Can You Help Me?

[Administrator]

jane hb

2 questions

Hi - I think this is incredible, thank you both sooo much. Can you tell me your thoughts on semi-private classes? I am going to start teaching new classes in my home and was asked about semi-private classes, do to the clients financial situation and their desire to share the cost with someone. I was thinking about charging $60 for private and $75 for semi-private (one hour classes) this is how it is commonly done in So. Calif, however, I would love to hear your thoughts, Sara & Harlan. Also, I will be ordering new business cards soon, will you be giving feedback on those in the near future? What a blessing to the yoga community, thanks for all that you both do! Jai! Jane

[Sara]

Originally Posted by Administrator

2 questions

Hi - I think this is incredible, thank you both sooo much. Can you tell me your thoughts on semi-private classes? I am going to start teaching new classes in my home and was asked about semi-private classes, do to the clients financial situation and their desire to share the cost with someone. I was thinking about charging $60 for private and $75 for semi-private (one hour classes) this is how it is commonly done in So. Calif, however, I would love to hear your thoughts, Sara & Harlan.

Hi and welcome to our board. First, do a little more research as to the going rates for privates in So. California. I used to live there and I suspect the rate is higher than what you intend to charge.

My own policy regarding semi-private classes is that each person pays MORE than half the cost of the private. So if we were to use the prices you gave above of $60 for a private, I would charge each person attending the class $45. First, this is a discount for the individual but from the perspective of the teacher who wants to give each person 110% of their attention, it's a lot more focus involved.

I charge $100-$110 for privates and $65 per person for semi-privates. I don't meet with price resistance.

If you are doing more than 3 people, I would decrease the price per person to around $30-$35.

Originally Posted by Administrator

Also, I will be ordering new business cards soon, will you be giving feedback on those in the near future? What a blessing to the yoga community, thanks for all that you both do! Jai! Jane

We will be talking about business cards soon. When Harlan saw my business cards, he went to the computer and designed a new one for me.

All the yoga teachers prefer the old card as it is very artsy, beautiful, and meditative.

But my clients seem to prefer Harlan's card better.

Here's a hint: Put the benefits of yoga on your card and don't forget about the back of the card.

Namaste!

Sara

[jane hb]

Interesting! Wow, do either of you have any insight as to why so many of us are hesitant to ask for more $$$? I notice that this is definitely a problem for me. In fact, when I have been asked about my income, my response has sometimes been, "teaching yoga isn't about making money." I need to get over these old pattens! Help! Thank you both ever so much! Jai - Jane

[jane hb]

I meant "patterns"

[melhahn]

Hi,

I'm new to business altogether. I have started this yoga business bringing yoga to the elderly. I don't know exactly what to pay my yoga instructors for a 40 min chair yoga class. Do you have any suggestions? Some say, $15-$20, others say $50-$65. The range is so huge. I try to remember that the classes are 40 minutes instead of 90 minutes but I want instructors to be adequately compensated. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

[Sara]

Hi Melhahn,

It all depends on how much you are making for the class and how many students you have in the class.

Most importantly get a good teacher for this class and I think you should pay between $25-$35 for the class and maybe more if the class is big.

But $15 , is quite low.

You want to make your teacher happy but also make a good profit.

Put yourself in the teacher's shoes and think about how much you would like to make if you were to teach a 40 min class.

My biggest advice is to not underpay your teachers. The more you give, the more that you will make.

Make sure that you will not be losing money!

Let us know what you decide. I think it is fantastic you are doing classes for the elderly.

Blessings,
Sara

[melhahn]

Thank you Sara,

That helps a lot. I have a teacher in training in my new business. I created a sliding scale. Up to 4 students $25, 5-15 students $35, and 16-20 students $50. I think I am offering her a generous fee but this is an area (nursing homes, assisted living sites) where there are virtually no yoga classes. There is a lot of work running around to a variety of assisted living places and pushing our classes but we are focusing on creating the infrastructure so it is slow going right now. Our prices are negotiable so for example, there is one residential home with 3 patients. I will charge $50. Another place is a very ritzy place with 20 students and I charged $200 but actually I should have charged more but we negotiated. I think I need to remember to find my comfort zone and then remain firm. Learning about business is not easy.

Namaste

[Sara]

Originally Posted by melhahn

Thank you Sara,

Learning about business is not easy.

Namaste

Sounds like you are on your way to establishing a solid foundation for this venture. Your pricing seems good. Stick to what your know you can receive. These classes sound very beneficial to the elderly.

Meta,
Sara