools, ensure you're comfortable with the described risks.

After attending a class, you'll receive an email inviting you to leave a review. You can also:

Your honest feedback helps other students find great classes and helps teachers improve. Reviews are public and cannot be edited by teachers.

Getting started is simple:

The whole process takes about 15–20 minutes. Classes with high-quality photos and detailed descriptions get significantly more bookings.

You can teach almost any hands-on, in-person skill. Popular categories include:

What's not allowed: Online-only classes, illegal activities, classes involving minors without proper safeguards, or anything requiring state licensing you don't hold (e.g., cosmetology, medical procedures).

LearnOut uses Stripe Connect so you get paid directly — we never hold your money.

You'll need to complete Stripe's identity verification once before your first payout. This is a legal requirement for marketplace payments.

You have several options:

Important: Make sure you have appropriate permissions for your venue. If teaching from home, check your local zoning ordinances and HOA rules. See our Insurance FAQ for coverage guidance.

You're in full control. Set whatever price makes sense. Things to consider:

Typical ranges:

Minimum price: $15 per student (set by LearnOut to ensure payment processing is worthwhile).

Tip: Start with a competitive price to get your first reviews, then raise rates as your reputation grows.

You set your own class size based on:

General guidelines:

Smaller classes often earn better reviews due to the personalized attention.

We understand things happen. If you need to cancel:

Important: Frequent cancellations negatively affect your teacher rating and visibility on the platform. We recommend only listing sessions you're confident you can deliver.

If you're cancelling due to an emergency, contact support@learnout.io and we'll note it on your account.

LearnOut does not require insurance to list a class, but we strongly encourage it — especially for any class involving physical activity, tools, heat, or other inherent risks.

Here's the reality:

Our position: We believe accessible teaching matters, so we don't gate listing behind insurance requirements. But we'd feel irresponsible not flagging this clearly.

For most LearnOut teachers, a General Liability (GL) policy is the right starting point. This covers:

Additional coverage to consider:

What you probably don't need right away:

Several insurers specialize in small instructors and gig economy teachers:

For culinary teachers specifically: The American Culinary Federation and some ServSafe programs offer coverage options.

Tip: Get 2–3 quotes. Describe your activity clearly — "teaching small group cooking classes in my home kitchen, up to 6 students" — so the policy actually covers what you do.

This is one of the most common questions we get. The short answer: it depends on where you live, but it's often possible with some preparation.

Cottage food laws: These govern selling homemade food products. They generally do NOT apply to teaching cooking classes — you're teaching a skill, not selling food for consumption.

What actually matters:

Our recommendation: Check your local zoning, verify HOA rules if applicable, get a food handler's permit if your county requires it, and carry a general liability policy. These four steps cover the vast majority of home cooking class situations.

The legal reality is that teachers bear primary responsibility for what happens in their classes. LearnOut's role as a marketplace means:

This is standard for all marketplace platforms (Airbnb, TaskRabbit, Etsy, etc.) — the platform facilitates the connection but the service provider bears the primary duty of care.

How to protect yourself as a teacher:

This is not legal advice. Consult a local attorney if you have specific concerns about liability in your situation.

No. LearnOut does not carry insurance that extends to teachers or students.

LearnOut operates as a technology platform and marketplace. We connect teachers and students, process payments, and provide tools — we do not provide, supervise, or control the actual teaching activities.

This means:

We're transparent about this because we think trust requires honesty. We're working on a partnership with an insurer to offer discounted group policies to LearnOut teachers — stay tuned.

By creating a teacher account, you agree to:

Violating these rules may result in listing removal, account suspension, or permanent ban.

The following are not permitted on LearnOut:

Prohibited class types:

Prohibited behaviors:

If you see a class or user that violates these rules, report it to support@learnout.io.

No. Teachers on LearnOut are independent contractors, not employees.

This means:

Tax implications: Stripe issues 1099-K forms directly to teachers — LearnOut does not issue tax forms. Stripe files with the IRS when your earnings cross the reporting threshold, which has changed in recent years (check irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k for the current figure). You're responsible for reporting all income on your tax return.

We recommend: Keeping records of your earnings and any business expenses (materials, space rental, equipment). Many teaching-related expenses are deductible as business expenses. Consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.

If a dispute arises:

Step 1 — Direct resolution: Most issues are resolved when the two parties communicate. We encourage this first.

Step 2 — LearnOut support: If direct resolution fails, email support@learnout.io with:

Step 3 — Refund review: For refund disputes outside the normal cancellation window, our team reviews the situation and may issue a discretionary refund. We consider both sides.

What LearnOut will not do:

Chargebacks: Filing a credit card chargeback without contacting us first may result in account suspension. Please reach out — we want to make it right.

What we collect:

How we use it:

What we never do:

Your rights: You can request deletion of your account and data at any time by emailing support@learnout.io. See our full Privacy Policy for details.

Yes. By creating an account or booking a class, all users agree to LearnOut's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Key points from the Terms:

The full Terms of Service and Privacy Policy are available at the bottom of every page. We wrote them to be as plain-English as possible — please actually read them.

If you have questions about the Terms, contact support@learnout.io.

Safety is built into the platform at multiple levels:

What we can't guarantee:

We vet identities but do not conduct full criminal background checks on all teachers. Use your judgment, read reviews, and trust your instincts. If something feels off, don't book.

All teachers go through our verification process:

What we do not do:

We do not conduct criminal background checks on teachers. Identity verification confirms who someone is — not their history. Read reviews, check the teacher's profile, and trust your instincts before booking.

In an emergency: Call 911 first. Your safety comes before anything else.

After you're safe:

For non-emergency issues (class was different than described, teacher didn't show, equipment issue):

We take every report seriously. Teachers with multiple complaints are reviewed and may be suspended.

We take privacy seriously:

See our Privacy Policy for the full picture.