Thread: What's a typical venue/teacher split?

I'm hiring on a yoga teacher and I want to offer her a percentage split that's fair to both her and me.

I handle all registration, provide the space, props, sound system, do the advertising, etc. She has a bit of a following, though, and will be bringing in some students of her own to start with.

What's a fair split?

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I'm hiring on a yoga teacher and I want to offer her a percentage split that's fair to both her and me.

I handle all registration, provide the space, props, sound system, do the advertising, etc. She has a bit of a following, though, and will be bringing in some students of her own to start with.

What's a fair split?

I was just talking to a local studio about offering classes there. They proposed a split where they'd get 25% and I'd get 75%. In that situation, they offered to provide the space, sound system, and advertising. I would handle registration, and pay the 25% cut to them.

I feel like the above proposal is fair to me. The only reason I'm hesitating to proceed is that it would represent an addition to the classes I already offer, and I'm not sure I want to do more than what I'm already doing. Ie, not sure I want to devote the time to another one.

The park & recs I teach through offer pretty much what you describe above, and it's a 70/30 split in my favor.

I was offered a 80/20 split by one location if I handled my own registration/payment, but I was more than willing to give up an extra 10% to have someone else take care of THAT headache.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I was just talking to a local studio about offering classes there. They proposed a split where they'd get 25% and I'd get 75%. In that situation, they offered to provide the space, sound system, and advertising. I would handle registration, and pay the 25% cut to them.

I feel like the above proposal is fair to me. The only reason I'm hesitating to proceed is that it would represent an addition to the classes I already, and I'm not sure I want to do more than what I'm already doing. Ie, not sure I want to devote the time to another one.

Wow! 75%!!! Haven't seen that in a long time here.

Lauren, I work for as much as a 70/30 and for as little as 50/50 split depending upon the venue. From what I've been able to determine, dance studios around here (Southern California) seem to do a 50/50 split quite a bit.

Of course, in Illinois, things can be differ'nt!

Deborah

at the Rec i get 70/30% in my favor. they provide insurance, publicity, room, handle payments. i provide sound system & any materials for class.

at a dance studio last year i had 50/50%. the arrangement was the same as above.

i'm still with the Rec.....

tinah

I've done 60/40 when all I had to do was show up. They provide the studio, sound, insurance, and handle the registration. I've also done a sliding scale coupled with an hourly rental fee. For example, after the hourly fee I keep 100% for x students, 90% for x students, etc.

I've done 50/50 and hated it, I cancelled the class very quickly, mostly because they weren't holding up their end of the bargain as far as advertising and promoting my class, and I was giving them half the money for just the studio space. I think 70/30 is fair.

Originally Posted by tattood1

at the Rec i get 70/30% in my favor. they provide insurance, publicity, room, handle payments. i provide sound system & any materials for class.

tinah

Pretty much the same for me -- except I do provide my own liability insurance. I also do additional publicity (but that's my own decision).

I understand that for any new instructors (since Jan 2008) the split is 75/65 in favor of the instructor, but they've stayed with the former split for us oldies-but-goodies!

Oh--and I teach through Parks and Rec at one of their community centers.

I think anywhere between 70/30 and 80/20 is fair. Personally, I wont go below 70 and it is also split on who handles registration. I dont mind doing it. Some venues would rather do it for me.

Nilaja

First, I'll start with a disclaimer as I'm not that great with numbers. But here's my train of thought, such as it is.


If you were to work out how much your costs regarding studio space, insurance and utilities work out to per hour of peak hour studio time, you may be able to come up with a reasonable by the hour rental rate. Then if you were to calculate how much time goes into preparing for and hosting each lesson for both the yoga instruction prep time, class time and your advertising and bookkeeping time, what percentage are you working with?

For example:
Peak hour studio rental: $15/hr

Advertising fees:
$150/session

Your time:
5hrs/session

Yoga Instructor Prep Time:
15hrs/session

Yoga Instructor Class Time:
18hrs/session

So, the time going into a session is 13% for you, 86% for the yoga instructor.
Let's say you bring in $150/session for each student and 8 students attend the class. That is $1200. Deduct your studio and advertising costs, and that leaves you with $780.

So, factor in the percentages and you're left with:
You, $101
Yoga Instructor, $670

Obviously, I'm just playing around with numbers here, but I think it's wise to pay your expenses first and then work out a fair rate of pay for each of you based upon how much time is put into the classes in question.

Now, with my soap and candles, I use to sell them wholesale and stores would mark them up 50% for resale. So, if you were to follow suit, you're looking at a 26/74 profit split in the instructor's favor, and you'd still be making double what she is after paying associated expenses.

As dancers, we also know the amount of time and money that goes into our own training on top of all of this. As a studio owner, you do want to make some profit, or it's not really worth your time. It seems unfair to me, though... to be making a killing off someone else teaching lessons in your studio. They'll wind up feeling disrespected and can easily work out how much more cash they'd make on their own. If your yoga instructor is very good, students will flock to her classes and that'll make you both $$$. So, it's in your favor to hire someone good and treat them well (as I'm sure you would). Everyone wins!

i've had 70/30% at one Rec & 60/40% at another but after my experience with 50/50% i'll never do that again. it was basically covering gas with no profit.